Nyabing Golf Club. Nyabing Golf Club.
[wptb id=6378]By Noble Patterson
Golf had its first beginnings in Nyabing in the late 1920’s. Mr Richard Charsley, the two Newman Brothers (from Kwobrup), Mr Wilf Charsley and Mr Merv Manuel began clearing some scrub west of the R.S.L Hall. These three holes were used for a few years but one of the problems encountered was that the golf balls wore out!!
Mrs Joyce Ramm on Old Nyabing Golf Course
Mrs Rita Charsley on Old Nyabing Golf Course
Mr Manuel (then chairman of the Kent Roads Board) approached the appropriate government departments and acquired 12.8ha of land on the north side of the railway line to be used as a golf course. Clearing was the next major project…. Only six holes were used at first, with another three added after the war.
Old Club house 1950-1967 (in present Shire Yard)
The first clubhouse was a “timber and iron dwelling consisting of only three walls”. The club’s earliest records begin with the AGM on 27 April, 1940, with seven people present. Some posts had been cut from the fairways and these were to be sold. After 1941, the club went into recess during the war, with another meeting not recorded until 1949. However the club did not begin to function again until 1957. Cupboards were built in the club house. Another three holes were cleared, but in July, the links went underwater!
1958 – Harry Gillis having the first drive to open season.
On the other side of him are Eddy Johnston, Kevin Hamilton, Harry Ripper & Mrs Johnston
The ladies had an associates meeting and decided to play every Thursday. Over the following years, the club house was enclosed, an open fireplace built, a 200 gallon tank installed and the purchase of two bowls for washing up!! Before the bar was set up, members had to relay gallon squash bottles of beer from Harry Gillis’ Pub (on the other side of the railway line) to and fro to the club! The original clubhouse is in the present day Shire Depot Yard.
In 1963 a special meeting was held for Mr Charsley to outline his generous offer of land for an 18 hole course (5km’s from Nyabing on the Dumbleyung Road). In 1965 Mr Marcus Beeck (later Sir) donated some extra land on the western side making up the 197 acres (80ha) of golf course.
N#1 Fairway on left and N#9 Fairway on right
The new course was opened on the 20 August 1967. With only nine holes to begin with, there were many working bees to get the new course and club house established. By 1974, the course was extended to 18 holes. Over the next decades the clubhouse has been extended and changed a number of times. In 1991 a reunion was held with over 100 people attending. A plaque was unveiled in acknowledgement of the generous offer of land from Mr Charsley and Mr Beeck.
Mr & Mrs Charsley and Lady Beeck unveiling the plaque in 1991
With a somewhat small membership at the club, the members put in a lot of time and effort to hold open days and the Men’s Lakes Carnival. The club house is often used for social and private functions and will have new bathroom facilities come Centenary in 2012. A cold beer and a warm fire are always assured for any visitors!
Return to HOME Page
Back to GROUPS Page
Visit the LOST NYABING Facebook Group