WHEN Horsham Golf Club life member Bob Hayes first saw the club’s course after the Remlaw fire, he could not see how it would bounce back.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But 10 years on, the course shows very little scars – at least visually – from what it faced.
Mr Hayes said the fire and the aftermath was devastating.
“You felt like you were being crushed when you looked at the mess that was left behind,” he said.
“When I viewed the damage I thought, ‘We're gone – we can't redeem the course at all’.
“It's an amazing story really, the recovery. There were some very dedicated people who worked non-stop to get it back.”
Mr Hayes said several weeks later, the players were back on the course.
“It was a great feeling of achievement by a lot of people who worked from daylight to dark doing jobs – it was a great effort,” he said.
“The club combined and got behind everyone and it was a great spirit of, ‘Let's get this back and up and running again'.
“Financially the club is not travelling that well, but other than that I think we've come out stronger in the long run.”
Last year, the club called for community help to raise $300,000 to help alleviate its $1.4-million debt and avoid the potential of going into administration. The club exceeded its fundraising target.
In a letter to the community, current president Leo Delahunty said the donations would be used to pay the club’s statutory obligations and creditors.
Horsham Golf Club life member and former president Iain McNee said it had been a long journey since the fire.
He was playing a round on the course when the fire siren went on Black Saturday.
“There was disbelief more than anything when I found out the clubhouse had gone, because it was such a well-protected area – it had green grass leading up to it from all directions,” he said.
“When we went and saw it and it became reality, it was quite devastating.
“The strange thing was the cart shed survived and all the carts that belonged to the pros were outside along the path, but the pro shop and clubhouse went.
“The main thing was that no one was severely injured or lost their life– that was a blessing in our fire to be honest. Property damage you can come back from.”
Mr McNee said the community spirit in the fire’s aftermath was a lasting memory.
“We got donations from places like Perth and up in NSW. Lots of clubs locally picked us up and offered us opportunities to play. Bus companies helped in getting our players to those courses,” he said.
“It certainly reminds you of all the good things about people.
“The state government was fantastic and really supportive, and a number of organisations in Horsham were good at getting us grants and helping source funds.
“After a while we were able to reopen the course to nine holes. We had a few issues going on with tree clearing, but eventually we got the 18 holes back.
“You go out there and there are still remnants that would clearly indicate the fire has been, but I would say the recovery process for the course itself is almost complete.
“I think 50 per cent of members would say they want the old course back, and 50 per cent would prefer the new course. The greens get more sunlight and water now because trees aren't there competing with the course.
“It's a pleasure to play out there.”