Ever teed off on a sand green golf course?
Far removed from the neatly manicured fairways of the coast, a round of golf in the outback is unlike anywhere you’ve played before.

In August each year, the Quilpie Open Golf Weekend draws over 100 golf fanatics to the outback sand course for a fun and competitive weekend of golf.

Golfers of all abilities are invited to join in, sink a few cold beers with new and old mates and soak in the iconic outback landscape and friendly hospitality.

Let us be your caddy as you grab your clubs and hit the road to experience this unique golfing experience.

COMING UP in 2024 Quilpie Open Golf Weekend: 17-18 August.

What is the Quilpie Open Golf Weekend?

Over two action-packed days, the Quilpie Golf Club invites everyone to play a round and share a few cold beers.

Like an oasis in the outback, the clubhouse sits on a small patch of green grass, surrounded by 18 interesting and challenging holes built into the arid landscape.

Saturday is a fun day for golfers of all skill levels, and the vibe is more boardshorts and Blundstones than green jackets and golf shoes. Golf will be followed by dinner and shenanigans throughout the evening.

Sunday is when things get serious, as pre-registered competitive players tee off on the dirt course for the Quilpie Open.

Visitors hail from across the country, some driving over 1000km just for the outback atmosphere and golfing experience, and others to compete and take-home prizes.

If you’ve got the skills, nominate for the Men's A, B and C grades, or the Ladies A and B grades.

Spectators are welcome over the weekend to enjoy the golf action and guaranteed spectacular sunsets.

"We're swinging well above par with this competition, and it's exciting to be able to offer such a huge prize for a hole-in-one," golf club president Bruce Paulsen told Queensland Country Life last year.

The hole-in-one prize in 2023 was a brand-new car and we can’t wait to see what the prize is in 2024 – either way, it’s definitely worth getting in some practice rounds before you head to Quilpie. There’s also a cash prize for the putting competition taking place at the 19th hole.

The Quilpie Golf Club is your hospitable host for the weekend, with food, drinks and plenty of entertainment.

Overall, it’s an August weekend packed with Outback Queensland fun and a few rounds of friendly golf.

How to get to Quilpie?

If you have the time, turn your expedition to Quilpie into a road trip adventure and split the 950km, 10-hour drive from Brisbane over a couple of days, soaking in regional hospitality and outback sights along the way.

We’d recommend a stop or two in Roma, Mitchell or Charleville to stretch your legs and see more of the southwest.

Roma, halfway along the Warrego Way, makes a great overnight stop, with its famous nine-metre-wide bottle tree and cattle saleyards must-visits.

You can cut the commute down to under four fours by flying into Quilpie with REX. The airline lands twice a week, stopping in Charleville along the way. Alternatively, if you disembark in Charleville you can rent a car and enjoy a short two-hour drive to the remote Outback Queensland town.

Quilpie has a population of about 550 on a normal weekend, but hundreds more flood in for the Quilpie Open Golf Weekend.

Where to stay

Quilpie is loaded with cosy beds and warm country hospitality. Bunk up in a country motel or BYO campervan or tent and spend nights beneath starry wide-open skies.

Channel Country Tourist Park and Spas is the spot to ease tensions from the long drive. Book air-conditioned cabins, powered campsites and grassy unpowered tent spots in the centre of town and enjoy soaking in hot spa tubs filled with water from the Great Artesian Basin.

Just 4km east, The Lake Quilpie has quiet and tranquil campsites along the banks of Lake Houdraman. It’s the best spot to swim or behold an array of birdlife, native animals and spectacular sunsets. The working sheep and cattle property offers simple but stylish rooms and you can bring your four-legged friend too.

Local tips for visiting Quilpie

August is a ‘beaut’ time to visit Quilpie. Unlike peak summer when the mercury hits a daytime average 36°C, this time of year is perfect for a few rounds of golf.

There’s almost no chance of rain and the temperature reaches about 22°C each day.

If you show up to the outback in white golfing pants the locals will enjoy a good laugh as the red earth takes over. Instead, try a pair of jeans or shorts with sneakers or boots and a t-shirt or long-sleeve shirt.

Even in August, the midday sun is harsh, so adding a wide-brim hat and long sleeves will give you UV protection and complete your country look.

Other must dos in Quilpie

In Quilpie you can embrace the great outdoors and enjoy all that nature has to offer. If that’s not your speed, the rich cultural heritage of the remote Outback Queensland town offers plenty to explore.

Kick back by the river and try your luck catching a yellow belly or some yabbies, or get moving in nature and enjoy the views from the top of Baldy Top Lookout.

Have a dig at the Quilpie Opal Fossicking experience and find out why this town is known as Australia's ‘Home of the Boulder Opal’.

After you’ve unearthed a precious souvenir, check out the impressive St Finbarrs Catholic Church, where the front of the altar is covered in beautiful boulder opals.

If more culture is calling, explore one of Quilpie’s historical museums, such as the Powerhouse Museum, Shire Military History Museum or Airport Mini Museum.

Since you’ve come this far, what’s another 100km in outback terms? A short drive! If you’ve interested in Queensland’s dinosaurs, skip over to Eromanga and meet Australia’s largest dinosaur, Cooper at the Eromanga Natural History Museum.

The ultimate guide to the Quilpie Open Golf Weekend

Ever teed off on a sand green golf course? Far removed from the neatly manicured fairways of the coast, a round of golf in the outback is unlike anywhere you’ve played before.