Summary of Events Presented at the Centenary Dinner 3 August 1996 – Delivered by Max Archer.
| 1895 | The game of golf was introduced to a few friends in Hamilton by S.H. Palmer after a trip to Scotland. | |
| 1896 | A private Hamilton Golf Club – had no links – made application to Borough for the use of the Police paddock – this was declined because they mistakenly believed that the use of horses in the game would damage the surface. Play was at Pretonholme property of Mr J. Learmonth who had a nine hole course.
Many primary producers graziers had nine hole golf courses including Brung Brungle, Corea, Brie Bri, Mount Sturgeon, Blackwood, the last one being Nigretta. |
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| 1897 | The Annual Meeting wound up the old club and a new club was formed with R. Stapleton Bree President.
The course was 86 acres in two paddocks leased from Hon. Thomas McKellar. Subs 7/6 and 3/-. It had 9 holes with grass greens enclosed by fences wire netting bunkers across fairways. |
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| 1898 | Purchased a pavilion from the Tennis Club for £5.4.6. | |
| 1899 | Colours were brown, white and green. | |
| 1902 | Joined V.G.A. (I think we have been continuous members) | |
| 1905 | Offer made by Thomas Robertson, W.H. Melville and James Robertson for the land £1180 then erected a club house at a cost of £700 and offered the lot to Hamilton Golf Club on lease. | |
| 1906 | The new club house opened. Colours were red, green, yellow. | |
| 1907 | Joined V.L.G.U. – W.G.V. | |
| 1915 | Hamilton Golf Club purchased the 86 acres for £2100 interest at 3% – later reduced to 2%. | |
| 1916 | Water, piping hoses and sprays were sold to pay interest.
Vote to permit playing of golf on a Sunday was put to members and lost 60 yes to 67 no with 1 informal. Subsequent notice put in club house. |
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| 1920 | Re-fencing of greens so that 1700 sheep could be put on the 86 acres for one week to eat down the onion grass. | |
| 1934 | The course was now 18 holes with grass greens.
Electric lights were installed at a total cost of £25/30. |
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| 1938 | Alterations to club house including the adding of a large lounge. | |
| 1941 | Mechanisation came to Hamilton Golf Club with the purchase of a Chev Ute/Blitz as a tractor for £50. A horse was previously used to pull mowers and a dray. | |
| 1950’s | The club applied for a liquor licence. More club house alterations. | |
| 1960’s | Purchase of additional 54 acres. Plans for sale of approximately 10 acres of land. | |
| 1970’s | Plans for the new layout prepared by Major Jock Whillans. Opened by V.G.A. President Mr. J.R. Lovett in 1973. | |
| 1979 | New club house | |
| 1992 | New 38 Melalitre dam plus watering system. | |
| 1993 | Design of our club badge. Colours of the club changed again. Green, gold, navy. | |
| 1994 | Alterations to club house entrance and installation of gaming machines. | |
| 1996 | Our first Pro Am tournament.
Golf Club’s contribution to charities including 1st & 2nd W.W. Comforts Fund, Red Cross Blind, RSL and Legacy, Local Charities, Base Hospital and many others. |
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Some of the funny but serious decisions past committees and members had to make.
| 1 | The raising of subscriptions by 2/6 – LOST |
| 2 | Should the club house be connected to the town sewerage system or continue with our septic tank. |
| 3 | Should the Lady Members become Associate Members. This particular general meeting was heavily stacked by Lady Members – Result – motion lost. |
| 4 | That the Hamilton Golf Club leave the present site and move to an area of land near Bochara. (I suspect that is was landowned by a Committee Members wanting to make a profit). |
| 5 | The location of the present club house. |
We have been fortunate to have several prominent and well known golfers play our course.
- Hon Mel Scott Australian Open Champion
- Mrs Nel De Little Australia Open Champion
- Peter Thomson
- Norman Von Nida
- Garry Sobers
- Bill Edgar
- Bill Gluth
- Jean Donald (Scottish Pro)
- Joan Fisher
- Barbara Dillon
- Jane Lock
- Debbie Sharp