Life Members

R. A. Ritchie *

Gerry Smart *

J. K. Wedge *

Chas Martin *

Robert McFadzean *

Barry Meehan

Bruce Smith

I have been a member of RGC since 1978 and within three weeks was seconded onto the Social Sub-Committee as Minutes Secretary.  Apart from immensely enjoying my Saturday competitions, I was approached about becoming a Committee Member.  During my 6 years on Committee, I was directly involved in the Social and Bar areas of the Club before serving as Vice President for 2 years.

In 1984 I was elected President and served in that position for 6 years and during that time oversaw the following;

• The Incorporation of the Club.
• The planning, organisation and running of the Ringwood Pro Am.  The Pro-Am ran successfully for some 10 years and became one of the most successful Pro-Am events in Victoria whilst raising several thousands of dollars for local charities and helping to improve the Club’s financial status.
• Setting up a Long Term Planning Committee whose tenure was to investigate, plan, cost and recommend to the full Committee any major changes to the Club, Clubhouse alterations/extensions (of which there were two) and any financial/insurance matters that we were involved with at the time.

At the end of my term as President I was fortunate to be honoured with a Life Membership for which I will be eternally grateful.

In 1996 I was again nominated and elected to the President’s position.  During the next 6 years the Committee were involved in the successful transition of the Ladies 6 day Members becoming Full Members of the Club in line with the new equal opportunity requirements, the continuation of the Long Term Planning Committee, upgrading of the bar facilities and running the extremely successful Pro-Am tournament.  After the end of this term, I believed it was time for a ‘rest’ and concentrated on my endeavours to improve my golf game, which so far has been unsuccessful.

Jim Jewell

After reading an advert for foundation/base members in the local paper, he sent off his money and joined the club. Initially he didn’t play for a while juggling work and family commitments for a few years.  Once he started playing he quickly became involved with the jobs around the club.

He started out on committee and got the job of cleaner with his great mate Darryl Meehan. He held other roles including Vice captain, Vice President, running the chook run (twilight) and taking up with a few of his friends including Darryl Meehan, Bruce Quaiffe, Tommy Morris and John Simpson to name a few the job of looking after the kids (junior pennant).

As part of this they took the team to Albert Park shouting a round of golf and a new ball for every kid to have a practice round on the Saturday before returning the next day to win our first junior pennant for the club,  some of those juniors are still around the club today!

One of his proudest golf moments was winning the Ringwood trophy.  Since retiring to the bush, Jim has taken up Lawn Bowls where he has dedicated the last 20 years to the Balranald bowl’s club.

Peter Ross

I joined the Club in 1984, after leaving the bush and settling in Melbourne. After having just  1 year of playing golf, I joined the Committee as Assistant Secretary in 1985. I then was  Secretary from 1986 – 1987 and 1992 – 1996. From 1997/2002 I was the Club Treasurer. In 2007/2008  I became President when the previous President took leave of absence from the Committee. In all I was a Committee Member for 21 years proudly serving the members.

I was the Pro-Am Tournament Director from 1988 until 2003. After that I just helped out when needed until the Pro-Am ceased in 2008. I also was involved in the Charity Day Committee.

I have had a number of Golf achievements at the Club were: 1998 “Par Championship”,  2006 “Mixed Foursomes Nett” and again in 2012 and I have managed to win 2 Club Monthly Medals in all the years I have been at the club.  I have represented the Club in Pennant teams from 1986 only missing 3 years due to health reasons.

Outside of the Club I was involved with various Committees on the Victorian Golf League and Golf Victoria. Also, along with other Club Members I volunteered at Major Golf Tournaments.

From the time I joined the Club, I have seen a lot of changes in the Clubhouse and the Golf Course. I have, and still do find the past and current Membership very friendly and easy to get on with. A great Club.

Tom O’Regan

Tom Dodd

John Donald

John Mulvogue *

Des Pinfold

I joined Ringwood Golf Club in 988 and was immediately taken by the welcome I received and the widespread camaraderie and Club spirit of members, promoted and encouraged by the President at that time, Chas Martin.

