DEEP in the heart of the region lies a significant piece of golfing history.<\/p>\n
In 1921, a small, privately owned golf course was established in the mines, creeks, and gullies of Quarry Hill.<\/p>\n
Now, 100 years since its inauguration, the club is holding a number of events to celebrate its history.<\/p>\n
Treasurer and life member of the club Sandra Davey said the club is thrilled to commemorate the centenary of Quarry Hill.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been encroached by development so it\u2019s a green space that in our hearts we want to keep for our children and generations to come in Bendigo,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe centenary is a celebration of the forethought of our ancestors to open it up, we\u2019re planning to have a tournament and make that in memory of the forefathers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through many years of hard work, the Quarry Hill Golf Club was established, under the guidance of founding father of federation Sir John Quicke.<\/p>\n
The first competition featured a nine-hole course among slate quarries, hills and iron bark gum trees.<\/p>\n
Members had their fair share of hazards to contend with, including the deep gullies, or potentially losing their ball in a mullock heap of one of the many surrounding mines.<\/p>\n
Through the depression, members took to the course with picks, shovels and wheelbarrows to shift a mullock heap and improve the playing conditions of the hills.<\/p>\n
In 1935, the first hole-in-one at the club was scored on a former hole where players had to hit their ball over Houston Street, adjacent to the club.<\/p>\n
In September 1948, tragedy struck, and the clubhouse and many old records were destroyed by fire.<\/p>\n
In 1949, the new clubhouse was built and in 1995 it was extended to its present state.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re now an 18-hole sandgreen, our volunteers continue to make the course a lovely place to play,\u201d Ms Davey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have eight people out their volunteering every day, watering, mowing, fertilising and maintaining.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Davey said they can\u2019t wait to celebrate Quarry Hill\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
\u201cMay 8th is our opening day with our two-person Pinehurst event,\u201d she said. \u201cThen in August, Friday the 13th we\u2019re having two-person four-ball stableford event.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn Saturday the 14th we\u2019re having a centenary dinner and the following Sunday we\u2019re having a four-person Ambrose.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso, in September we\u2019re having a memorial day to recognise past members and their family members may like to contribute to the day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The club is accepting memorabilia from past members and their families, to be displayed during the dinner.<\/p>\n
\u201cPhotos, anything members might have that relates to the club we\u2019d love to see it,\u201d Ms Davey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they want to donate to the club, we\u2019re more than happy to store it for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the spirit of honouring past members, Quarry Hill Golf Club has also established a memorial garden for families to plant a rose in memory of their loved ones.<\/p>\n
Ms Davey said the garden, featured at the front of the clubhouse, will be an ongoing celebration of the happy times at the course.<\/p>\n