Royal Queensland earning rave reviews ahead of PGA Championship

The man who gave the 101-year-old Royal Queensland golf course a full face-lift believes it is now starting to bear the fruits of his make-over.

Victorian golfer and renowned course designer Mike Clayton was the man charged with re-designing Royal Queensland, originally laid out by Carnegie Clark in 1921, after the State Government decided it needed some of its land to construct a second Gateway Bridge over the Brisbane River.

Described by some as a “renaissance man” in tributes, Clayton has performed his cosmetic surgery on a number of world-class courses including RQ, Victoria, and The Lakes course in Sydney.

His work is recognised worldwide.

Clayton’s changes have drawn praise from several professionals from the ‘old school’ who remember the issues Royal Queensland had with the course before the renovations.

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West Australian Greg Chalmers, who broke through for his first professional win in the 1997 Australasian Players Championship, heaped praise on the course this week.

“I’m really excited about the golf course, it’s going to be very tricky around the greens, there’s a lot going on that has a kind of a sandbelt look to it,” the 49-year-old left-hander told BettingSite.com.au before playing a practice round on the course’s back nine holes on Tuesday.

“They are really subtle but at the same time there are slopes that can test out your short game and iron play but it’s pretty forgiving off the tee.

“From what I’ve seen the course looks wonderful, the greens and surrounds are in phenomenal shape, and I’m excited about playing.”

Clayton said the changes were badly needed to a course which had been “hacked” around over the years with many minor alterations.

He said only three of the course’s original 18 holes survived the re-design.

With the forecast of fine weather all week, Clayton said a score of around 20-under — well within the reach of players of the ilk of Cameron Smith and Adam Scott — should be enough to win.

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