Horsham Golf Club's history dates back to the 1940s and many international golfers have tried their hand at the difficult course over the past 60 years. This article first appeared in the Wimmera Mail-Times on July 13, 1977, and gives a snapshot of the club's history.
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CARVED out of scrubland, Horsham golf course is a monument of achievement to dedicated members who guided its early destiny.
The multimillion-dollar complex has grown in prestige and is acclaimed by internationals as one of the nation's finest inland layouts.
Little wonder its high credit rating is a magnet for golf-lovers all over the land.
In early years after the Second World War, the need for a new course was evident.
In 1946 the sandy waste was transformed with couch grass.
With unwavering foresight, members bought 64 hectares or 160 sandy acres at peaceful Haven to build a golf empire.
Bulldozers blitzed the land to create tantalising narrow tree-lined fairways from virtual scrub, only tireless toilers achieved the feat after emerging from a jungle of distress.
What greater satisfaction than to see a scenically beautiful course, flowering in springtime with myriads of wattles and native flowers.
The next year greens and bunkers were established.
To overcome the heartbreak of carting water, a dam was built in 1949 and a water reticulation system installed to water greens.
Achievement day was the same year when golfers tramped the new course to test their skills.
A decade later in 1959 the club was registered under the Licensing Act and the clubhouse was built.
It was then extended in 1975.
In 1964 a fairway watering system started with construction of a 21,000 cubic foot dam.
Initial course development cost $10,000 with $22,000 spent on the water system.
But money spoke only one language; individual effort was the keystone to achievement.
There was the work of Frank Langlands and son Bruce, and others who planted more than 8000 native trees.
And nothing achieved greater joy for former club president Ian Bennett and the late Gill Shirlaw who planned the course.
A contour survey was undertaken by Horsham surveyor and colourful personality Tom Turner.
And who better to design the course than skilled golf architect, Sam Berriman, then curator at Huntingdale?
Under his guidance and motivation to create something of majestic grace, the course was destined for eminence.
Tight fairways, deep enticing bunkers and a par rating of 70 have stood the test of golfing might.
Few golfers have conquered par on the 5674-metre course.
Leading golfers in a par-shattering mood have failed in their fierce desire to crack par.
Horsham had golf courses dating before 1890.
The first circuit was on land owned by the Langlands family.
Boundaries were Bennett and Natimuk roads to Gardenia Street and at the rear of homes in Natimuk Road and Darlot Street, bounded by the river.
Its club house was set between Gardenia and Brookes streets, on what was a cow paddock.
Scrapes were enclosed by a wire fence.
Records show the 1901 annual report was presented by Mr P. Learmonth.
Membership had increased from six to 24.
In 1924, the club bought 85 acres at the east end of Hamilton Street, but across the river.
Prestige early vintage cars were parked on the city side of the river.
Players entered the course over a wing bridge.
It proved happy golfing but inadequate for a growing golf population.
A switch to the new layout meant the sale in 1946 of the old course.
Horsham’s golf reputation was rewarded with the 1954 Western District open tournament.
It produced sparkling play and was won by Huntingdale amateur Barry West.
He had par rounds of 70-70, and a record outward two-under par 32.
He outlasted top professional Jack Harris who carded a morning 68 and later a 73.
Ossie Pickworth, with a swing of sheer beauty, matched par in another round.
South African Bobby Locke, triple British Open champion, was the first international to grace the course.
In a 1955 challenge, he went down to Australia’s great Norman Von Nida, who was two up.
Golf memories are still rich of their superlative play, like Von Nida’s burst of eight one-putt greens on the outward nine to lay the foundation for an unofficial course record.
Out in 33, Von Nida blitzed home in 34 for a three-under par 67.
And the pair poured praise on Horsham’s layout.
Locke said Horsham had, without doubt, the finest of Australian’s inland courses.
“The four short holes are as fine a collection as you’d find on any course in the world,” he said.
“The second is a gem.
“I could take your putting greens and bunkers back to Johannesburg.”
Von Nida said there was positively no finer putting greens in the world and the bunkers were a joy.
Later par-shattering efforts by players have gone to skilled club members.
Alan Ellis, a former assistant pro who regained amateur status, took over the glamour.
He was club champion from 1955 to 1958.
His great skills included a record-equalising 68, and an unofficial three-under 67.
His immortal feat was a rare albatross on the par-five 14th green.
The club’s history would not be complete without mention of Frank Simpson.
During a majestic reign spanning more than 45 years, he was club champion 12 times.
Simpson was one of the first to match par 70, and as a veteran was still winning trophies.
Son Brian followed in his footsteps to become a successful Melbourne professional.
Along came another great father-son duo in Clarrie and Ralph Dickerson. They shared the official course record with 68.
Ralph went to Melbourne as an assistant professional but love of the bush saw him return home.
Regaining amateur status, the pint-size Ralph spread eagled fields whenever he played.
At 20, Ralph won Horsham club’s championship by a staggering margin of 17 shots.
His four rounds, 68-73-72-69-282, were only two over the card.
Ralph’s record was expected to withstand the test of time.
That was until Peter Fitzgerald came on the scene to blast the course apart.
Fitzgerald, 21, won 1976’s club title with a Horsham record score of 280 over four rounds.
Two successive rounds were under par 68s.
With machine-like persistency, Fitzgerald become a worthy champion with a four round aggregate that matched par.
He set another record by a winning margin of 30 shots from nearest opponent, Eric Harrison.
Another of Horsham’s great tournaments was the 1966 Victorian close championship, won by professional Peter Mills with rounds of 74-71-71.
In 1976, the club staged Western Victoria’s biggest ever Caltex tournament of $5000 for Victorian country amateurs.
A team event over 54 holes, it was staged again in 1977, on May 28 and 29.
Associates stage the annual Nell Smithett memorial teams event which attracts many of the state’s top women players.
The club’s annual golf week is another big event on the Wimmera sporting calendar.
Few golf courses have gained greater status.
It speaks volumes for club spirit, wise administration and indeed a devoted staff.
