Water hazard: Golfers in Australia play alongside a shark-infested lake

The members of Carbrook Golf Club take immense pride in the rich history of their club, which traces its roots back to the late 1970s. Over five decades, the club has faced numerous challenges, including floods and tough times, but has persevered and achieved remarkable accomplishments along the way. Its members’ unwavering dedication and exceptional contributions have made Carbrook Golf Club a special place.

What sets Carbrook Golf Club apart is its storied past and its unique status as one of the few member-owned golf clubs established in Queensland in the last 60 years. This distinction speaks to the commitment of the club’s members to maintain a strong sense of ownership and stewardship over their beloved club. Through their passion and hard work, Carbrook Golf Club continues to thrive as a cherished institution for golf enthusiasts, embodying the spirit of community and camaraderie that defines a truly successful club.

GOLF:

When you get acquainted with their golf course, you immediately realize what is behind that uniqueness we’re talking about.

Carbrook Golf Club beginnings

In the 1970s, Tom Smith, a retired wool businessman seeking solace from city life, purchased an old dairy farm situated on the picturesque Logan River. An avid golfer with a remarkable skill level boasting a low single-figure handicap, Tom envisioned creating a golf course on the land for himself and his sons to indulge their passion for the game. Thus, the initial incarnation of the Carbrook golf course came to fruition, opening its gates to the public in 1976.

Over the next three decades, the Carbrook golf course underwent several transformations. Some sections of the course were leased to mining companies interested in exploration and excavation, resulting in modifications to the landscape. Additionally, the course’s final layout was significantly influenced by the catastrophic 1988 flood, which left behind permanent lakes that were subsequently populated by an array of sea wildlife brought in by the natural disaster.

Through the years, the Carbrook golf course has evolved and adapted to its surroundings, shaped by the vision and perseverance of Tom Smith, his family, and the Carbrook golf club members. Today, it stands as a testament to their enduring passion for golf and their unwavering commitment to creating a unique golfing experience amidst the stunning backdrop of the Logan River.

The golf course squatters

When we say wildlife, we primarily refer to a dozen bull sharks that stayed captivated in those newly formed lakes.

The bull (Zambezi) shark is a species of requiem shark commonly found worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and rivers. It is known for its aggressive nature (responsible for several human attacks yearly) and presence mainly in warm, shallow salty and freshwater systems, including estuaries and (usually) lower reaches of rivers.

So, imagine this. You’re standing on the 6th hole opening tee, going for a swing, and the ball opens wide to the right and lands on the water bank. You go for your golf cart, and while you are getting closer to your ball and the water obstacle, you hear the ‘frightening’ Jaws soundtrack, and suddenly a shark fin gets out of the water and starts gliding in the direction of your ball.

As a typical Aussie, you would probably take out your best wood and hit a good ‘hail marry’ swing of that “bugger (ball),” giving zero importance to the 8-feet monster just a few meters away.

With years passing, the locals got used to their uninvited visitors and will encourage you not to get too close to the water, using that as the only anti-hazardous measure of protection. The golf club embraced them entirely, from protecting and feeding the sharks to using them in their club’s visual identity and promotional purposes—estranged golf shark symbiosis.