The Long Game Newsletter of the Golf Society of Australia S G A No 51, DECEMBER 2014 Doug Bachli Meeting at Inside This Issue Page 1-2 Victoria Golf Club Doug Bachli Meeting at By Peter Gompertz Victoria Golf Club Page 2 New Members The First Golf Bag? Page 3 President’s Report 2014 Page 4-5 Golf Historians Forum Report Commonwealth Golf Club October 13th, 2014 Page 6 History of a Golf Organisation Without a Golf Course Page 7 Claytons’ Corner GSA Secretary Tony McLean presents Graeme Ryan with the Doug Bachli Trophy Pace of Play Thirty one members signed up to compete for the Doug Bachli trophy at Victoria, the day after the finish of the Australian Masters at Metropolitan, Page 8 but inclement weather reduced the field to 25 hardy souls who ventured out in Hickories at Kingston Heath strong winds, heavy rain and the ever present danger of thunder and lightning. There should have been a prize for everyone who completed 18 holes, but for For The Diary Graham Ryan, this years’ winner, his 41 points appeared to indicate that he was just having a stroll in the park, and this despite three putting the 17th (cue cries of 16th February ‘handbrake’ from a couple of unruly members!). Mark Brasher in his first attempt on Dinner at the Doug Bachli trophy returned a strong 37 off his low handicap, to be runner up. Commonwealth Golf Club Lady’s’ champion is Heather Scales with 32 points on a count back from Grace Rew. 16th March Continued on page 2 >> Historians at Kingston Heath Golf Club 19th April Al Howard Memorial Trophy at Wagga Wagga Golf Club Members at the recent Annual General Meeting The Long Game | DECEMBER 2014 1 Continued from page 1: Doug Bachli Meeting at Victoria Golf Club Tony McLean presents the Doug Bachli Ladies medal to Heather Scales We were joined on the day by a keen hickory golfer, Andy Reistetter from the US, who returned a competent 36 points on his first attempt at the Victoria Golf Club layout. Andy has his own website www.andygolftraveldiary.com and is clearly very media savvy as well as being an enjoyable companion over a glass of red. A golf course exists primarily for match play, which is a sport, as distinguished from stroke play, which more resembles rifle shooting than a sport in that it lacks the joy of personal contact with an opponent. – Freddie Tait The First Golf Bag? NEW MEMBERS (The late Daryl Cox left his golf memorabilia to the GSA, and among his papers were the following words with no indication Welcome to of where, or when, they had been published. I would welcome Ian Dunn, Ray King and David Ryan some firm information, or educated guesses. Ed.) For many years prior to 1879 golf clubs were carried in the hand and under the arms, and it wasn’t until about fifteen years after “There is no shape nor size of body, the founding of The North Devon & West of England Golf Club, now known as Royal Devon Golf Club, that a retired no awkwardness, no ungainliness, sailmaker , who was a clubhouse attendant, fabricated possibly which puts golf beyond ones reach. the first golf bag out of canvas used for making sails. It was a crude container whose primary purpose was to protect the grips There are good golfers with one of the clubs from getting wet. eye, with one leg, even one arm. The early golf bags, to carry seldom more than 7 clubs, were simply long, thin, loose canvas cylinders, with a shoulder strap, None but the blind need despair”. which would concertina to the ground if not held properly. – Sir Walter Simpson ‘The Art of Golf’ Gradually the canvas cylinder was improved with stiffeners (circa 1890) made of split cane to prevent it from slumping. Near the turn of the century a more rigid bag was built around an iron frame and today even blind people have with rings, at the top and the bottom, to keep the shape. their own Championships 2 The Long Game | DECEMBER 2014 President’s Report... 2014 At Box Hill, we had great Tony McLean continues to be presentations from Ian Rowell invaluable as our Secretary, and (Riversdale) and Michael Church Peter Swan, as Treasurer has done a (Northern), while at Commonwealth, great job. Peter Gompertz produces our guest presenters were Rick Wines, The Long Game and endures Virginia Gorell, and Martin Maguire. the frustrations of organising the President, while Fiona Leggett The golf events held during the maintains our web site and archival year were well attended including material. Virginia Gorrell looks after the Hickory Challenge at Kingston our social events extremely well, Heath during April, where a team of and Peter Swan also handles our Society members competed against merchandise. My thanks to Norie the Australian Golf Heritage