Royal Park Golf Club 1903

Est. 1903

Situated in picturesque Royal Park, the course is both attractive and challenging, only 3 kms from the city, with the honour of being possibly the only golf course with a tram and train line running through it. The Club has been the nursery for many golfers who went on to make a mark in the golfing world, including Peter Thomson (club champion at the age of 16, in 1945) who won the British Open 5 times, Gus Jackson and Mick Ryan. Peter and Mick were both included in the VGA's Victorian Team of the Century in 2002.

Club Patron ~ Peter Thomson

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History of the Royal Park Golf Club
1903 - 1910

Image taken from the statue of Cr. G. H. Ievers which stands on the corner of Gatehouse Drive and Royal Parade, Parkville.

Burke and Wills cairn which was next to the original 1st hole of the 18 hole course
The cairn near the original first tee of the 18 hole course, near Elliot Avenue, Parkville.

1905 Ladies pin
This pin was given to Miss Mary Dalton for a win on 30th of June 1905. The back on the pin is seen below, with Miss Dalton's name and date of competition.

These pictures were kindly sent to the Club by her grand niece, Marita Dalton.

1905 Ladies pin back

In 1903 a group of golf enthusiasts gathered in the Parkville Hotel to form a club. They gained permission from the Royal Park Trustees to lease the land, and began to build and maintain an 18-hole course with Club members and others volunteering their time. The first hole started against the cairn marking the spot from which Bourke and Wills began their expedition. The Club's first president, shown on left, was Cr. G. H. Ievers.

On 17 August 1904, the Club's application to become a registered club with the Victorian Golf Association was formally accepted. Click here to see the letter.

By 1906 land (100' x 36') near the Royal Park railway station was obtained (by a 1/2 yearly lease of £1/10/- to the Railway Department) for a clubhouse, which was built by funds obtained by the issuing of debentures to Club members. Some members chose not to redeem the money they had lent.

In 1907 the Club competed for the Junior Pennant in the Victorian Golf Association, along with Sandridge (which became Victoria), Kew, Geelong, Caulfield (which became Royal Melbourne), Essendon, Surrey Hills (which became Riversdale) and Eaglemont (which became Yarra Yarra).

"...the course ran in a westerly direction towards Flemington Road, keeping wide of Gatehouse Street, until Flemington Bridge was reached. After crossing under the bridge it continued over the Moonee Ponds Creek on the north side of the railway, traversing the hill and running along the little creek behind the present Receiving Home; then over the ground on the North side of the Zoo, to the paddock beyond the present eighth green, and to the South back to the starting point, so that a circuit of the Zoo was made."*

*Excerpt from The History of the Royal Park Golf Club by L.A. Hoy, 1950.