Meg Nunn Salver

The Meg Nunn Salver is a Queensland, annual statewide match play event for low marker women (up to GA 16.0). This year it will be played at Toowoomba Golf Club Middle Ridge during the week 4-8^th September.

This Inter-District event is played between the seven Regional Golf Districts that constitute Golf Queensland. Each team consists of six players in total, with five playing each match.

The long running event is always popular amongst players and the selection process is very important and quite rigorous.

The selection process will consider trial matches and mid-week pennant performance.

Once selected the Team of 6 will be expected to stay together during the Tournament in share accommodation.

The inaugural Salver was played for in Rockhampton in 1983. Far North Queensland did not participate because they were a newly formed District and did not have the funds to send a team. The draw had Gold Coast against Central Queensland and, at the first match, a coin was tossed to determine which District had the honour. Gold Coast won and so began the Meg Nunn legend.

Coincidentally but quite fittingly, it was Meg’s daughter who took to the tee and sent the first ball flying down the fairway.

Meg Nunn’s concept for the tournament was that the "grass-root, turn up every week" country player should have the opportunity to play match play, and to represent her District. It was never envisaged that players who were members of a state team should be included in the Meg Nunn tournament because they had always had ample opportunity to attend interstate events. Meg was devoted to the idea that, each year, new friends would be made amongst the teams and the tournament would be one of good golf, good companionship, and great rivalry.

Although the format has always been single match play, the “shape” of the Meg Nunn tournament has evolved through the continued efforts of the District President’s body:
In 1984, the venue club was Mackay and all six country Districts were represented as was the newly formed Brisbane and District, a suggestion that had come from the group at the Rockhampton meet the previous year. There were now six players to each team, with five to play. By then, trophy badges had been designed and were presented to past and present team members.

In 1985, Gold Coast held the event at Meg Nunn’s home club, Southport, and it was in this year that the Queensland map showing District boundaries and colours was made by Mr. Scott of the Gold Coast. As well, a cedar carry case for the Salver was crafted by Mr. Neil McGilp of Dalby, a team mate of Meg’s late husband, John, in State shooting teams.
In 1987, at Toowoomba, Val Johnston chaired a meeting of Presidents and announced that the QLGU4 would establish a Pool of Fares for both the Inter-District Match Play (Meg Nunn) and the Junior Jug. This Pool was a donation from the QLGU, and distributed to Districts, based on which Districts had the most expensive travel bills. Gold Coast and Brisbane & District soon opted out of the scheme because they enjoyed large numbers of players and a comfortable financial situation. This generous decision allowed the Pool to be directed to the other Districts. Today, the Pool of Funds is administered by Golf Queensland and has grown to about $20,000.

Over the years, the rewards that flow from the tournament are evident. Apart from the opportunity for low markers to match play in competition with their peers from other parts of the state, there is the economic benefit that flows into the area, most frequently a smallish town in largely rural Queensland. And for a few months every year, women’s golf receives extra attention as the 7 teams are selected and then the competition held in one of the Districts.