Carpentaria Golf Club president Murray Mountjoy says the 2025 Weipa Goodline Open will go ahead, despite one of the greens being damaged by vandalism on 20 April. Photo: Supplied.
Players are set to be greeted by a course in “terrific” condition when they arrive on western Cape York for this weekend’s 2025 Goodline Open, despite an act of senseless vandalism in the lead-up to Weipa’s biggest golfing event.
On 20 April, the rider of a quad bike caused damaged to one of the Carpentaria Golf Club greens and part of the adjacent fairway after doing “doughnuts and burnouts” on the waterlogged course.
Club president Murray Mountjoy said despite the setback, he was confident greenkeeping staff would have the course ready to go when golfers tee off on 3-4 May.
“Clearly, it’s enormously disappointing after the hard work of our green staff, Steve and Tom,” he said.
“The course is looking as good as it has in my time here and to have someone wantonly and disrespectfully damage the course is frustrating; it was raining and it was wet, so the damage was worse than it otherwise would have been.
“We had a working bee on the weekend and the Goodline Open will go ahead as planned; the rest of the course, apart from where the damage is done now, is looking terrific.”
It is understood the alleged offenders posted footage of their handiwork on social media and that police have been provided with the name and address of one of the individuals suspects of being on the quad, however, a Queensland Police Service spokesperson said last week charges were yet to be laid.
“Police are investigating reports of a wilful damage incident at a Weipa sporting facility on April 20,” the spokesperson said.
“Initial information indicates at around 5pm, two people entered the property on a quad bike and caused damage to the turf.”
Club captain Clinton Wonfor said almost 50 players had currently nominated for Weipa’s showcase golfing event and said it was not too late for last-minute entries.
“If you’re still wanting to play, reach out to the club and speak to Lily,” he said.
When players do hit the fairways, all eyes will be on the A-grade women’s division after Michelle Field announced she would not be returning to Weipa to hunt for a fifth consecutive crown in 2025.
Field has dominated the top women’s grade since 2021 but said the lure of the road meant she would not be amongst the field this year.
“I won’t be at the Open this year to try for five in a row,” she said.
“I am travelling in my caravan and have been travelling for seven years now, and only decided to stay up in FNQ on my travels – it ended up being nearly five years up there.
“It’ll be a shame that I can’t defend my title and also [the] Cooktown [Open], but there’s a lot of this country I still haven’t seen; I’m sure there will be some happy people that I won’t be there.”
In the men’s A-grade, Matt Slade will be looking for back-to-back titles, but will have to fend off what is tipped to be a big challenge from Warren Brewer, who was aiming for a four-peat in 2024 before Slade pipped him at the post in a thrilling one-shot victory.
All eyes will be on the A-grade women’s division when golfers tee off in the 2025 Weipa Goodline Open after Michelle Field, who has had a stranglehold on the crown since 2021, announced she would not be heading north to attempt a fifth consecutive title on 3-4 May. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
