About the Golf Society of Australia

President, Geoff Vincent AM [ President, Geoff Vincent AM, elected November 2011 ]
The Golf Society of Australia was launched in February 1983 with a 'hickory' golf day at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
Discussions and planning had begun in early 1981 after the idea of forming a society to research and preserve the history of golf in Australia was put forward by Dr Ken Shepherd. Several meetings took place, and a Constitution and objectives were drawn up, which have formed the basis of the Society's activities.
These objectives are:
  • establishment of a golf museum
  • collection of golf memorabilia
  • regular golf days
  • dinners with guest speakers
The proposal to form a Museum was taken to the Australian Golf Union (AGU), the governing body of golf in Australia. AGU By-Law No 10, forming a Museum Committee, was then passed, the membership being the Committee of the newly formed Golf Society of Australia.
The objectives of the Museum Committee are:
  • To collect or otherwise acquire any items of historical golfing nature
  • To decide and determine the standard and quality of items relating to golf which are of a historical nature and eligible for display as museum pieces
  • To categorise and arrange historical golf items as museum pieces
  • To compile, publish, decipher and annotate any golfing literature, illustrations or photographs for the purpose of recording the history of golf
  • To compile and amend from time to time a list of historical golfing national records
The relationship forged with the Australian Golf Union continues with Golf Australia, the organisation formed in 2006 following a merger with Women's Golf Australia.
The Society also has strong links with state golfing bodies. Contact details are available via the Golf Australia website.
2012 Office Bearers:
President: Geoff Vincent, AM
Secretary: Paul Burgess
Treasurer: Dick Kirby
Committee:
  • Peter Gompertz
  • Virginia Gorrell
  • Norie Macleod
  • Ian Rennick
  • Peter Swan
  • Des Tobin
  • Golf Australia representative:
    Frances Crampton AM, National Director - Game Development
Patron: Peter W Thomson AO, CBE
Past Presidents:
1982-1986 Doug Bachli MBE 1982-1986
Doug Bachli MBE *
1986-1988 Burtta Cheney MBE 1986-1988
Burtta Cheney MBE
Ken Shepherd RFD, VRD and Bar, MBBS (Melb) 1988-1990
Ken Shepherd RFD, VRD and Bar, MBBS (Melb) *
1990-1992 Peter Rosenhain DFC, BSc 1990-1992
Peter Rosenhain DFC, BSc *

1992-1994 Don Lawrence 1992-1994
Don Lawrence *
1994-2000 Daryl Cox 1994-2000
Daryl Cox
2000-2002 Anne Court 2000-2002
Anne Court
2002-2007 Keith Wood AM 2002-2007
Keith Wood AM *

2008-2011 Ian Rennick 2008-2011
Ian Rennick

* deceased

For The Diary

2012 Program

Tuesday 7 February
Dinner - Woodlands GC: Guest Speaker: Paul Rak, CEO Royal Melbourne GC

Monday 20 February
Golf Club Historians Forum: Royal Park Golf Club, Parkville

Thursday & Friday 29-30 March
Al Howard Hickory Challenge: Tocumwal Golf Club, NSW

Sunday 22 April
Hickory Day: Kingston Heath Golf Club

Monday 7 May
Dinner: Kingston Heath Golf Club

Tuesday 22 May
Don Lawrence Trophy: Woodlands Golf Club

Monday 18 June
Golf Club Historians Forum: Ballarat Golf Club (tbc)

Monday 30 July
President's Trophy: Royal Melbourne Golf Club

Monday 6 August
Dinner: Royal Melbourne Golf Club

Monday 15 October
Golf Club Historians Forum: venue to be advised

Monday 29 October
Dinner: Victoria Golf Club

Monday 19 November
Doug Bachli Trophy, AGM & Cocktail Party: Victoria Golf Club

Members are advised by mail of the dates, times and locations of all Golf Society events

Contact

Secretary: Paul Burgess
Ph/Fax: 03 9589 1421
golfsocietyaust@gmail.com