Munglinup Golf Club

How it began.

Geoff Jamieson started playing golf on the nine hole Wattle Park Golf Course in Surrey Hills Victoria in the late 1950s. He bought his first set of clubs from the local Pro John Creen. The Taxis boys were able to play many of the courses in Melbourne. When he came to Munglinup he arranged the first Golf day on Ray Floan's farm and later on Jack Compagnoni's farm and also Torradup. Then with Clive Napier, Ron Brindley, Barry Martin and some others he helped established the Munglinup Golf Course which was designed by Murray Dawson. He became a Life Member of Munglinup. He was one of the low handicappers at the course during his time at Munglinup playing off a 9 handicap. When he moved to Yanchep 1980 he was already a member of Sun City Country Club est 1974 and again became a Life Member. The 15th Hole at Sun City is named after him in honour of his contribution to the Club.

Clive Napier about the establishment of the Munglinup Golf Club.

Munglinup Golf Club per Clive Napier Jul 3 2012 (Munglinup 1968 to 1973)

The course Designer was Murray Dawson husband of Eileen Dawson a very famous WA Golfer, and a Friend of Clive's. Murray basically designed course for free but was reimbursed for the cost of aerial photos. The local Member of Parliament was approached to have the A class reserve 140 acres allocated for a golf course in 1968. Ravensthorpe Shire was vested control of the land for recreation and leased it to the Golf Club for a very small sum.

Murray Dawson flew down to mark out the course and his 6' 3" pilot used a long stick and white floppy hat along with Daryl Jamieson to mark out the fairways. Clive Napier and Geoff Jamieson were also there on this historic occasion.

A working bee where farmers from all over the district brought along their machinery and ploughed out and rootraked and seeded the course with Couch grass. The "Greens" were constructed of river sand stabilised by sump oil. Tee markers were the line insulators from the old Overland Telegraph Line from Port Augusta to Albany built in 1875. The original Club house was constructed from materials donated by Young River Station. They had transported from up north some dismantled sheds, including timber and iron. They told Clive he could take what he wanted. Arvon Cunningham was the builder in charge and was assisted in the construction by volunteers.

The Associates commenced playing the course on 1 April 1970. For the men the course opened for play in 16 May 1970 and was nine holes only. The rest of the course was used for grazing sheep owned by the club until the second nine was added in the mid seventies. 88 acres was kept for the running sheep when a big tournaments was on. Clive as Secretary of the Club became the licensee and backloaded grog from Perth on Torradup's stock truck. Clive was the first Life Member followed by Jack Compagnoni. Ravens on the fourth hole regularly stole golf balls so players were allowed to replace their ball. On occasions large amounts of golf balls were found in piles in the bush.