Royal Fremantle Golf Club

Club house in 2010
Royal Fremantle Golf Club
Club information
Established1905; 120 years ago (1905)
Typeprivate
Websitewww.royalfremantlegc.com.au/cms/ Edit this at Wikidata

Royal Fremantle Golf Club is a golf club in Fremantle, Western Australia. It was established in 1905. Multiple prominent golf tournaments have been hosted at the venue including the Australian PGA Championship and Royal Fremantle Open.

History

In 1904, roughly twenty people who lived in the Fremantle area met regularly at His Lordship's Larder (later known as His Majety's Hotel,[1] on the corner of Phillimore and Mouat Streets), to talk about creating a golf course. On July 20, 1905 the club was formally created. For the site of the course, the members quickly decided to use 196 acres of government land that was currently being leased to cattle famers. In early August, the Fremantle Municipal Council approved a loan of £500 to assist with the development of the first nine holes. A month later, in September, the club was formally established with 60 members and, in November, formally incorporated.[2]

However, there were many problems converting the designated territory into a golf course. The terrain was rocky and had an inadequate water supply. Cattle, rabbits, and goats regularly trespassed into the land. The goats were especially problematic, as they would often eat "young tree plantings as fast as they were planted." The establishment of "pig" wire netting was originally recommended but, in efforts to save money, the club ultimately decided to construct warning signs "that goats trespassing on the Links Reserve will be shot."[2]

Despite the challenges, by 1906 the first nine holes "became playable." The following year the Governor of Western Australia officially opened the course. In 1909 the full 18 holes were completed. Fremantle became the first 18-hole course in the state. Two years later it hosted the state's inaugural amateur championship.[2] It also hosted a club championship in 1909.[3]

Membership climbed the first decade of the club's history but abruptly dropped during World War I. By 1930, however, membership had returned to pre-war levels. In addition in 1930, the Crown certified the club's "Royal status." Royal Fremantle was then "the Premier Club in Western Australia."[2]

The course has hosted several significant golf tournaments over its history. In 1960 it hosted the Australian PGA Championship.[4] In the late 1970s and early 80s it hosted the Royal Fremantle Open.[5][6]

The club celebrated its centenary in 2005.[7][8]

Other Information

The course is 6,175 metres (20,259 ft) long. The course has Kikuyu fairways and Bentgrass greens.[2]

In the early 1980s the course record of 66 was established. It stood for 25 years until 2006 when Ric Kulacz, a local amateur player, shot a 64. This record was tied by Paul Fenton in 2009 at the course's club championship.[2]

Minjee Lee, currently one of the top female golfers in the world, honed her game at the club. Touring professionals Craig Parry and Greg Chalmers both graduated from the club's junior program.[2]

Tournaments hosted

See also

References

  1. ^ "Advertising". The West Australian. Vol. XXIII, no. 6, 679. Western Australia. 17 August 1907. p. 3. Retrieved 19 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "History". Royal Fremantle Golf Club. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  3. ^ "GOLF". West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954). 4 August 1909. p. 9. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Sullivan wins golf title". The Canberra Times. Vol. 34, no. 9690. 26 August 1960. p. 28. Retrieved 16 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ a b "Hore shows his class". The Age. 18 April 1977. p. 37. Retrieved 14 February 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  6. ^ a b Grant, Trevor (15 May 1982). "Terry clears out - 10 under". The Age. p. 35. Retrieved 14 February 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Fuller, Richard; Louden, Warren, 1929-; Royal Fremantle Golf Club. Centenary Historical Committee (2005), Royal Fremantle Golf Club centenary, 1905-2005, Royal Fremantle Golf Club, retrieved 16 February 2021{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Fuller, Richard; Royal Fremantle Golf Club (2005), Royal Fremantle : the history of Royal Fremantle Golf Club 1905-2005, Royal Fremantle Golf Club, ISBN 978-0-646-45414-6
  9. ^ "2020 Nexus Risk WA Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  10. ^ "2015 Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  11. ^ "2011 WA Open Championship". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Too hard to copy". The Age. 25 May 1981. p. 22. Retrieved 14 February 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  13. ^ "Tickner on top". The Canberra Times. 25 March 1980. p. 20. Retrieved 14 February 2021 – via Trove.
  14. ^ Bird, Frank (24 March 1980). "Quinella to NSW golfers". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 25. Retrieved 16 February 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  15. ^ "Golf". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 March 1979. p. 29. Retrieved 14 February 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  16. ^ "Home win for Gale". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 March 1979. p. 27. Retrieved 16 February 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  17. ^ "Headland's golf title". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 April 1978. p. 23. Retrieved 14 February 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Golfers remember games's local founder". Beverley Times (WA : 1905 - 1977). 2 August 1973. p. 6. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Juniors at Rdyal Fremantle". Beverley Times (WA : 1905 - 1977). 20 October 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Professional title". The West Australian. Vol. 63, no. 19127. Western Australia. 3 November 1947. p. 17. Retrieved 5 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Professional Golf". The West Australian. Vol. 53, no. 16037. Western Australia. 20 November 1937. p. 15. Retrieved 5 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Professional championship". The West Australian. Vol. XLIX, no. 9759. Western Australia. 9 October 1933. p. 6. Retrieved 5 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

32°03′05″S 115°46′29″E / 32.051327°S 115.774667°E / -32.051327; 115.774667 (Royal Fremantle Golf Club)