THE PIONEERS
the local School of Arts. His enthusiasm overflowed to those present and the Club was formed. He was elected a director of the new Club and for several years spent most of his spare time in helping to put the course in order and thus give better playing conditions. His great drive and optimism played an important part in the early days of the Club. He will be remembered by recording his name in the archives of the Club, as the person with the original idea of forming the Club, which we all enjoy so much today. Dr. Holt was indeed a pioneer member of the past.
In 1920 there were only six full eighteen hole golf courses in Sydney. They were the Australian Golf Club, Royal Sydney Golf Club, Concord Golf Club, Killara Golf Club, Bonnie Doon Golf Club and the Manly Golf Club. The founders showed great foresight in commencing the Pennant Hills Golf Club, in 1922. Their absolute enthusiasm far out-weighed the possibility of the venture not succeeding. With the wisdom of hind sight, there is no doubt that the decision was indeed the correct one. Among those pioneers were the following foundation members. ARTHUR CHRISTIAN HOLT ROBERT VICARS JOHN ALFRED NORTH
ROBERT VICARS was born at Rockhampton, Queensland in 1967. Hedied in Sydney in 1961 at the age of ninety four years. His father had been a merchant in Scotland and in 1862 he migrated to Australia. In 1873 the Vicars family moved to Sydney where Robert was enrolled at the Sussex Street School. He later completed his education at the Sydney Grammar School. When.Dr. Holt made the original suggestion of forming a golf club, he became his most enthusiastic supporter. At the first meeting, held in the School of Arts in 1922, he was elected Chairman. When the committee appointed at the preliminary meeting, failed after some months to find a suitable site, he made the decision to purchase the land, which is now our course, and offer it to the Committee at the same price as he had paid. The price was £4750. There was a provision that the land should not be subdivided and must be made into a golf course. A brass plaque, together with his portrait, have been mounted on the wall within the clubhouse, to record this historical transaction. He was director of the Club for many years and was captain from 1928 to 1930. He was also a Life Member of the Club. There is little doubt, that without the foresight and generosity of Robert Vicars, the Pennant Hills Golf Club, as we know it today, would never have eventuated.
THE ORIGINATOR THE PROVIDER THE CONTRIBUTOR
ARTHUR CHRISTIAN HOLT was born on the 30th November 1873 in Bright, Victoria. He died in 1942 at the age of 79 years. His father was the Church of England Minister at a small church, close to the Ovens River, at the foot of Mount Buffalo. When his father was made a Dean of the Church he was transferred to the country town of Deniliquin in N.S.W. Arthur was sent to Kings School, where his brilliance as a scholar, won him admittance to the Sydney University. It was at this University that young Holt became a doctor, when he graduated with his B.A. and M.B. degrees. He married and took up residence in Beecroft in 1913. He was very interested in lawn tennis and joined the local club, where he played an important part in its progress. In 1921 he formed the idea that Beecroft should have a golf club. He then set about to get people interested, which took a lot of enthusiasm as very few people had any interest in golf. It was not played by the young and was considered to be an older person's sport. By 1922 he had enough people interested to call a meeting at
JOHN ALFRED NORTH was born at Ashfield on November 1st, 1884 and, with his five brothers, was educated at Sydney 59
