Exmouth Golf Club 50th Anniversary Celebrations 2019

19th Jul 2019

Fifty years ago, on 26 June 1969, a public meeting was held to elect the first committee of the Exmouth Golf Club.

To celebrate this occasion, on the same date this year, nine holes of golf was played with hidden partners to determine the result. 62 players participated in total with Dale Russell and Suzie Lorraway winning the event with a combined score of 39 Stableford points.

The EGC50 Working Group organised some new merchandise to mark the event, with a special logo that captures the club’s wildlife and coastal location on the Exmouth Gulf.

The day included an official ceremony after the golf with speeches by the Shire president Matt Niikkula and the club’s president Bronwyn Giles.

Matt and Bronwyn then jointly unveiled a bespoke historical sign that includes a detailed timeline telling the club’s story over the last 50 years. The sign is positioned to look straight down the 18th fairway and is adjacent to the car park, making it accessible to golfers and the general public and has already created a new point of interest in town.

The sign was made possible as a result of a grant received from the Shire of Exmouth and the dedicated time and efforts of the EGC50 Working Group.

Exmouth Golf Club founding members Jeni King, Kaye Cooper and John Cooper concluded the ceremony with a cake cutting ceremony as the magnificent Exmouth sun sunk behind the Cape Range National Park.

The annual Harold Trophy, sponsored by all the members who work at the Naval Communication Station Harold E Holt (locally referred to as The Base), was held on Saturday 6 July.

This special event recognises the towns historic and continued link with the United States and is a pseudo 4th of July celebration with the clubhouse decorated in red, white and blue – with players also donning these colours in their golf attire, buggies and carts.

Brian Deering (Life Member) was a popular and well-deserved winner with a fine score of 65 Nett.

Exmouth Open 2019

Even the annual Exmouth OPEN was included on the calendar of events for the 50th anniversary. Glorious North-West winter weather of 27 degrees and calm conditions greeted 122 players on 13 & 14 July 2019 which consisted of 86 males and 36 females, representing 24 clubs in total.

All grades were hotly contested and over $10,000 in prizes were awarded to many lucky players. The major prize winners were;

The feedback from everyone who participated in the Open was extremely positive, with participants praising the organisation of the event, the condition of the course, facilities, merchandise, live music on Sunday night and the amazing in-house catering. The club is very proud of the good reputation and standing it has obtained from the players that participate in the event, with many players attending year after year.

All players or visitors who have participated in any of the 50th-anniversary events have received a special edition 50th anniversary keyring with the “Golf on the Gulf” logo and to date, 185 key rings have been presented.

The 50th Anniversary celebrations continue with the Exmouth Golf Club hosting the Ladies Pilbara Open event over the weekend of 27 & 28 July 2019.

All female golfers are welcome to participate in this event which has a great reputation for competitive golf, fun activities and a few surprises along the way.

The 50th celebrations will conclude at the club’s annual wind up on 9 November 2019.

No doubt, the best attribute of the Exmouth Golf Club has been its ability to survive in a town which in the early days had many transients. Like other clubs and organisations in Exmouth, the Golf club has had its ups and downs but it has endured and adapted when a lot of others have ceased to exist or had extended periods in recess.

All classes of membership have remained around the 100 mark each season since its inception – this is an amazing achievement for a small remote North-West town, and it shows the strength of the Club!

The members of the Exmouth Golf Club (past & present) are very proud to celebrate this 50th-anniversary milestone and feel very confident in its future ahead… good golfing!

Head to the Exmouth Golf Club Facebook page for more information about upcoming events.