Ballan Golf Club hits a century

WHILE many others were experiencing footy fever on the eve of the Grand Final, members of one of the region’s long-running recreational groups were busy celebrating a different sport.

On Friday last week, past and present members of the Ballan Golf Club came together to acknowledge the club’s 100th anniversary.

The event saw nearly 100 people participate in a two-person ambrose competition, and treasurer Patrick Clifford said it was a fantastic day of celebration.

“It was a terrific day,” he said. “There were 96 playing the ambrose which was a great day turnout and we had a number of visitors drop in to say hello.

“We had people from Melbourne, the western suburbs, and as far as Snake Valley. Our president Barry Sims gave a speech and so did [Federal Member for Hawke] Sam Rae.”

Representatives from Golf Australia also attended the event, where they presented club management with a plaque in honour of the 100-year milestone.

“It’s actually quite rare that a club survives that long and in the same location where it originally started so that was a nice touch,” Mr Clifford said.

The event also marked the first use of the club’s reconfigured course, a self-funded project which entailed the extending and renumbering of the individual holes.

Having been with the club since the mid-1970s, Mr Clifford said the anniversary marked an incredible occasion for both himself and other longtime members.

“Our oldest serving member, Greg McAloon, who’s 90, actually played on the day,” he said.

“He’s been with the club for 61 years and he gave a speech where he talked about the camaraderie, and the friends he’s made in that time.

“It’s just a great place to be. It’s gone through its ups and downs as far as membership and the appeal of golf but it does seem to be getting popular again.

“Hopefully, the town picks up on it. Ballan’s expected to take off in terms of growth over the next few years, and we want to be part of that environment.”