From the inception of the Club the associates have formed an integral part, contributing in many ways, to add to the unique qualities it possesses today. During the course's formative years the women worked alongside the men, not only giving moral, but physical support. In the early years, as the men removed the rocks, felled the trees and grubbed out the stumps, the women supplied food, dug out the paspalum grass and watered, weeded and mowed the greens; push mowers in those days. For several years regular working bees were formed to attend to the many jobs as the course was moulded. Rocks gathered around the course were used to form the foundation for the 8th green, a monumental task using horse and dray to transport most of them. The early members recall with great affection the time George Howard used to tether his cow around the 9th green in an attempt to keep the grass down. His children, Gwen (Symons) and Jack used to bring the cow up to the house for daily milking. The early members often received a free lesson from George Howard who would knockoffhiscoursedutiestogive a player some advice about their game. This often helped some poor golfer in strife. The older members remember with a certain amount of nostalgia some of the landmarks o( yesteryear. The swinging bridge over the 10th gully, which scared some of the elderly members. The Wisteria covered gum tree to the right of the associates' 9th tee. The canvas water bag which would be hung on a tree around the 12th to supply clear cool water to help quench the thirsts on hot days. It was the wisteria around the course that prompted Vince Church to name the Salver he donated to the Associates in 1969, "Wisteria Salver". This event is played each ye'1r during the blooming of the Wisteria. Most of the plants, including the white variety, came from Lilian Mark's garden. One of the most outstanding features of Pennant Hills Golf Club has always been the beautiful flower arrangements displayed within the clubhouse. The associates have mainly been responsible for these and on numerous occasions have supplied the flowers from their own gardens. Whilst each week
Grammar School. His family moved to the picturesque slopes of Ermington and later, in 1905, to Beecroft where John North lived for the rest of his life. He was a third generation partner in the stockbroking firm of J. & J. North which was established by his grandfather in 1867. He loved golf and was originally a member of the Concord Golf Club where he played on a handicap of Standard Scratch. He became involved in the establishment of the Pennant Hills District Golf Club (later P.H.G.C.) and helped organise working bees to clear fairways of timber and stones. He was the first captain of the Club and also served as honorary secretary, honourary treasurer and handicapper. He was appointed to the board of the Pennant Hills District Golf Club Limited as a director in 1928 and served for seven years, contributing his vast knowledge of business which was of inestimable value during the difficult period of the Great Depression. He had a daughter Judith and his four sons John, David, Brian and Ian have all been members of the Club, David and Brian having served as committee members also. Following his death in 1959, the J.A. North Memorial Trophy was donated by his family and was accepted by the Club in appreciation of his contribution to its foundation. The Club has now taken over the responsibility of this trophy. It was deemed appropriate that recognition be made of the contribution of our first Club Captain .
THE ASSOCIATES Ourminutesindicatethaton the 23rd April 1923,Mrs. Dorothea Page became the first associate member of the Club. Her membership was closely followed by Mrs. O.S. Walshe, Mrs. H.J. Hendy, Mrs. R.W. Stone, Mrs. Doris Marjorie Beck and Mrs. Primrose Buckle, who were all accepted as associate members on the 14th May 1923. By the end of the first year there were seventeen associate members, by 1925 the number had increased to fifty. Over the years the Associate membership has steadily increased in numbers, today it is over 400. 60
