Club History
From 1925 to today.
Origins (1925)
Port Victoria’s golfing story began in May 1925 when Club President S. Powell opened a nine-hole layout in the Parklands near the oval, with the full eighteen completed later that year. A small office moved from Balgowan served as the first clubhouse. Early stewardship came from figures such as chairman A. Agars, A. Smith and patron R. P. Edwardes, who also acted as secretary and captain. In 1952 trustees R. P. Edwardes, A. Agars, H. D. Scott, D. K. Hasting and F. G. B. Greenslade secured the present links on land previously leased from Mr Menz, with the Club paying a nominal £2/19/6 per year while he retained grazing rights. Professional golfer Rufus Stewart advised on the course layout, and construction was overseen by Edwardes, D. Hasting and N. Bittner. Affiliation with the South Australian Golfing Association followed in February 1953, the first Men’s Open Championship was staged on 16 July two years later, and Edwardes received Life Membership in 1958 as the Club improved facilities through the 1960s.
Women’s golf took shape in June 1927 when seventeen players formed the Port Victoria Ladies Golf Club and began monthly tournaments. Early highlights included a championship won by Miss W. Menz and the handicap by Miss Feehan, while the 1929 committee featured President Mrs M. Edwardes, Vice-President Mrs Hayward, Secretary Mrs Gibson, Captain Miss Wilson, Vice-Captain Mrs Miller and Handicapper Mrs Hardy. Entrance fees of 1 shilling per player were donated to purchase children’s swings, a small but telling sign of the Club’s community spirit. Although the ladies’ club went into recess in 1940 and was briefly revived in 1951, play continued informally until a full revitalisation in 1957 under President Mrs A. L. Carmichael, Secretary Mrs M. S. Woods and Captain Mrs Wait, with affiliation to the state association at the same time. In a later chapter, the men’s and women’s clubs came together, forming the unified Port Victoria Golf Club that continues the town’s golfing tradition today.
Early Committee
Early leaders and pioneers included A. Agars and A. Smith, with R. P. Edwardes serving as patron, secretary and captain in the formative years.
On the women’s side, the first committees were led by Mrs M. Edwardes as president, with Mrs Hayward as vice-president, Mrs Gibson as secretary and Miss Wilson as captain, supported by Mrs Miller as vice-captain and Mrs Hardy as handicapper; the 1957 revitalisation was then guided by Mrs A. L. Carmichael, Mrs M. S. Woods and Mrs Wait.
Trustees & Links
In August 1952 trustees R. P. Edwardes, A. Agars, H. D. Scott, D. K. Hasting and F. G. B. Greenslade were appointed.
The present links were then laid out on land previously leased from Mr Menz, who retained grazing rights, with the Club paying a nominal rent of £2/19/6 per annum; the Club later gained possession of the land in its own right. Professional golfer Rufus Stewart advised on the layout, with construction supervised by Edwardes, D. Hasting and N. Bittner. Affiliation with the South Australian Golfing Association was obtained in February 1953, and two years later the first Men’s Open Championship was played on 16 July.
Modern Era - 18 Hole Links & Par 3 Initiative
In recent years the Club has enjoyed a consistent turnout at Open days for men and women, and today hosts a mixed Open that draws golfers from across Yorke Peninsula and from Adelaide. The 18-hole links has been steadily curated into the course we know now, shaped by sweeping coastal winds and framed by tree-lined fairways. Ongoing improvement works, including tee-box upgrades and careful maintenance, have been sustained by dedicated volunteer support and a commitment to presenting a fair, enjoyable test links golf experience.
To broaden access and keep golf thriving through summer, the Club developed a nine-hole Par 3 course initially integrated within the main layout, then refined through consultation and on-course trials. Following this foundation, a redesigned Par 3 opened in November 2024, creating an approximately 937-metre circuit that follows the coast then turning inland towards the clubhouse, upgraded putting surfaces and clearer routing. Weekly summer competitions are held on Fridays at 5pm subject to the 35°C heat policy, supported by a popular hole-in-one jackpot. Open all year at an accessible fee, with free loan clubs available, the Par 3 has become a welcoming pathway for families, visitors and newcomers while complementing the 18-hole course.
