History
Club History
Golf was first played at the Heidelberg Golf Club in Lower Plenty over 75 years ago. The club had developed from two previous clubs: the Eaglemont Golf Club at Eaglemont and the Yarra Yarra Golf Club at Rosanna.
In 1927, the Yarra Golf Club at Rosanna decided to sell their course and build a new one down in the sand belt, a number of prominent local citizens were passionately against the idea. Men such as Col Garrard, Dr Kent Hughes, Cr Price, Mr Chandler and Mr Hooper wanted a course "to provide golf for those in the northern suburbs." So determined were they to see this happen, that they formed a company with that express purpose.
Fortunately, the late Mrs Thomas's "Bryn Teg" property of 177 acres was on the market, and the Company was able to buy the land and issued shares in the Company for those who wanted to join the Golf Club. Within 16 months of the decision to sell the Rosanna course, 12 holes of the new Heidelberg Course were ready for play.
The first meeting of the Golf sub committee of the Heidelberg House Company met on 1st March 1928. A number of issues were discussed including the setting of fees and the types of membership categories. On 26th April 1928, HGC was admitted to the Victorian Golf Association.
By Saturday 1st June 1928, the first twelve holes were ready for play. On the Friday night, the President, Mr Sharwood, gave a dinner at the Golf Club Hotel for the members of the Golf committee.
Just four weeks later, the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Mr Stanley Bruce, officially opened the course. By all accounts it was a most successful day with good weather and a large crowd.
The opening of the golf course was seen as a great boost for the northern suburbs. It featured in all the papers and was on the front page of the Sun. Memberships were readily taken up and the HGC was a great success.
Social events were obviously an important part of the club. The first Annual ball was held in July 1929; 380 people who enjoyed a sit down supper and music by the Hoffman Orchestra.
Mr and Mrs Bruce returned on 18th April 1931 to officially open the 18 hole course. At the 1930 AGM, Mr and Mrs Bruce and Col Garrard were made Honorary Life Members of the Club.
In the late 1950's, it was decided to build a Bowling Green. A major reason for having bowls at the golf club, was to retain those older members who found the hills too difficult. The Green was opened in November 1958 and the next year the bowling club became affiliated with the R.V.B.A.
The next major project was the re-construction of the layout of the course in the 1960's. This was done to minimize the impact of the hills and resulted in many changes in the direction of various holes. The new course was officially opened in 1968.
Many changes and improvements have taken place at the Club over the past 75 years. Watering systems have been installed, the course has been redesigned and a beautiful new Club House has been built. The Club House is a popular place for weddings, business breakfasts, conferences and similar functions.
The membership is many and varied - ages range from 11 to 93 years, there are golfers playing off handicaps from scratch to 45 and there are full members and non playing social members.