While some hired labour was needed to set up the Walcha Golf Club’s new 18-hole course on the western side of town in 1936 and 1937 much of the work was undertaken by volunteers.
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The Walcha News of February 19, 1937 gave a progress report on the job saying: “The foundations for the greens have now been laid.
The majority have received their top dressing of sand and are ready for use.
The ladies have raked until they have removed all the sticks, stones and other obstructions from the fairways”.
During his address at the official opening ceremony on Sunday April 11, 1937 the club’s president Tom Fenwicke said: “There is not enough time to name all those who provided the machinery, lorries, labour, money, etc. to clear, renovate and sow the fairways and to fence and paint everything, but they all have my sincere thanks”.
The Mayor, Ald. Syd Hargraves, in declaring the course open also praised the work done by volunteers saying: “The 100 acres of land was purchased for £840. The clubhouse was erected for £440 and the construction of the course has cost £150 to date. This very low cost is due to the energy of the many volunteers”.
Ald. Hargraves then proceeded to the No. 1 tee to hit off the first official ball suggesting that as he was a rank amateur he should have been able to use something the size of cricket ball rather than a golf ball.
Despite his fears he hit a “screamer” down the centre of the fairway.
Golfers enjoyed trouble-free rounds for 14 months until “ball stealing” crows took up residence on the new course in June 1938.
Crows generally wreck golf balls by chewing through the covering and then hiding them in fallen timber.
Golf champions, Norman von Nida and Bobby Locke, came to Walcha in October 1938 where they played a nine-hole exhibition match with local golfers E.N. Crisp and T.C. Bath before travelling to Tamworth to take part in another exhibition match.
Golf champions, Norman von Nida and Bobby Locke, came to Walcha in October 1938.
The clubhouse was extended in 1947 to provide an extra room and an office.
The members’ locker rooms, showers and toilets were added in 1955 together with the sinking of a bore to provide a water supply.
A septic tank system was installed in 1956 as was a locker room and showers for the associates.