History
History Book References:
‘Concept proposal for the redevelopment of Lonsdale Golf Course‘, March 2002
Barry Eastoe, ‘An Historical Summary of the Development of the Club‘
Phil Graham, ‘History of the Lonsdale Golf Club, 1988‘, updated to 2017 by Don Hanley
Interview with Dave Edwards-Smith, Leo McDonald and Lorel Larcombe by Georgie Clegg, 24 November 2021
Lorel Larcombe, ‘Notes on the background to the redevelopment‘, April 2022
Cathy Marston, ‘Flora and Fauna‘ c. 2004
Cathy Marston, ‘Lonsdale Golf Club: Women’s Golf‘, 2010
Ross McKenzie, ‘The Redevelopment, 2002-2‘, April 2022
Frank Phillips, ‘Lonsdale Golf Club redevelopment 2000-2020: the creation of Lonsdale Links‘, January 2021
The Beginning
In 1921, a group of Point Lonsdale residents, under the leadership of Mr. A.M.Nicholas of Aspro fame, together with some holiday home owners got together and decided to buy some land and establish golf links at Point Lonsdale. 43 acres, Lot 7 was purchased for ₤1000 from Mr. R.Thomson.
This land extended from Fellows road (then Boundary Road) north to Lake Victoria with the southwest boundary approximately opposite Kirk road. This land was some distance from the settled areas of Point Lonsdale.
From the beginning, these enthusiastic golfers and friends wanted a traditional course with good conditions and grass greens; for it was to be not only suitable for their use but to be a tourist attraction as well, encouraging golfers to come to the area.
Then it was down to hard physical work. Almost all this was done with volunteer labour by these people and their friends and families. A nine hole course was marked out and the task of clearing and levelling the land began. With dogged determination and much blood sweat and perhaps tears, this staunch group of towns people and holiday homeowners from very diversified backgrounds set out with one purpose – to make themselves a prestigious golf course with quality playing facilities.
Some horse drawn implements were used along with enthusiastic would-be golfers. Grass was sown on the greens but was slow to grow so it was decided to make sand scrapes near each green to be used until the grass was suitably strong and ready.
After about eighteen months of toiling the Opening Day was held on Saturday, November 18th 1922. Mr. A. M. Nicholas, the inaugural President, drove the first ball off the first tee and declared the “Point Lonsdale Golf Links” officially open.
Almost 100 years later, the Club now known as Lonsdale Links (Lonsdale Golf Club Inc.) has undergone a complete course and Clubhouse redevelopment, subdividing and selling land, as well as purchasing neighbouring farmland to extend onto. The redeveloped course and new clubhouse opened to the public in December 2020.
The Club celebrated its 100th Birthday in November 2022.
