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TOWN: St. Leonards (Blanche Street)

CLUB:

Year of Foundation: 1951, Reformed 1979

Year of VGA Affiliation: 1980

PEOPLE:

Founders: Charles McCarthy (Founding President) & Frank Strauss (Re-formed President)

Course Designers: Arthur Blanche, Bud Russell - Professional at Barwon Heads Golf Club

The St Leonards Golf Club was founded in 1951. Charles McCarthy was the first President. The club at formation had approximately 40 members. The course was designed and built by Arthur Blanche on land that he owned, and consisted of 9 holes, with sand scrape greens. The Golf Club did not have a clubhouse, and met in the St. Leonards Hotel. The Golf Club continued to be active for a number of years, but eventually dissolved. During the late 50's and early sixties the course fell into disrepair.

The St. Leonards Golf Club was founded in 1951. Charles McCarthy was the first President. The Club, on formation had approximately 40 members. The course was designed and built by Arthur Blanche on land that he owned, and consisted of 9 holes, with sand scrape greens. The Golf Club did not have a clubhouse, and met in the St. Leonards Hotel. The Golf Club continued to be active for a number of years, but eventually dissolved. During the late 50's and early sixties the course fell into disrepair.

In 1963 Arthur Blanche re-activated the course, firstly as a 9-hole pitch and putt course, then as a 9-hole course, essentially on the original layout. Around 1966, Tom Ryan, the greenkeeper, commissioned Bud Russell, professional of the Barwon Heads Golf Club, to design an 18-hole course. This design incorporated the original 9 holes and an aditional 9 holes on the northern section of the land. The course was constructed, incorporating grass greens, and opened in 1967-68, operating as a public golf course.

In 1979 Arthur Blanche, after ongoing discussions with John Sullivan and Frank Strauss, agreed to re-form the St. Leonards Golf Club. John Sullivan managed the local real estate agency, and was a keen golfer. Frank Strauss was the first president of the re-formed St. Leonards Golf Club. The first clubhouse was a tin shed. The current clubhouse was completed in 1986. At that time Arthur Blanche was responsible for the upkeep of the course, the Golf Club was responsible for the organization of the golfing programme. Upon the death of Arthur Blanche in 1988, it was agreed the the Golf Club be responsible for all aspects of the course, and the land was leased, in a series of ongoing leases, to the Golf Club. This remains the current agreement.

Frank Strauss was an exceptional golfer and teacher of golf. He taught many of the locals the basic skills and techniques of the game. He also instilled in the members, the principles of golf etiquette. Until his death he maintained a very strong interest in the Golf Club and it was not unusual to see him, frail as he was, completing 18 holes on a Saturday afternoon with the aid of a golf cart.

Shortly after the foundation of the club, John Sullivan was transferred and took no further part in the development of the club.

The Club relied on the hard work and involvement of its members. In the early 1990's the Geelong region, including St. Leonards, was in recession exacerbated by the collapse of the Pyramid Building Society. Membership dropped significantly. The green keeper of the time made a mistake in the dosing of a pesticide and effectively wiped out most of the fairways. The committee terminated his services. He was not replaced.

The responsibilities of green keeping fell upon the committee and the members of the Club. They rebuilt the fairways, and, through their effective voluntary work, the condition of the course improved significantly. Every Wednesday there is a working-bee of members to undertake the day-to-day maintenance of the course. Every tee is maintained by an individual member. Mowing and maintenance of the greens and fairways is the responsibility of, and is undertaken by, the Greens Committee. This responsibility of the members, for the maintenance of the course, has led to a deep commitment by the members to all aspects of the Club. All issues are debated, with opinions frankly given. This has given the Club an intrinsic vitality and camaraderie.

The Club currently provides at least 5 competitions per week, for both ladies and men. The Club competes in the local pennant and has the annual St. Leonards Open. The Open is held during the dry time of the year and, as the fairways are not watered, play can be somewhat difficult. It is the aim of the committee to play the Open in winter or spring, when the fairways are luxurious and allow a more even test of golf.

