Golf for Community Development
With golf clubs becoming the centre of almost every town and city across the State they have provided a sense of community for members; and often served the broader community through fundraising. Golf courses have become valued spaces, particularly in built up metropolitan areas, a factor noted by salesmen and property developers. As Governments have focussed on the benefits of sport in establishing communities and improving health, organizations such as Women's Golf WA have benefited; in turn allowing an extension of services and activities.
Women's Golf WA Staff with the Unveiling of the new Golf WA Logo in 2010
Over the years, the sense of community
that golf clubs have enjoyed has invariably radiated out to the broader
community, particularly in country towns where services have not been
taken for granted. The Wongan Hills
Club for example has contributed to the ambulance, hospital and fire
services, as well as local disasters. In isolated rural communities golf
days have involved the whole family as clubs have combined men's and
women's competitions to reduce the need for driving in from outlying
farms.
This in turn has encouraged a new generation of golfers such as former State player and now PGA coach, Donna Crouch:
"I lived in Yelbeni, a small country town and the golf club looked liked closing down so they asked Mum and Dad to make up the numbers. When I first started playing I carried my clubs around in a superphosphate bag, until I got an old ladies shopping trolley. Terry Gale came from Yelbeni and I wanted to be as good as the best players in the golf club. At twelve I got my first handicap and began playing in Perth competitions. I would get a lift with one of the schoolteachers."
In many country communities, mothers of young children have been retained as players by clubs introducing shared babysitting arrangements:
"Early in my golfing days there were quite a few of us at Latham that had babies, so we took it in turns to baby sit with the help of the young local girls. This meant about every three or four weeks we missed our day of golf. To help everyone to be able to qualify in the championships we introduced 5 qualifying rounds, (best 3 to count). It proved to be popular. Jess Spencer ( Captain of Latham 1963). At Tammin, which currently has approximately 20 ladies, membership is assured because they have organised a rotational playing schedule for young mothers who limit their golf to nine holes so they can take turns in babysitting." From notes sent in by Carolyn Dixon, Secretary Tammin Golf Club Inc.
Community working bees have also been a feature within many clubs often proving as much fun as playing golf. When Chidley Point (now Mosman Park Golf Club) was developed in the nineteen sixties, the inaugural president of the ladies club, Judy Barton organised "basket picnics".
