The humble beginnings of the Whangaparāoa Golf Club as a modest nine-hole course, on borrowed land, will be celebrated at the end of this month.
The 70th anniversary celebrations, from Friday November 29 to Sunday December 1, will feature a variety of events, starting with a special Ambrose tournament for past and present sponsors on Friday. A spokesperson says this will be an opportunity for the club to thank the many businesses who have continued to support and partner with the club.
A members’ competition, featuring both 9 hole and 18 hole competitions, will be held on Saturday followed by a social mix and mingle, entertainment and the cutting of the 70th Anniversary cake. There will also be a club photo taken on the Saturday and golfers are being encouraged to dress in traditional golf attire.
The club opened in 1954, purchasing land for its current 18-hole course four years later in 1958.
The Hobbs family played a big part in the early days, loaning the club land for the nine-hole course and then selling land for the 18-hole course for £70 an acre.
The original clubhouse, built from trees supplied by Hobbs and sawn by members, opened in 1959. There was no electricity, and a copper was used to heat water. Two long drop toilets – one for the men and the other for the ladies – completed the picture.
The honour of playing on the opening day cost four shillings (about 40 cents), which included afternoon tea.
First Manager Appointed
By 1956, the club had joined the Auckland District Golf Association. The rudimentary clubhouse was replaced in 1995 and the new building was officially opened by NZ professional golfer Frank Nobilo, whose parents Joan and Frank Snr played at Whangaparāoa.
The first manager, Kevin Millar, was appointed in 1994 and the Pro Shop opened in 2000.
The course was designed by Alex Murray, and the greens have been replaced and remodelled over the years. Today the club has a thriving membership of around 600, boosted more recently by the closure of the Gulf Harbour club.
This article was originally published by Hibiscus Matters.
