Scotland

The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh founded 1735.
The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, founded 1744 (Leith links, later Muirfield links at Gullane).
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews founded 1754.

England

On his accession to the throne King James I (James VI of Scotland) and his courtiers played golf over Blackheath as early as 1608. Royal Blackheath founded 1787. Old Manchester Golf Club founded 1818. Both clubs founded by Scots, although they had English membership.

Royal North Devon (Westward Ho!)was the first club founded by Englishmen in 1864.

North America

Royal Montreal founded 1873 (Canada).
St Andrew's Golf Club of Yonkers, New York, founded 1888 (USA).

Australia

Golf first played 1847 in Melbourne at Flagstaff Hill Golf Club, but the club demised in 1851 (following the gold rush in Victoria).
Golf also played at Concord in Sydney during 1850's but lapsed soon after.
The Australian Golf Club was founded in 1882 and is the oldest golf club still in existence in Australia.

Australia's Oldest Club

Royal Melbourne, Royal Sydney, The Australian

Which is the oldest golf club in Australia? Royal Melbourne was formed in 1893 and The Australian in 1882. Other clubs were formed in these early years but are now defunct. For seven years (1888-1895) The Australian had no golf course. This has led to the claim that Royal Melbourne is the oldest club in Australia. However, The Australian never ceased to exist as a club and today its members still play for the oldest golf trophy in Australia, the Cadogan Cup, presented to the club in 1884 by an English visitor, C.H. Cadogan. Perhaps the view of an eminent jurist will lay the matter to rest. In an unpublished history of The Australian the late Sir Leslie Herron, Chief Justice of New South Wales and the President of The Australian wrote in a preface:

I was especially interested in chapter one which deals with the early days. The facts and circumstances there recorded leave no doubt that the Club is the oldest in Australasia. It was founded in 1882 and has continued in existence ever since. It never ceased to exist even though, as to one of its objects, the playing of golf, it was not active for seven years. But the life of a club extends beyond the continued existence of each one of its objectives. For as the name 'club' denotes, it is a society of persons associated together for social intercourse and in this case for the promotion of golf. It had throughout an element of permanence even though its purposes had to be altered or modified, and there is no rule of law that requires a club to fulfil each and every separate purpose for which it was originally formed. The maintenance throughout of the Club's bank account, the ownership of trophies and property and golf equipment and the continued existence of original members set at rest any doubt as to the continuance of the company of members, a term which implies an association of a number of people for some common object or objects. The corporate existence of The Australian Golf Club, although perhaps it had 'no soul to be damned, no pants to be kicked', commenced in 1882 and has continued to the present day.
- Muir Maclaren's Golfer's Bedside Book 1976

"We do know that it had its genesis in the socially prominent Union Club. Exactly who conceived the idea of a golf club we don't know. A visitor from England observes that he saw some of the officers of a Scottish Regiment, on leave from India, playing golf on one of Sydney's parks. As it was usual for such visiting officers to be made members of the clubs when in Sydney, it could well be it was this that inspired members of the Union Club to take on the game.

1882 - The first course was laid out on Moore Park. At that time there was no required number of holes for a golf course and there is no record of how many there were but 'The Links', so called, were situated East of Anzac Parade on the edge of what is now Centennial Park.
1884 - A visiting British businessman, Mr.C.H.Cadogan, presented a trophy for play bi-annually by members of The Australian.
1888 - As a result of significant pressure from lady bicyclists, a road was made, bisecting the course. Eventually, because of this, the course had to be abandoned.
1895 - Eleven holes were put into play in the area of Queens' Park, Waverly.
1898 - The club's lease on Queen's Park land expired and it was resolved to move the course to land acquired at Botany.

The accompanying map (left) from a modern Street Directory gives the approximate location of this course. In later years there was a course in this area known as New Brighton. Whether it was part of the old Australian is not known. Eventually it became part of Sydney Airport's East/West runway.
A Clubhouse was leased on the eastern side of Botany Road five houses south of Hollenshed Street.

Map (pictured left): A reconstruction of the Botany Links, the site of the first Australian Open Golf Championship of 1904. Information to compile the map was obtained from Fred Popplewell and Carnegie Clark, who knew the course well. Both played in the Open of 1904.
The precise location of the links at Botany is unknown. We do know that the area of the links was approximately 116 acres bordering Botany Road, mostly extending north from Lords Road. With the later reclamation of the shores of Botany Bay and the diversion of Cooks River, the shoreline today bears no resemblance to that of 1899.

1899 - Prior to the official opening on February 25th, 1899 the Sydney Mail featured the following description of the new links.

"It has one hundred and sixteen acres of which some one hundred is fenced and enclosed, and covered with a thick couch. A horse mower has been bought but, better still, there are sheep to keep the grass down. The club has the satisfaction of knowing that it has full control over its improvements which can't be interfered with by outsiders.

February 25th, 1899

The social page of the Sydney Mail gave an illuminating, feminine account of the opening day.

"On Saturday afternoon we went down to Botany to see the opening of The Australian Golf Club's new links. What a queer, quaint place it is with its funny little houses and cows lying in the paddocks. It looks as though the sunlight dare not venture there - but a strong wayward, dust laden wind which blew our hair out of curl, and made us dusty and cross, sought to make up for its absence.

"His Excellency and Lady Hampden arrived in a gust of wind and bravely looked as though they enjoyed it. Lady Fairfax headed a list of social ladies. We had a charming afternoon tea which we particularly enjoyed after our long journey out. There were some pretty frocks worn.

"The wind grew stronger as the afternoon wore on, and we poor wind-tossed women were not sorry to leave and travel over the long dreary paddocks to get into a tram at Lords Road.

