was required to raise up the height of the green. When it was completed, the short Par 3 first was amalgamated with the Par 4 second to form the present Par 5 first. This layout forms our present course and with alterations to tees and greens, remains practically unaltered. The length of-the course in 1988 is 5892 metres with an Australian Course Rating of 70 and a Club Rating of 71. There are five Par 3's, nine Par 4's and four Par S's. The course is considered to be a fair test of golf with the tree lined fairways penalising any wayward shots. Leading golfers from other Clubs have praised the putting surfaces on the greens. The bunkering is modem and considered to be fairly severe. The fairways are well covered with Kikuyu grass and other than in very hot dry conditions, area splendid sight. The course has a modern watering system. It is interesting to note that the landscaping of the greens, as designed by the late Eric Apperly, blend in perfectly wjth the park like setting of the course. We as members, have had a wonderful heritage handed down to us, let us make every effort to preserve and maintain its beauty. May we reprint the famous phrase, so often .used by Past President and Patron of our Club, the late E.J. Hyde, "Don't stop, further progress is necessary."
times, quite rickety. To gain access to the area, members were required to walk down a side track to the right of the 1st tee. After crossing the creek it took a certain amount of stamina and willpower to climb up the other side to reach the 1st Par 3 green. A missed putt was forgiven as it was considered to be a "Puffing putt". In theseearlydays, members or their caddies, carried shoulder bags containing five or six hickory shafted clubs. Very few members owned a full set. It would have been a most difficult task to haul the modern day buggy and clubs over such slippery, paspalum infested, terrain. During the era of the sleepers it was not uncommon for the first three off the tee to find a was ha way confronting them at the crossing. It was said that many a pair of plus fours were baptised whilst performing the task of replacing the sleepers. These were pioneering days and the slight delay in the round was accepted by all but a few members. In 1929 the sleepers were removed and a low level wooden bridge was constructed by the groundstaff. This new addition greatly assisted the members and dispensed with risky creek crossing. This bridge was used, with only minor repairs, until the high level, 200ft steel truss bridge was erected in 1961 at a cost of £1850. The new bridge was built some 60 yards south of the old wooden bridge and served the dual roles of entry to the 1st fairway and the 18th green. In 1965 the old wooden low level bridge was replaced with a concrete low level vehicular crossing, giving on course access to the Clubhouse area. In 1985 an entry point for motorised buggies to the vehicular bridge was established. The route selected was almost the sme as that used by the members in the sleeper era. This roadway, with accompanying parking area near the Pro shop, will greatly reduce the traffic wear on the 1st tee area.
CROSSING THE GULLIES 1924-1985 With the decision in 1924 to extend the course to eighteen holes, it was decided to incorporate the unused area in the north east corner of the property. This proposed new layout brought about the problems of crossing Devlin's Creek at the 1st, 9th, 10th and 18th holes. The methods devised for crossing the gullies were both practical and amusing.
9THHOLE The early crossing was made by the use of sleepers which created a problem when the creek was in flood. At times the creek was at a higher level than was considered safe to cross. In 1930 a high level wooden bridge was constructed from timber available on the course. Over the years it became a
1STHOLE The difficulties encountered in crossing the 1st gully were overcome by the placing of four railway sleepers across a narrow section of the creek. This first bridging attempt was, at 43
