Royal Queensland
Carnegie Clark routed the original Royal Queensland in 1921, and when a second Gateway Bridge cut through the property the club handed Michael Clayton a blank canvas. His 2007 rebuild produced a strategic, MacKenzie inspired par 72 of about 7,046 yards on the banks of the Brisbane River, the championship home of golf in Brisbane and the chosen venue for the 2032 Olympics.
Photo: Royal Queensland Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Royal Queensland was founded in 1920 and granted its royal charter by King George V in 1921, with the original course laid out at Eagle Farm by the Australian Open champion Carnegie Clark. When the State Government chose to duplicate the Gateway Bridge across the site in the mid 2000s, the club lost six holes and asked Michael Clayton to build an entirely new championship course on the clubhouse side of the river, completed in December 2007.
The result is one of the finest modern layouts in the country, wide off the tee and tight in the mind, where Clayton borrowed Alister MacKenzie's belief that strategy beats raw difficulty. It has staged the Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championship, and it will host the golf at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, which puts a round here near the top of any southeast Queensland itinerary. Access is limited, so plan well ahead.
Royal Queensland at a glance
- Opened
- 1921, rebuilt 2007
- Designer
- Carnegie Clark; Michael Clayton 2007
- Type
- Riverside parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,046 yds
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening history, par and yardage verified June 2026 against Royal Queensland Golf Club and leading course databases. The club opened in 1920 and took its royal charter in 1921 with a Carnegie Clark course; Michael Clayton's championship rebuild was completed in December 2007, a par 72 of about 7,046 yards. Royal Queensland is a private members club; visitors generally play as a guest of a member or through an arranged introduction. There is no published public green fee, so always confirm access and any guest rate directly before planning.
The holes worth the trip
Clayton's Royal Queensland plays firm and fast over reclaimed riverside ground, the fairways generous from the tee but the angles everything once you near the greens. Bunkers are placed to tempt the aggressive line and punish the lazy one, and the putting surfaces run with subtle, MacKenzie style movement that rewards the player who thinks two shots ahead.
The par 3s are a highlight, varied in length and exposed to the breeze that funnels off Moreton Bay, where club selection can swing two or three clubs between morning calm and afternoon wind. The short par 4s give the bold a look at the green and dare the cautious to lay back, the kind of half par decisions that separate a good round from a great one.
The closing stretch runs hard back toward the clubhouse with water and sand tightening the margins, a finish built to decide championships and, in 2032, an Olympic medal. Royal Queensland gives back the purest strategic golf in Brisbane, a course that asks for a plan and exposes the player who arrives without one.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; visitors generally play as a guest of a member or through an arranged introduction |
| Green fee | No published public fee; any guest or visitor rate is arranged through the club (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Contact the golf shop or your trip planner well ahead, especially around championship dates |
| On the day | Carts and caddies can be arranged; a tidy dress code and recognised handicap are expected |
| Getting there | Eagle Farm on the Brisbane River, about 15 minutes from the city centre and Brisbane Airport |
| Best months | April to September for the cooler, drier subtropical season when the course runs firm |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Royal Queensland is private and policies change, so always confirm directly with the golf shop or your trip planner before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in central Brisbane or near the airport at Eagle Farm, both within a short drive of the first tee and well supplied with hotels, riverside dining and the wider attractions of Queensland's capital. A city base also opens up the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast courses for a longer trip.
For a golf focused stay, the airport and inner northern suburbs put Royal Queensland on the doorstep and keep transfers short. It is an ideal anchor for a southeast Queensland tour, pairing the championship course in Brisbane with the resort layouts an hour or so south.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Royal Queensland.
Build a Brisbane golf trip
We arrange the Royal Queensland tee times where access allows, pair them with the best of southeast Queensland and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Royal Queensland questions
Who designed Royal Queensland and when did it open?
Royal Queensland opened in 1921 with a course by the Australian Open champion Carnegie Clark. After the second Gateway Bridge cut through the site, Michael Clayton built an entirely new championship course on the clubhouse side of the river, completed in December 2007.
What is the par and length of Royal Queensland?
The championship course is a par 72 of about 7,046 yards, a strategic riverside parkland layout designed to reward angles and thought over raw power.
What tournaments has Royal Queensland hosted?
Royal Queensland has staged the Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championship, and it has been chosen to host the golf events at the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
Can visitors play Royal Queensland?
Royal Queensland is a private members club. Visitors generally play as a guest of a member or through an arranged introduction, so contact the golf shop or your trip planner well in advance.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening history, par and yardage verified June 2026; access arrangements verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.