The Ringwood Golf Club started in 1964 when a handful of keen golfers who played at the Eastfield golf course got together to plan the initial steps in the club’s formation. A constitution was drawn up and Gerry Smart, who was to become the Mayor of the Borough of Ringwood in 1972/1973, was elected as President of the Eastfield Golf Club.
In September 1965 the name was changed to the Ringwood Golf Club and moved from Eastfield to the Olinda golf course. On March 4th 1966 we became affiliated with the Victorian Golf League and our club colours of navy, blue and gold were adopted. In 1968 the club moved its base to Chirnside Park Golf Club where members played until 1974. We then made our final shift to the Ringwood Golf Course when the front nine holes were opened in March 1974. The first clubrooms were built in our current location soon after, until that stage club meetings had been held at various local halls or at committee members’ homes. Members would complete nine holes in those early days and then wait in line to go around again! In June 1976 the back nine holes at Ringwood were officially opened.
In 1965 our annual subscription fee was an amazing 3 pounds 3 shillings! It cost only 3 shillings for nine holes of golf. By 1975 our annual fee had climbed to $15.00, the cost of an 18 hole green fee at Ringwood was $2.50.
Ringwood has always been one of the stronger clubs in the Victorian Golf League and from a membership that first passed 200 in 1971, we now have a membership base of over 350. Most of our members play in one or more of our five weekly club competitions where we cater for ladies and men of all ages and golfing standards.
Members can represent Ringwood in pennant, and events held at other VGL clubs. They also have the opportunity to mix on social days, golf trips away and mixed days. They can volunteer as Marshalls helping with major professional tournaments held in Melbourne’s summer, such as the President’s Cup, Australian Masters etc.
Ladies
The inaugural meeting of what is now known as Ringwood Golf Club Inc. – Lady Members, was held at the Ringwood library on 25th May 1971. The Ringwood Golf Club, consisting of men only, was already in existence, and subsequently the ladies were accepted as the Ringwood Golf Club Associates.
At that time, the Ringwood golf course did not exist. The men played at Chirnside Park, and when our happy band of novices began playing there also, they found the going very tough! The first competition book makes hilarious reading. Average scores were around the 120 mark – for nine holes.
The Ringwood Golf Club Associates transferred to Waverley, which was considered to be an easier course, and the Associates were on their way. They became affiliated with the Victorian Ladies Golf Association (VLGA) on 2nd August 1971, and continued playing at Waverley until the first nine holes were opened at Ringwood in 1974.
By 1975, membership had increased to 135 ladies, and the inaugural Pennant team was entered into the VLGA competition.
In 1983, Ringwood won the Sun Cup, then when this was replaced in 1992 with the VLGA Cup, Ringwood managed to be the first club to have their name inscribed on the trophy.
Juniors
Ringwood Golf Club has a wonderful history of junior development with a number of current members having started their golfing career as a junior at the club. A number of those juniors have had a significant involvement and impact on the club which has been recognised with Life membership*. Members who started out as Juniors still active in the club are: Geoff Wallis*, Grant Stack*, Nic Walton, Nathan Chua, Leigh Biggerstaff, Nick Plant, Darren Jewell, Dani Carter & Ken Jenkins.
In 2012, Laurie Shaw, a member of the club match committee at the time, proposed a motion to the RGC General committee to form a junior development group. This was a passion of Laurie and his wife Wendy to get more juniors at the club.
With the juniors development squad approved, the ball started rolling quickly. The Maroondah Leisure Pro Shop manager, Heide was supportive of the program by providing a regular tee time for the juniors every second Sunday afternoon, lots of promotion was done to let everyone know that there was the opportunity for juniors to learn golf at the club was now available. A number of local schools were contacted to drive interest for the program utilising school sports days. Sean Buncle who was assisting Laurie with the program ran these school sessions as part of his Phys Ed teacher development program.
The first Sunday saw a number of kids come along eager to learn the game and there were a number of club members ready to greet them and help them start their golfing journey. Among these were Steve Dykes, Donna Carter, Eric Yong, Julia Lim, Rob Shaw and of course Laurie displaying his trademark enthusiasm and passion for the juniors.
To help the kids develop their skills, a couple of members who had good skills in certain aspects of the game came along to teach the kids, Grant Stack focused on bunker play and Noel Proudley focused on putting. The club also utilised the Driving range in Bayswater on a regular basis to continue the juniors development under the guidance of the golf pro from the range.
To help ease the cost burden on the club, the Golf Clearance centre in Huntingdale donated a set of golf clubs that was the major prize in a raffle. The money raised was used to provide funds for equipment and golf outings for the juniors. With the initial funds in the bank, the club treasurer at the time worked his magic with the club budget to provide funds each year for the Junior Development program.
As part of the development program, golf trips were made to:
- Kingston Heath Golf course to watch the Australian masters Pro am with the highlight being watching Tiger Woods and Shane Warne in the same group.
- Euroa Golf Club to play match play against the juniors from the area
- Marysville Golf club to play match play against the juniors from the area
All of these trips and the fortnightly sessions had a number of members and the parents of the kids supporting and assisting to make the trips successful.
Once the kids had developed their skills which was a few years in, a junior pennant team was registered with the VGL and in the team’s second year, they reached the final and were runners up to Camberwell Golf Club, which was a great effort for such a young group both in years and golfing experience.
A focus of the program from the outset was encouraging everyone to join the program with a strong sense of diversity which had 3 enthusiastic girls in the program, Rachelle & Serena Yong as well as Sophie Cantwell (Lauries grand daughter) who unfortunately didn’t get bitten by the golfing bug and did not continue playing golf. A number of the juniors did get bitten by the golfing bug and they had some significant achievements in club events.
Daryl Meehan Trophy
2013 – Sean Buncle & Chris Wilson
2015 – Nic Walton & Leigh Biggerstaff
Stableford Championship
2013 – Nathan Chau
2021 – Leigh Biggerstaff
D Grade Champion
2011 – Trent Goodey
2013 – Chris Wilson
Junior Champion
2011 – Trent Goodey
2012 – Glen Van Blaricum
2013, 2014 & 2015 – Daisiuke Nakajima
2016, 2019 & 2020 – Nathan Chau
2017 & 2018 – Nic Walton