Portarlington Golf Club

CLUB HISTORY

Golf in Portarlington appears to have commenced in 1899 when a Mr. Winter who was manager of the National Bank and some of his friends played a 6-hole course located along the Esplanade.

At this time it was social golf only and interclub competition did not occur.

Following this early period the Club played in various locations around the town until in 1932 it occupied a site on the "common". This was the old racecourse area now occupied by the cricket and football clubs. The course’s two main features were thick bracken fern and sand.

In July 1937 land was acquired at Hood Road (a 36 acre wattle paddock owned by a foundation member Miss Katie Calhoun’s family. The course, consisting of 9 holes with sand and fine oiled bluestone scrapes, began to be developed. Fairways were carved out of the wattle trees and bracken fern and golf commenced on September 25th 1937. This was used until the outbreak of World War 2 when play was suspended for the duration.

After the war golf recommenced in 1946 with renewed vigor. A club house consisting of two rooms was moved lock, stock and barrel from the corner of Geelong Road and Sproat Street (near the old BP service station) to the course. The members added a veranda, fire place, tank stand, and 600 gallon water tank.

The Club joined the Corio District Golf Association (later to become the Geelong & District Golf Association). The club entered a pennant side which had little success on the golf course but was socially brilliant and resulted in a lot of good times. Members competed all around the district in team events and open tournaments thus encouraging players from other clubs to our own Annual Open golf tournament (now the Carnival of Golf).

Large numbers of trees were planted on the course using old sanitary cans to protect them from the rabbits. Most of the trees are still there.

Minimum equipment was available. Even up to 1950 mowers were borrowed or rented from Queenscliff or Clifton Springs.

Fees at the time were Members – 7 shillings & sixpence, Associates - 5 shillings.
Raffles were run along with other fundraising efforts to raise money to improve the course. Working bees were held to clear the bracken fern and whole families marched up the fairways, in line, to plant couch.

An extension was later added to the clubhouse by members, during working bees over several weeks, to provide a function room where they could further enjoy the 19th hole. A leading light on this project was Bill Hemsworth, a past President, Pennant player and life member of the club. The W Hemsworth 4BBB trophy is presented each year in his honour.

In 1949 a further 34 acres were purchased, on very favorable terms, from Miss Lyla Day, a staunch member and local butcher thus almost doubling the Club’s holding. (Miss Day later sold us a further 10 acres, being the old slaughter house paddock, at the rear of the course, across Tower Road.)

As new members joined the club grew at such a rate that grass greens were mooted but the lack of water was a big problem. With the nearest connection point being part the way down Mercer St. it would turn out to be very costly to get water to the course but it had to be done.

It was decided after much discussion to bite the bullet and proceed with the building of 9 greens as a start. Water was connected to the course and reticulation was commenced under the direction of one of the “Country” members, Bill Carlos. Bill later made his home in Portarlington and served the club in the positions of Committeeman, Captain, and President and represented the club on the District Committee promoting in particular, veterans and junior golf. He also established the junior clinics at the club which continue to this day. Bill was later made a Life Member for his service and the W Carlos Summer Cup is held each year in his memory.

The former curator at Pt. Lonsdale Golf Club Eric Horne, being involved with Peter Thompson and Assocs. in designing and building courses, was approached to design the layout, which he did at no charge, and in 1957 work commenced on the forming of the greens. Working bees were held over a number of Sundays. A front end loader was supplied by the Shire Council and members supplied what they could in the form of trucks, utes, trailers, shovels, rakes etc. A lot of hard work but a lot of fun too and many new and lasting friendships were formed. After work the ladies provided the BBQ and the club the beer and everyone felt a great sense of achievement.

The club now had greens and with them the first curator, Bill Hogan. Bill was the original secretary of the new club when it moved to Hood Rd and was President from 1960-63. Also at this time saw Nip Schirgwin begin his 10 years as Captain of the club.
Originally 9 holes were formed and shortly after another five holes were added, making the Club a 14-hole course. Gradually a further 4 holes were filtered in to make Portarlington 18 holes in 1962.

The old Clubhouse was pulled down in 1967 and a new one built. This was opened on August 23rd, 1969 and a liquor license obtained. A bar manager appointed instead of relying on volunteers.

In the late 1960’s, early 1970’s there was a threat that the Country Roads Board were planning to take a strip of land from the front of the Course so extra land was sought. This heralded in another stage of development commencing with Arch Baker serving as President 1972-73, having previously served as secretary. The Arch Baker Mixed 4BBB is presented each year in his honour. Fred Prato followed as President with the club desperately trying to find ways to acquire sufficient water to water the fairways. It was during these investigations that a chance meeting with the owner of the rest of the block across Tower Rd (29.5 acres) revealed his willingness to sell. After some negotiations a deal was struck but due to delays by the banks solicitors the owner had time to reflect upon the deal and realized the price was too cheap and wanted to pull out of the sale.

After some discussion a compromise was reached, whereby the club was able to retain 20 acres from the original deal adjoining the 10 acres it already owned. This was land that used to be the old Asparagus Farm. Mick Hogan followed as President from 1976-78 and 5 holes were designed and constructed across Tower Rd, again by Eric Horne, and at a very reasonable cost. A new PVC reticulation system was installed throughout the course to partially water the fairways. The original 18 holes were re-designed and cut back to 13. The new 18 hole layout was opened on March 8th, 1980.

To the shock of members the Clubhouse was burnt to the ground in February 1988. Members again rose to the challenge and in only two or three weeks had erected a temporary building (currently housing the ground staff) to serve as a clubhouse until insurance and the voluntary assistance from many members rebuilt the current Clubhouse. A small extension to the west side of the building was completed in 1996 to accommodate the many gaming customers. A further, larger, extension incorporating an administration section and large Bistro and Al Fresco area was completed in 2003.

The Course has always been one of the best tests for club golfers in the district but it was not until Anthony Bergin’s great round in 1998 that the par for the course was broken. The Course on that day was 6,047 metres, Par 72, A.C.R. 72.

In the mid to late 1990’s the club’s Board of Directors decided to convert all the fairways to Santa Anna couch grass. Course designer Tony Cashmore was also commissioned to provide the club with a vision and plan for the future. The plan calls for a new 5th hole, re-making/shaping of some greens and fairways and bunkers, some new tee positions, improved drainage, removal and replanting of trees etc. but, as there are 2 spare par 3 holes, the renovation of the holes can proceed yet still allow for a slightly shorter 18 hole course all of the time. The club now boasts 2 large water storage dams which store harvested storm water and so somewhat reduce our reliance on town water.

The 2006 Course is still in that stage of redevelopment with the introduction of a new 5th hole and the Santa Anna couch renovation of two more fairways nearing completion (only 6 to go). The Tony Cashmore design and vision of a new layout is taking shape, albeit somewhat slower than planned.

Town Location: Portarlington – (situated approx. 30 Kms from Geelong)
Club: Portarlington Golf Club Inc.
Year of Foundation: 1932
Year of VGA Affiliation: Refer VGA records
Course Designer: Eric Horne

People

Founders: Unknown
Course Designer: Anthony Cashmore

Course Record

Men: Mr. Anthony Bergin Score: 68– 18/12/1999
Ladies: Miss Jillian McClung Score: 75- 07/09/2001