The course is now very picturesque. The native tea tree still remains a feature of the course. The trees planted from the late sixties are becoming mature. Water has always been a problem and a new large dam, initiated by Lyn Blair, was built. This dam, together with the other dams on the course, has meant that watering of tees and greens can generally be undertaken throughout the summer using the water reserves stored on the course.

It is anticipated in the coming years that the course will be extended and signficantly modified. The aim is to ensure that the character of the course, and the involvement of the members remain constrant.

In 1963 Arthur Blanche re-activated the course, firstly as a 9-hole pitch and putt course, then as a 9-hole course, essentially on the original layout. Around 1966, Tom Ryan, the greenkeeper, commissioned Bud Russell, professional of the Barwon Heads Golf Club, to design an 18-hole course. This design incorporated the original 9 holes and an aditional 9 holes on the northern section of the land. The course was constructed, incorporating grass greens, and opened in 1967-68, operating as a public golf course.

In 1979 Arthur Blanche, after ongoing discussions with John Sullivan and Frank Strauss, agreed to re-form the St. Leonards Golf Club. John Sullivan managed the local real estate agency, and was a keen golfer. Frank Strauss was the first president of the re-formed St. Leonards Golf Club. The first clubhouse was a tin shed. The current clubhouse was completed in 1986. At that time Arthur Blanche was responsible for the upkeep of the course, the Golf Club was responsible for the organization of the golfing programme. Upon the death of Arthur Blanche in 1988, it was agreed the the Golf Club be responsible for all aspects of the course, and the land was leased, in a series of ongoing leases, to the Golf Club. This remains the current agreement.

Frank Strauss was an exceptional golfer and teacher of golf. He taught many of the locals the basic skills and techniques of the game. He also instilled in the members, the principles of golf etiquette. Until his death he maintained a very strong interest in the Golf Club and it was not unusual to see him, frail as he was, completing 18 holes on a Saturday afternoon with the aid of a golf cart.

Shortly after the foundation of the club, John Sullivan was transferred and took no further part in the development of the club. . The Club relied on the hard work and involvement of its members. In the early 1990's the Geelong region, including St. Leonards, was in recession exacerbated by the collapse of the Pyramid Building Society. Membership dropped significantly. The green keeper of the time made a mistake in the dosing of a pesticide and effectively wiped out most of the fairways. The committee terminated his services. He was not replaced.

The responsibilities of green keeping fell upon the committee and the members of the Club. They rebuilt the fairways, and, through their effective voluntary work, the condition of the course improved significantly. Every Wednesday there is a working-bee of members to undertake the day-to-day maintenance of the course. Every tee is maintained by an individual member. Mowing and maintenance of the greens and fairways is the responsibility of, and is undertaken by, the Greens Committee. This responsibility of the members, for the maintenance of the course, has led to a deep commitment by the members to all aspects of the Club. All issues are debated, with opinions frankly given. This has given the Club an intrinsic vitality and camaraderie.

The Club currently provides at least 5 competitions per week, for both ladies and men. The Club competes in the local pennant and has the annual St. Leonards Open. The Open is held during the dry time of the year and, as the fairways are not watered, play can be somewhat difficult. It is the aim of the committee to play the Open in winter or spring, when the fairways are luxurious and allow a more even test of golf.

The course is now very picturesque. The native tea tree still remains a feature of the course. The trees planted from the late sixties are becoming mature. Water has always been a problem and a new large dam, initiated by Lyn Blair, was built. This dam, together with the other dams on the course, has meant that watering of tees and greens can generally be undertaken throughout the summer using the water reserves stored on the course.

It is anticipated in the coming years that the course will be extended and signficantly modified. The aim is to ensure that the character of the course, and the involvement of the members remain constant.