Thanks to the Club, I have many great golfing and social memories, trips away, including the “Deni Dozen”, just to mention a few.  Lots of laughs, one or two beers etc.  In those early days, voluntary assistance by many members was very much a Club feature. Sunday “working bees” around the clubhouse and on the course under the watchful eye of John Donald were a feature that enabled members to contribute, get to know each other better and build Club spirit.  The Pro-Am which later became the Charity Day was another of these opportunities.  

In 2002 I became Treasurer and held that position until 2014 with the support and assistance I had from many during that time. Largely because of my commercial background I have always played a part in the formulation of the Club’s Rules, by-laws etc. In 2012, I was very humbled when I was bestowed with Life Membership by the members.  This award is easily the highlight of my Club involvement and is highly treasured and respected. Apart from golf, these days my involvement tends to be limited to the Wednesday joke and raffle.

Barry Dempsey

I joined the RGC in 1980 and as a true novice commenced playing golf. I joined the RGC Committee in 1994 with my main role as convener of the Bar Sub-committee. I served on the committee for 8 years until 2002. I was elected as President from 2003-2006 and then again from 2009-2010. Assisted with the RGC Pro-Am until 2009 when proposed changes to the golf course due to the Eastern Freeway construction resulted in this being suspended. This saw the start of the RGC Charity Day in 2010. I worked with this sub-committee from 2012 and was chairman of this sub- committee until the Charity Day concluded in 2019.

My on course achievements have been very modest having won the ‘D’ Grade Championship in 1991 and 2021. Same grade after 30 years. Not much improvement there.

I have very much enjoyed my 42 years as a member of RGC and was very much privileged to become a Life Member in 2015.

Geoff Wallis

Geoff joined the Ringwood Golf Club in September 1976 as a 12 year old junior and has held a continuous membership until the present day.

The Golf course back then was only the front 9 holes with the back 9 holes still under construction. The clubrooms were in the current location but only about one third of the current size. From the age of 14 Geoff worked in the Golf course Pro shop, which at the time was only a small portable building, after school and on weekends.

Geoff’s golf talents were minimal when he started out but improved reasonably quickly from an initial handicap of 32 to becoming a single figure marker by the age of 16, winning the clubs Junior Championship in 1981, 82 and 83.

Representing the Ringwood golf club in Pennant has always been a great passion, starting out in Junior Pennant in 1979 and moving on to Scratch Pennant (A grade) in 1982, playing right through until 2017. During this time he captained and managed the Scratch team for approximately 20 years winning 6 premiership flags.

Geoff served as RGC vice captain for 4 years from 1991 -1994 which among other duties included organising and running of the then very popular Thursday 9 hole “Twilight” competition during the summer months.

He then helped out as a general committee member in 1996 and 1997, mainly as the club’s handyman, making the club’s current trophy cabinet during this time.

After a break from official club duties, Geoff became the club’s Vice President in 2009 for 2 years with a sub portfolio serving as House and Bar convenor. Geoff was elected as RGC President in 2011 and proudly represented the club in this role for 6 years.

During this time our committee oversaw many improvements to the clubrooms and facilities. Geoff continued working to bring our Men’s and Ladies sections of the club together, both on and off the golf course and was also a part of a wonderful hard working team that with the help of many local businesses ran a highly successful Annual Charity day for 10 years.

Geoff’s golfing achievements at Ringwood include winning the Club Championships in 2003 and being runner up on 4 other occasions. Also winning the Scratch matchplay championship 4 times, the Foursomes championship 4 times and the Ringwood trophy handicap matchplay in 3 consecutive years, 1998 – 2000. Geoff has held the members course record on 2 separate occasions.

In 2011 and 2015 he won the club’s B grade championship.

Geoff received his Life membership of the Ringwood Golf club in 2016 and continued serving on the House committee for a further year.

He still plays regularly and is still actively helping the club whenever he can.

