Mount Lawley Golf Club - The first fifty years (1928 - 1978)

The following chapters are excerpts from Mount Lawleys Book 'Mount Lawley Golf Club - The first fifty years (1928 - 1978)'. Click on the chapter title to view the text.

Chapter Three: The Real Progress

The years following the war, saw Mount Lawley Golf Club again enjoying a gradual recovery, but unlike those of the following the Depression, these years were not nipped in the bud. The early years of the 1950's showed signs of prosperity which the Club had enjoyed ever since.

As Mr Glick describes it, "a period of consolidation" in all areas of the Club's activities.

The financial difficulties which had dogged Mount Lawley for more than twenty years were at last largely overcome, although at times reserves were stretched to the limit as the Club strove to develop it's facilities. However, the drastic measures occasionally necessitated in the 1930s and 40s have never needed to be contemplated in the later years.

Doubtless the most memorable figure in this connection is Mr Joseph Gardiner, who took over as Club Treasurer in 1953, and continued to hold this office for over twenty years. His careful guidance has been a fundamental element in Mount Lawley's current stability, and his contribution has been justly recognised in the award of a Life Membership.

One of the major financial undertakings at this time of the Club's history was the extension of the original wooden Clubhouse. the old Clubhouse, which could comfortably accommodate only 30 to 40 people for a social function, had long been regarded by members as inadequate, but it was not until 1953 that sufficient funds could be raised for additions. £9,000 were committed to the improvements, redulting in a new lounge, bar and locker rooms, built in brick.

In fact, this project gained more for the Club than just these very worthwhile new facilities, because the builders Toia and Power became so impressed with the game of golf that after construction was completed they joined the Club as members.

The 1950s also saw a steady improvement in the condition of the course itself. The 1951 the first and second nines were reversed (the last of several changes in the order of the holes over the years), establishing the lay-out that is still current. The improving financial situation was also evident in the purchase of more sophisticated mowers, sprinklers and other equipment. The horse used by the grounds staff was finally retired in 1950 and resulted in the employment of more groundsmen. For some years great concern continued about the problems caused by water shortages, and preferred lies were repeatedly instituted to protect under-grassed fairways. The problem was not fianally resolved until the last years of the decade, when a complete ring main reticulation  system was installed, thanks to the stirling efforts of Chairman of Grounds Committee at the time, Mr Reg Haley.

Despite this, the great improvements wrought in these years were rewarded when in 1956 Mount Lawley hosted the State Open and Amateur Championships and received a warm commendation from the Western Australain Golf Association on the condition of the course.

The Open was won by Gary Player, who together with Len Thomas (who won the Amateur) and Les Nicholls, Mount Lawley's professional at the time, broke 300 for 72 holes for the first time in W.A.

At this particular time, the Club was well served by dedicated Grounds Committees. For many years under the enthusiastic Chairmanship of Arthur Campbell, whose direct contributions in clearing scrub and planting trees are widely remembered within the Club. The beauty of our present course is in large measures, due to his untiring efforts, so ably carried on by subsequent Grounds Chairmen up to the present day chairman, Norm McKenzie.

Science, at this time, came to the aid of Golf Ground Committees. The W.A. Agricultural Department tested the soil at Mount Lawley Golf Club and discovered certain trace element deficiencies. Trace elements, particularly copper, was eventually added to our soil and helped to add a considerable improvement in the grass growth which, with the help and efforts of consequent Committee Chairman enhanced the growth on our course.

The measure of a club's strength is, of course, in its membership, and a glance at the statistics for Mount Lawley indicates an increasingly healthy situation. By the end of 1951 numbers had climbed to a total of 607 members, of whom 231 were ladies, and although increases thereafter were not dramatic (637 by February 1960), this figure remained stable throughout the 50s, compared to the crippling  plunges enforced by circumstances in previous years. The growth and strength of the Club are also revealed in a variety of types of members listed - Honorary Life Members, ordinary, mid-week, country, junior, non-playing and absentee members.

Other important facts point, at the time, that Mount Lawley was rapidly becoming a sizeable organisation. A formal Social Committee was added to the already existing sub-committees of Grounds, House, Finance and Match. The new committee was appointed to handle the greater variety of social events made possible by an expanding membership.

It was also becoming apparent that the variety of tasks involved in the day-to-day administration of the Club was reaching unmanageable proportions for voluntary committee members, and so in 1952 it was decided to appoint a paid Secretary, Mr W. R. Grahame being the first to hold the post.

The 1950s also saw the beginning of effortsby Mount Lawley members to promote country golf in Western Australia, through the visits of  ''tourists'' from Mount Lawley top various country centres to play and to advise. Clubs such as Beverly, Albany, Capel, York and Bolgart have forged strong links of friendship with Mount Lawley as a result of such visits.

On the home front, resultant with growth in membership and greatly improved overall condition of the course, play was pursued with considerable enthusiasm. Even to the point where the Committee was occasionally forced to remonstrate  with unrurly members who ''cut in'' to play at odd points around the course, or who practised on the links rather than on the practice fairway and green. Nevertheless, Mount Lawley had still to achieve great stature in competition golf, and apart from the notable successes of Bill McPherson in the State Open in 1957 and 58 (He was also seven times Club Champion) the 50s were barren of victories for the Club.

Finally, the 1950s are remembered as the ''era'' of Mr Bill Hunter, who was President of the Club from 1953 to 1962. He would be recalled by many members ''as the man who put Mount Lawley on the map''. Together with another Life Member, Joe Gardiner, he was instrumental in organising the present Clubhouse extensions. He was also frequently to be seen with Arthur Campbell, working to clear bush and plant trees. He had a gift for inspiring enthusiasm and willingness to participate in others, and it was largely as a result of his organising several ''working bees'' to prepare the course that the 1956 Championships were such a success.