A discussion on the progress of the new fairway mowing contract was discussed at the first meeting held in December 1979. The Green’s Director advised that Green’s staff now consisted of three, in addition to the mowing contractor, adding, that due to a lack of mowing the contractor, was assisting with other duties.

The contract was again discussed at the February 1980 special meeting when the question of continuation of the contract was put to the meeting. Messrs. Tenders were to be called to the Cairns Post for the mowing of fairways and roughs by contract for a six (6) month period commencing 1st March 1980, with the contract being reviewed at the end of July 1980. When put the motion was carried.

Golf clubs have ongoing problems with divot marks with clubs introducing many schemes to eradicate them. The Cairns Club at its March 1980 meeting received an offer to supply the Club with sand buckets. The offer was accepted, and sand buckets became available to players using the course.

A first for the club occurred at the April 1980 meeting, when it was advised that the March committee had decided to extend the Saturday afternoon competition to include Saturday morning play. Present fields were averaging 80 to 100 players.

Many attempts have been made to keep the dam on No.11 (2) clean and 1980 was no exception with $750.00 being spent on its cleaning. Although not entirely successful, the drag line used could only clear from the shoreline. In later years two aerators were placed in the water providing partial relief. In 1998 a scheme to clean the dam using a dredge was tried, it proved unsuccessful, as constant fouling by weeds growing on the bottom of the dam prevented clearance. Experience has shown that the best clearance is provided when heavy rains flood the dam causing the rubbish to overflow out of it.

Frequently, discussions were held regarding the site of the course and its layout. There were serious discussions on the relocation of the course, during the latter half of 1980 a special sub-committee was formed to plan the clubs long term development. A major recommendation, being the relocation of the course, and its formation into a Country Club.
One attempt to relocate the course, in the form of an exchange of land between the Club and a cane farmer and a member of the Club, who owned land situated between Manoora and Edge Hill. Due to a hilly location it was unsuitable for cane, and the owner was willing to exchange it with that of the land at the Golf Club. The change over to be accomplished over a period, with nine holes at a time. The negotiations were never finalised, the reason never explained. The scheme, if implemented, would have given the club 18 holes of hilly country, but one not plagued by wet and muddy conditions.

It was suggested that future fixture books contain paid advertisements and for the club to seek advertisers. The suggestion was accepted, and advertisers who applied would create a first in the history of the club. It was also submitted to the meeting a system of stock cards for use in the bar, recommending that bar prices be kept below public bar prices.

The clubhouse leaked badly in wet weather being a legacy left from bad
construction and planning when the building was first constructed. The problem was the gutters on the building carrying too much water, which were not adequately cleared by the down pipes. In heavy rain, water overflowed out of the gutters and into the clubhouse. It became very dangerous, as ‘down pipes’ were located in the columns that supported the walls which also carried electrical cables.

The Q.L.G.U. advised that it would be conducting its Country Week on the Cairns course during May 1982 and asked for permission to use the course, which would be forthcoming.

During the latter half of 1980, the Club negotiated with the Railway Department, seeking the use of the land between the railway which was denied. During competition days, drinks were placed in the shed near the 5th green (14th), with an honesty box installed. The system usually operated at a loss, and on one occasion youths from the nearby housing estate were seen robbing the box. Youths were not always to blame. It was ascertained that certain members were not paying for drinks, the collection of monies continued to cause problems until the mid 1990’s. The Club would provide a motorized buggy and pay an employee to drive the Course selling drinks. Another first for the club. Later the All Sports Club purchased a proper drinks cart and donated it to the club.

A report to the 1983 April meeting advised that the Clubhouse needed new furniture and asked that members be approached to donate one piece of furniture. Many members donated the cost of a bar stool with one member donating the cost to provide several drinking wall-attached tables.

The location of the kitchen has caused problems in the years leading up to 1981 and it came to a head at the June/July meetings when a debate on the
wearing spikes in the Clubhouse was raised. A carpet layer was installed on the walkway to the kitchen, remaining until proper tiles were laid in the 1990’s.

1981 was the year the first mention of an access road was aired at committee level. It was touched on briefly at the August meeting, when the club sought documents defining the actual boundaries of the course. The mention appeared in the minutes, that the club was considering a redesign of the course layout, which would result should the main roads resume portion of club land in designing the proposed bypass road.

During March 1982 the Council advised the club that it intended to construct a sewerage line through the centre of the course. The line would run across the course and service the housing estate that borders the 3rd (12) and 4th (13) fairways.
Very little is known regarding this construction, except a mention indicating that photographs of the areas affected by the sewerage installation would be taken to assist with any dispute that may arise— The line was completed on Sept. 1982

A golfing event between the Cairns and Innisfail was introduced in September 1982. Known as the “Blue Wings Challenge,” it took its name from the donors of the trophies, the Blue Wings Bus Lines. Organiser was Mark Wargent, and it was fitting after his untimely death, the event was renamed the “Mark Wargent Challenge.”

The Annual Meeting were told of a proposal from the developer concerning the development of their subdivision to the west of the Golf Club and its drainage through the course. The proposal consisted of the construction of a large drain which would bisect the first (9th) and ninth (10th) fairways.

The construction was a controversy, many believing it should have ensured that the drain was fully cemented further than that done. The drain carries huge amounts of water during wet weather.

The course rating was discussed during the meeting, and it was successfully moved, “that it is the right of the Captain or in his stead, the vice Captain and the Club Professional and the lowest handicapped amateur playing on the day to rate the course.” When approved the handicapper complained of difficulties, using changing course ratings,” handicapper have discretionary powers for the year despite a course rating.