Womens golfing in Barraba

History Notes

This week someone has suggested that golf and the coming celebrations should be a topic- after all I did have a lot to do with the Club especially in the 1980s. The problem is which story to tell! The Ladies’ Club was one of the six golf clubs to feature in the regional association but more on that another day.

Most people know the story of the early days in the police paddock and then at the showground but the real story begins when the club found some land of its own, even if there was some ill feeling from the ‘Commoners’.

Recently I managed to find the box of papers and cards from 100 years ago and when there is time the history of the Women's Club can now probably be told. However, for now it will have to be when Mrs. Byrnes and then Alison Gornall got most of us going.

Alison organized play for nine holes on Wednesday mornings with picnic lunch at the front of the Club afterwards. Then as golfing experience improved some of us moved into the main events played at the weekend - pairs and mixed pairs were then included. Barraba became a mixed club and the ladies had more say in what was happening. However, we had our own women's notes in the newspaper- recorded results and of course the misfortunes as well.

A couple of misfortunes I remember well. One lady managed to hit her ball off the tee but at a right angle up to a neighboring tee ground hitting a metal sign with a resounding bang! Another was spotted climbing a tree near the fifth fairway to rescue her ball when the drive off the tee missed the fairway. Many times, there were people in the gully searching for a wayward drive - in those days it was a rocky surface in there.

Kel Crowley was always recording Barraba on his camera and persuaded two Margarets to come and play golf while he took photos - an air swing was definitely a "no no" when there is a camera around - especially a movie!!

As we catered regularly in the 1980s there were a few dramas there - for example when a handle fell off a pot of soup as two girls were moving it from the stove to the table. No one was hurt and the spilt soup went down a hole in the floor - the guests had a smaller helping of soup and the staff missed out. Thank goodness there has been an upgrade in the kitchen since then!

I am sure there will be a few more golf stories at the coming celebrations so ex golfers make sure you come back for the party-we look forward to seeing you.