Grant Stack

I joined RGC in 1997 at the age of 18 and an active committee member between 2002 and 2015 where I held the following positions:

• Social Convenor
• Assistant Secretary
• Pennant Convenor
• Vice-Captain
• Captain

Through the Ringwood Golf Club I gained VGL “club level” rules accreditation.

I have been involved in; a number of key activities at the club:

• the club extensions/renovations of the toilets, competition room and storage room
• the RGC Sunday junior program
• an active member of the scratch pennant team since 2004
• a family sponsor of the RGC Charity Day event.

Throughout my time with the RGC I have made life-long friendships and was honoured to be nominated and given Life Membership of the Club.

Bob Canet

I joined RGC in late 1997 and was conscripted onto committee in 1998 to fill the role of assistant secretary, at the time I was also VP of Heathmont Lions Club and serving on another community committee. In 1999 Graeme Fairbairn who had been re elected as Secretary became ill with Cancer, soI served as acting secretary for 18 to 20 months.

In 2002, I returned as Secretary for 6 years as well as being on several sub committees during that time until 2011. I enjoyed all my time on committee with a great diversity of people and skills.

The club captain, Ken Beckett in 2003/4 initiated a plan to encourage juniors to join RGC and I assisted by visiting Schools in area to speak to Sport organisers and delivered notices for their notice boards. 

Laurie Shaw took on the job after he retired and had great success, at times we had in excess of 20 Juniors in the club, this was one of the efforts I was most proud of and happy to have been part of.

Greame Mahoney

I joined the golf club in 2004. I had played golf socially at Holmesglen T.A.F.E with a few of the teaching staff but never competition golf until I joined the club.  I volunteered to help out handicapping in 2009 and took over the handicapping in 2011 and I am still doing it.

During my time at the club I was also in the senior’s pennant team for a couple of years. 

A highlight of my on course achievements is that myself and my son, Stuart Mahoney won the Daryl Meehan Trophy in 2007. In  2006 I had a hole in one on the 3rd hole, was runner up in the Eric Kimberley Trophy in 2016 and in 2022 I won the “D” Grade Championship.

Over the 18 years of being at the club I have enjoyed every moment and the highlight is becoming a life member in 2021.

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I joined the Ringwood Golf Club in September 1976 as a 12 year old junior and have held a continuous membership until the present day. 

The Golf course back then was only the front 9 holes with the back 9 still under construction. The clubrooms were in the current location but only about one third of the current size. From the age of 14 I worked in the Golf course Pro shop, which was only a small portable building, after school and on weekends.

My golf talents were minimal when I started out but improved reasonably quickly from my initial handicap of 32 to becoming a single figure marker at the age of 16, winning the clubs Junior Championship in 1981, 82 and 83. 

Representing the club in Pennant has always been a passion for me, starting out in Junior Pennant in 1979 and moving on to Scratch Pennant (A grade) in 1982, playing right through until 2017. During this time I captained the team for approximately 20 years and we won 6 premierships.

I served as RGC vice captain for 4 years from 1991 -1994 which among other duties included organising and running of the then very popular Thursday 9 hole “Twilight” competition during the summer months.

I then helped out as a general committee member in 1996 and 1997, mainly as the club’s handyman, making the club’s current trophy cabinet at this time.

After a break from official club duties I became the club’s Vice President in 2009 for 2 years with a sub portfolio as House and Bar convenor. I was elected as RGC President in 2011 and proudly represented the club in this role for 6 years. 

During this time our committee oversaw many improvements to our clubrooms and facilities and continued to bring our Men’s and Ladies sections of the club together, both on and off the golf course. We also had a wonderful hard working team that with the help of local businesses ran a highly successful Annual Charity day.

My golfing achievements at Ringwood include winning the Club Championships in 2003 and being runner up on 4 other occasions. Also winning the Scratch matchplay championship 4 times, the Foursomes championship 4 times and the Ringwood trophy handicap matchplay in 3 consecutive years, 1998 – 2000. I have held the members course record on 2 separate occasions and in recent years have twice won the club’s B grade championships.

I received a Life membership of the Ringwood Golf club in 2016.