History of the Barraba Golf Club

22nd May 2024

History Notes

 

Our thanks to the members who were able to run the stall last week and congratulations to Helen Kelly who won the box of fruit and vegetables.

Some weeks ago I wrote about Harry Watt, who lived in Barraba after World War 2 and this week while searching through some old family photos I found a snap of him. Thus, I was correct when I thought that he was friendly with my ancestors - still have no comment from anyone else.

This week I have managed to read David York's history of the Golf Club- a must for anyone connected with the Club since its beginnings on the police paddock well over 100 years ago.

He has put a lot of time and effort into finding all the information - especially in the early days when golf was played next to the Recreation Ground and then up at the Showground. I wonder if anyone can name all the men in the early photos!

Reading the later history brings back a lot of memories - imagine the era of the crows on the course taking golf balls and members adding a gun to the golf sticks in their bag - no gun laws in those days!!

Another memory concerns playing a mixed event along the river when a fellow player put a golf ball out in the river and then hit an even better shot also out in the river!! Another memory of a lady golfer climbing a tree to retrieve her ball and yet another lady hitting a very nice drive off the tee at right angles straight into the metal sign beside the tee - the noise echoed all around the course.

The associates did a lot of catering forty years ago and we had some dramas at times - I particularly remember the night the handle came off a big boiler full of soup, just as two ladies were moving it from the stove to the table. No one was hurt but we lost some soup onto the floor and some even went down a hole in the floor! The guests received a smaller helping that night and the staff missed out!!

Our lives have changed since then, many of the early golfers have passed on and those like myself find it hard to get around but we are always interested in all sports. I had lunch with Joan Bragg last week and she is very interested in Barraba and the Golf Club. As someone said "Golf is not a matter of life and death. It is much more important than that!"

News for May 2024