Golf Club in swing for over 125 years

THE Ballarat Golf Club celebrated their belated one-hundred-and-twenty-fifth anniversary recently, having postponed the event in 2020.

President Lesa Gray said the Club was established in 1895 by The Arch and is home to the oldest continually played course in Australia.

“Even though we did do a renovation, we maintained some of our older course and that has continued,” she said.

“Our first annual general meeting only had two members; a president and a secretary, so to be where we are now is pretty amazing. We’ve been through world wars and pandemics, and still going strong.

“one-hundred-and-twenty-five years is a huge achievement for Ballarat. We’ve maintained our membership and people’s love of golf at our Club.”

In 2020, Ms Gray became Ballarat Golf Club’s first female president. In 2021, the team is marking another special milestone.

“We also now have Kym Erbacher, who is our first woman club captain. Women and girls in golf is going to be a major focus for us,” she said.

The “125-plus-one” celebration on Sunday, 11 April saw 54 people play golf through the day, before a clubhouse dinner for 85 people in the evening.

Club manager Garry Fry said speeches were made by historian and author of Golf at the Arch: A Centenary History of the Ballarat Golf Club Phil Roberts, life member Heather Brauman, and former president Wayne Hines.

“Wayne unveiled the anniversary plaque which will be installed at the first tee, and was organised for last year,” he said.

“Everyone came in after their game of golf and enjoyed a nice catch-up. It was a great, relaxed night.”

Ms Gray said members are grateful to have a sense of normality in the clubhouse after last year.

“We still need to be very careful, but we’re doing really well, and it’s nice to see some comradery and fellowship continually coming back.

“It was fantastic to see so many people, members, their families and friends there on Sunday. It helped to celebrate, and put a smile back on everyone’s faces,” she said.

Looking to the future, the Ballarat Golf Club will work to build their community, provide opportunities and quality facilities for their members, and accommodate their needs.

“If they’re looking for more social events, we want to have more of those in the clubhouse. We’re trying to listen and get a feel for what our members want.

“Golf, and broadly sport, is an important part of people’s lives. People have missed it. Clubs play a huge role, especially in the mental health space, because it’s where many do their socialising,” Ms Gray said.

“Our Club wants to get a bit of joy back in the world.”