On 8th August 1960 a meeting was held in the Camp Library where the decision was made to form a Golf Club with an annual subscription of 10/- per member.
A further charge would be made for the hire of clubs to those who did not have their own. Club membership was to be open to serving personnel, their wives and families, also other interested people from the Linton area.
A start had been made on the preparation of five greens, the work being carried out by working bees of interested people. The first President was WO1 Crawley, Vice President was Major Kennedy, Secretary was Sgt. Duncan and Treasurer was WO2 Fletcher and a committee was formed of representatives from each Camp Unit.
Just over ten years later on 15th November 1970 the official opening took place of a new 18 hole golf course in the Camp. An extract from the records is as follows: “This coming Sunday (15th November 1970) at 1 p.m. play will tee off for the first time on the 18 hole golf course in this Camp. After many months of working bees and a great deal of individual slaving the course is almost ready for … In a few words it is easy to tell of the many months of hard work that have gone into this longsighted venture.”
At this time the Club membership was about 37, Camp personnel paying a subscription of $7 per year and casual players were charged 50c per game. The Club Committee was confident that membership would quickly increase, membership in the Club covering Ordinary, Junior, Country, Summer and Honorary members. By this time the Club owned a considerable amount of equipment including a tractor, mowers, etc. and it was envisaged that a full time green keeper could soon be needed. A Clubhouse complete with toilets, bar and a fully carpeted lounge was sited in the centre of the course. The Club Committee gratefully acknowledged the help given by Unit Commanders and Camp personnel in achieving this result. The following description of the course was recorded by the Committee:
“The complete course covers practically the whole Camp area and has a number of natural hazards and doglegs to test the skill of good golfers while at the same time being a satisfying course to complete even for the beginners. Many trees and shrubs have been planted, most of the fairways being easily identified by single shrubs planted along the boundaries. Small triangles, fenced off and planted with shrubs and flowering trees have been planted adjacent to most tees, and in years to come these will provide great shelter and ideal picnic spots. The longest fairway is a par 5 of 548 yds -the shortest being a par 3 of 132 yards. Provision has been made for a practice fairway and this runs parallel to the number 16 fairway. Small concrete markers are ready for the tees and a number of rubbish bins have been strategically located to prevent the course being littered with ball wrappings, cigarette packets and unwanted score cards. There is still a great deal of finishing work ahead for the Club, but even at this stage the course is an attractive one and would be the envy of settlements a great deal larger than ours.”
Location:
Puttick Road
Linton Military Camp
Palmerston North
Phone: 06 325 8596