By Ian Callen
This episode of Historian Bryn Jones’ History of Golf in Healesville takes us back in time to a newspaper report on the 28th of June 1919.
Matters concerning the new links were progressing so the newspaper reported 40 members and friends of the golf club had gathered at the new links to wind up the finances of the original club. It opined that the new course will be one of the best in the Commonwealth. The new clubhouse now well in hand will contain 56 rooms, billiard rooms in the putting green for practice at night, and it was expected to have its official opening in October. Local farmer and contractor John Donavan was responsible for the site works, “laying out the links”.
By 22 November the newspaper was able to report that another attraction had been added to “Progressive Healesville”. The latest addition was a commodious residential guest house and the layout of a first-class golf course of 18 holes. The building which is now open is upon American bungalow lines with large verandahs and has over 40 rooms.
Motorists were catered by the erection of garages on the property as it was “fairly anticipated” that many people would make day excursions to play golf. Apparently, a few holes were “already in play and others will be will be open in a few days”. Mr Fred Findlay, one of the best-known golf professionals who was supervising the works on the golf course, “believed that the links were not only the most beautiful but one of the best in Victoria from a golfing point of view”.
The newspaper congratulated the golf syndicate for its enterprise in catering to an ever-growing golfing community.
Excuse the pun, “of course” there is so much more of Healesville’s golfing history to tell and you will soon be able to read the remaining episodes when the Historical Society releases it all in another book by Bryn Jones.
