Our History

The club was formed at a meeting in the Agricultural Society rooms on 10th June, 1905.   The meeeting eleceted the Rev E Ward Thomas as President and Mr E Lapthorne was elected Secretary/Treasurer.  A 10 hole course was developed in location of the site of the present Sportsground.  In July 1912, a new 9-hole course was laid out south of the town near the Murrumbidgee River, on an area known as Brewery Flat. After several floods, the club decided to move during World War I, to a new 9-hole course located on Narrandera Racecourse. Some years later, the committee could see the limitations imposed by having their golf links on the racecourse and put a proposal to members that the club should acquire its own property.

In 1927, a new company, the Narrandera Golf Club Limited, was formed to purchase the nearby Powell's paddocks alongside the racecourse. Initially the racecourse holes were retained and nine new holes laid out on the closest paddock, until a further nine were laid out in the far paddock and the club could play its new 18-hole course in 1928.  When the new Clubhouse was opened , Mr O.O.H Dangar was the President and Mr J Smart the Secretary.

Our course design has a link to the famed International Golf Course designer Dr Alister MacKenzie with his co designer, Alex Russell being mentioned in an article in the Melbourne weekly magazine ‘Table Talk’.  It's golf writer A. W. Jackson, the former Victorian Amateur Champion, on 13 October 1927, discussed Dr MacKenzie and his new partner Alex Russell. 

Jackson wrote that “Russell has overseas experience in the matter of golf course construction to support his ability of knowing what should be done on a golf course from an eminent player’s point of view. These days Russell is kept busy making and re-designing golf courses. Those in hand include Yarra Yarra, Colac, Narrandera and Warrandyte. He has also a call from West Australia and was instrumental in the design of Lake Karrinyup GC"

https://www.top100golfcourses.com/architect/alex-russell 

Alister MacKenzie wrote in a reference for Alex Russell,“He is one of the very few plus men I know who views the game from an absolutely unselfish standpoint and is most sympathetic to the average players who he recognises comprise the majority of club members and on this account alone are entitled to more consideration than they have been accustomed to receive
 

In early 1970 the club was able to arrange with the Waters Resources Commission for a licence to pump from the main canal and to irrigate 37 acres.  The instigator and driving force behind this ambitious project was the President Mr JH Ainsworth.  In March 9170 the work of laying the pipes to the course was carried out by a working bee extending over one weekend.  The pumps and pipeline were tested and on the morning of 9th Apsil 1970 the 1st water was delivered into the storage dam (located on 13th Hole)  That night the Clubhouse and all the contents were destroyed by fire.  A new Clubhouse was built and 12th June 1971 it was officially opened by the President of NSW Golf Association Mr Les Graham.

With the new Clubhouse completed , 2 experimental grass greens were put down on the 1st & 2nd Holes.  In March 1973 the last of the 18 grass greens were completed.

The course in its heyday years of late 70's and early 80's was rated in the Top 10 of Country NSW courses and hosted a number of Pro-Am tournaments featuring well known touring pros such as Bruce Devlin, Stewart Ginn, Wayne Riley, Perry & Vaughan Sommers, Greg Hohnen with legendary Billy Dunk holding the course record for many years.

The Rothmans Sports Foundation reguarly travelled from Sydney to conduct golf clinics for juniors under the instruction of tutor Ron Luxton (Life Member of Australian PGA and former Head Pro, The Australian GC)  This tuition and love of golf lead to a number of talented youngsters who were members of Narrandera Golf Club turning professional at some stage in there lives with;

- Ken Trimble (Won NSW Open in 1990, Runner Up 1992, Played in The Open in 1990 - St Andrews & 1992 - Muirfield, Director of Golf at Concord GC for 18 years, 12 course Records & Winner of 42 Pro-Am Events, now a respected Coach)   https://www.ktgolf.com.au/ 

- Craig Warren (won 1994 Token Cup + numerous Top 10 finishes on Japan Tour, now on Australian PGA Legends Tour and has racked up over 15 wins)

- Mark Harvison (Resident Pro at Grafton GC for ) https://graftongolf.com.au/pro-shop/

- Andrew Marsh (Played on Australasian PGA Tour 1995 -1997, won 5 Pro-Am events, Club Director & Captain, Cabramatta GC, Won Austrlain Father & Son Golf Championship 

- Torrie O'Connor (Toured Australasian Womens Tour)

- Frank Foley (Resident Pro at Mettman GC near Dusseldorf in Germany) https://www.gc-mettmann.de/trainer.html

-  Bruce Alderson (Assistant Golf Professional at Shortland Waters GC)

In the period 2008 - 2018, the lack of consistent water due to drought and the decrease in water allocations for the course saw a detoriation that put the future of the course in jeopardy.  In 2019, an injection of over $660,00.00 from Stronger Community Fund and Infrastructure Grant saw the Club solve this water problem with the addition of solar power and a new irrigation system.   Solar panels will capture the sunlight especially in the September to April period, cutting costs and increasing energy efficiency for the Golf Club.  And the old irrigation system has been completely modernised with new pumps, pipes and sprinklers. This will help control how the water is used on the grounds and means the Narrandera Golf Club can keep its greens looking great while reducing water wastage.  The course was completely dead and it is now approaching a standard that is hard to beat throughout the Riverina.  Hopefully this will boost local membership, entice fellow travelling golfers and encourage local competition and tournaments to be held for years to come.

Inside Golf Article - May 2021

https://media.insidegolf.com.au/magazine/IG187_May_21/6/index.html