Cyclone Alfred has claimed its first sporting victims, with the 2025 Australian WPGA Championship the highest profile event to be cancelled as a result of the storm.
The category two system is set to hit later in the week, with landfall predicted to take place late Thursday or early Friday morning.
The tournament had been scheduled to start on Thursday and conclude on Sunday at the Sanctuary Cove course on the northern Gold Coast.
It is the first cyclone to hit Queensland’s heavily populated south east corner in 50 years.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred tracker
With high winds and rainfall predicted across a large stretch of south-east Queensland, Golf Australia made the decision on Tuesday to cancel the event — a co-sanctioned event with the Ladies European Tour — and associated Gold Coast Festival of Golf.
“Following extensive consultation with all stakeholders, the 2025 Australian WPGA Championship and Gold Coast Festival of Golf have been cancelled due to the impending impact of Cyclone Alfred,” a statement from Golf Australia read.
“After monitoring weather forecasts and following dialogue with the Queensland Government, Gold Coast City Council, Mulpha Group, Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club and the Ladies European Tour, we have taken the unprecedented decision to cancel the event ahead of the first day’s play set to take place on Thursday.
“With the predicted high rainfall, extreme winds and expected flooding, the decision has been made to ensure the safety of players, staff, fans and all stakeholders, which remains the priority.
“Although supremely disappointing, all stakeholders now look ahead to 2026 with the tournament blueprint already in place to ensure we have an exciting Australian WPGA Championship and Gold Coast Festival of Golf.”
Life saving and touch football events cancelled
The Gold Coast is already experiencing elevated surf. (AAP Image: Jono Searle)
On Monday evening, Surf Life Saving Queensland also made the decision to cancel its 2025 championships, which were set to take place at North Kirra on the southern Gold Coast from March 7-9.
“The safety of our competitors, officials and staff comes first,” Nigel Ward of the organising committee.
“Based on latest weather modelling from Queensland Government authorities and the Bureau of Meteorology, we have made the early decision to cancel the event due to be held this weekend, to provide all those participating enough time to prepare.
“Delivering a safe event for everyone is our primary consideration. We also needed to think about the safety around travel for our members to and from the event, given people come from all over Queensland to take part.
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“The modelling and advice received is that conditions are expected to deteriorate throughout the week, with large-scale beach closures across the State already confirmed.”
Surfing Australia also cancelled the Boardriders Battle grand final on the Gold Coast, citing advice from authorities.
“We have made this decision in the interest of the safety of all competitors, staff, and spectators,” Surfing Australia said in a statement.
“Forecast conditions indicate that it will not be safe to run the event or for competitors and officials to travel.
“Event officials have been closely monitoring the system in accordance with our risk management protocols and have determined that postponement is the most responsible course of action.”
Touch football has also called off its national championships that had been slated to start on Thursday in Coffs Harbour on the northern coast of NSW.
The championships will be rescheduled, Touch Football Australia (TFA) said on Tuesday.
“TFA explored many options including the possibility of shortened games, revised draws, and alternate fields in the Coffs Harbour area,” the sport’s peak body said in a statement.
“However the final decision to postpone the championships was made to ensure the well-being of all touch football participants.”
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