Society Macleod and Trevor Herden for their from Sydney. Regrettably the visitors wise counsel. All have contributed were victorious, and a return match their time, and efforts, which is is scheduled for March, or April, next greatly appreciated. year, in NSW. It is encouraging that several young members were keen to Regrettably we are losing several Geoff Vincent AM join us and take on the traditions of members from our committee as their President hickory golf. terms of office come to an end. It is my pleasure to present the This year we saw a new initiative We are sorry to farewell Paul Burgess, Presidents Report for the past year. with Paul Burgess starting a regular Norie Macleod and Peter Swan, and hickory day at Woodlands; that was their contribution will be missed. We have had some 12 events during extended by Ian Rennick at Kew, and Moira Drew has also decided the leave the year , including three dinners, Peter Gompertz at Long Island. These us this year; her work on archives and where we have averaged around 60 events are growing in interest at the our web site will be hard to replace. members and guests at each function. various clubs. I would also like to mention the Our social events were a highlight this I would also like to add our thanks passing of our Past President, and year, thanks to Virginia Gorrell. to Max Findlay, and Cliff George, Life Member, Daryl Cox, who died for their interest and passion with in July. Daryl was President of our We were delighted that Karen Lunn the restoration of our hickory clubs, Society from 1994 to 2000 and had ( Executive Director ALPG ) could and for the supply of clubs for our a lengthy career in golf at Yarra Yarra, spare the time to address us at various events. Commonwealth and the National. Metropolitan Golf Club in February during the Handa Australian Womens I would commend the hickory As President I have enjoyed the past Open. In May, Jeff Blunden gave competition to members. Playing year and look forward to further us an insight into the current state hickories can help your game using development of Society affairs during of modern golf at the Kingston modern equipments, and it is good the coming year. Heath dinner, and Trevor Herden fun. Also the opportunity to play (Tournament Director Golf Australia) other clubs and meet the members was our speaker at Royal Melbourne, from other clubs who have similar (The AGM was held at Victoria Golf outlining what is happening in the interests, is all worthwhile. forthcoming international events this Club on Monday 24th November season in Australia. Other golf events were held at 2014. Due to ill health our President, Kingston Heath, Woodlands, Royal Geoff Vincent was unable to attend. Our thanks once again to our Melbourne and Victoria golf clubs. Treasurer, Dick Kirby chaired the speakers who gave us their time. I would again congratulate all the meeting and read the Presidents’ winners and thank all the golf Report. The Annual Accounts were For the past 10 years we have held clubs for allowing us to play their approved by the members present. meetings of golf historians, to enable wonderful golf courses. We are always The President, Secretary and members of various clubs to exchange made to feel welcome and it is a Treasurer were returned unopposed, ideas on items of history and how to privilege to play at these clubs. as were retiring Committee members preserve the traditions of the game. Virginia Gorrell and Peter Gompertz. Our new Committee member Kim I would now like to pay tribute to Cliff George was elected to the Hastie has handled this new convening members of your Committee. committee. A visiting Hickory golfer, task very well, with forums at Box Hill Andy Reistetter from the USA was and Commonwealth golf clubs. made welcome. Ed.) The Long Game | DECEMBER 2014 3 Golf Historians Forum Report Commonwealth Golf Club October 13th, 2014 By Kim Hastie GSA President Geoff Vincent GC was constituted, its’ name being Sam Bennett was one of the welcomed all to the meeting and recognition of the contribution of ‘Carnoustie 300’; young professional thanked Commonwealth for the Commonwealth Armed Forces in golfers who left Carnoustie to take the Great War; in 1921 construction golf to the world. Sams’ association hosting today. started on a new building, completed with the club started in 1915 when He spoke briefly about the role of the in 1922 and extended in 1923. By he was appointed as the Pro and also society and the value of forums such 1927 the Committee decided that a laid out 12 holes with multiple tees to this, and introduced Convenor of the large and more prestigious clubhouse, achieve 18 holes.