Early Kensington Scenes

1901 - Amateur Championship of Australia played at The Australian, Botany, won by Harry Howden
1903 - Inspection of possible course site on land at Kensington.
Kensington Golf Links Ltd. is formed with a capital of 12,500 pounds in one pound shares.
1904 - Plans for a course designed by three professionals, Hutchison, Martin and Carnegie Clark were approved.
The first Australian Open was played at Botany and won by the Hon. Michael Scott with rounds of 77-74-80-84.
1905 - Associate members joined the newly formed NSW L.G.U.
1906 - Lord Hampden , NSW Governor and AGC patron died. The cup he donated is still contested between members of The Australian and Royal Sydney.

International cricketers visiting Australia were made honorary members.
The club purchased all the shares in Kensington Golf Links Ltd and signed a 42 year lease.
A suggestion for a Saturday time sheet was soundly defeated.
During World War1 members of German descent were required to resign their memberships.
All attempts to abolish the short course failed.
Wartime Prime Minister, "Billy " Hughes was elected to membership.

1925 - A committee was formed to police the replacement of divots and repair of pitch marks. How successful it was is not recorded.
After a long drought, Sydney Water Board could not offer sufficient water to keep the course playable. A deep well was sunk and a good supply of pure water was found. Pipes, taps, pumps and sprinklers were installed around the course.
1926 - Dr. Alaster McKenzie, in Australia to design what is now Royal Melbourne's West course, was engaged to update certain holes at The Australian.
Horse-drawn mowers replaced with motorised equipment.
1929 - The great depression had begun, with unemployment reaching 13%.
Associates sought permission to elect their own President and to be allowed to play on the long course on extra days. Both requests denied.
Pressure grew for clubhouse improvements. Whether to spend 5,000 pounds on improvements or build a new club for 25,000 pounds exercised the minds of the committee. It was agreed the best site for a new club was where the present club now stands. But unemployment in NSW had reached 23% with another 18% on casual work only so plans for a new clubhouse were shelved.
1930 - Australian, Joe Kirkwood and American, Walter Hagen played an exhibition match against home professional, Fred Popplewell and Don Spence. Result not recorded.
Fred Popplewell took a position at Royal Sydney and was replaced by William MacKenzie from Avondale. "Bill" MacKenzie was to serve the club for 34 years. The William MacKenzie Trophy in his memory is an important annual event which determines who is to be "Cock of the Walk".
1931 - The Ladies' Amateur Championship was won by Mrs. Sloan Morpeth, whose husband was to redesign the course nearly 40 years later.
Jim Ferrier established a course record of 70.
On November 29th a fire reduced the clubhouse to ashes. Little was saved. Cups trophies and honour boards were all destroyed.
1932 - A meeting of members passed a motion to build a new clubhouse at the present site on the Western boundary.
Cost of construction of the clubhouse, drive, parking areas, pro shop and furnishings was 26,122 pounds.
1933 - The club was officially opened by Sir Philip Game, Governor of NSW on March 14th.
Popular young member , Dr. R.K.Lee Brown was killed when a plane he was piloting crashed. His putter was given to the club for annual competition.
1934 - The first international match was played at Kensington between a British and an Australian Team. The team was lead by the Hon. Michael Scott and managed by Mr Henry Gullen, then Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Both gentlemen were subsequently elected to life membership of the club in 19335.
Gene Sarazen and Joe Kirkwood played an exhibition match on the course.
1935 - H.M.S. "Sussex" , on a visit to Sydney, was extended the hospitality of the club. In appreciation of this, the wardroom presented a trophy for annual competition between members and serving officers of the R.A.N. and the Royal Navy if in Sydney.
1936 - Dr. Robert Silverton instigated a tree planting programme. For 35 years the course had been entirely treeless.
To prevent outstanding players being champion of more than one club, the Golf Council decided to ask all clubs to play their championships on the same day.
1937 - An annual appeal to assist the work of Legacy was introduced.
Australian Open played on the course.
1938 - Exhibition match between Bobby Locke and Sam Richardson was played at the course.
A proposal for the course to be altered to have three nines instead of one 18 and a nine was put forward. This would allow three ways of playing 18 holes. Events in Europe caused deferment of the idea.

Above: 1949 Australian Open Championship

The club faced a serious financial setback during the war years. Petrol was rationed and attendances dropped. Subscriptions of members in the armed forces were suspended. Major events such as the Club Championship and the Kensington Cup were cancelled.
Sir Leslie Herron, one of the club's most popular personalities was appointed to the Supreme Court.
Reciprocity with Royal Queensland was established.
The army acquired the short course for an anti-aircraft battery so, finally, the Associates were permitted to use the long course, although the army requisitioned their locker room as living quarters for their unit.
In April 1941 the club lost the use of part of the members locker room, the pro shop, Associates' lounges, verandah and dining room. Thus ,for the first time, women were allowed to use the members' dining room.
In 1942 US forces took over the entire clubhouse. The machinery shed became the members' dressing rooms.
Professional Bill MacKenzie was recruited for munitions work but worked in the shop on weekends.
In 1944 the American Red Cross requisitioned the clubhouse, which had been badly damaged during its brief occupancy by American forces.
Sydney horse trainers began using the course for early morning gallops, causing considerable damage to dry fairways. This problem continued for 20 years until Southern Cross Drive closed off the Western boundary.
In 1945 The American Red Cross vacated the clubhouse but, before doing so, handed it over to the Royal Navy for use as an officers' hostel.

1946 - With the war over the clubhouse was handed back to the members in February. Plans for repair of damage were drawn up.
One minor alteration to the layout of the bar facilities created the Tavern Bar, which contributed hugely to the reputation for conviviality and comradeship of The Australian.
While heavy betting on golf games was discouraged, a regular bet was "a flock, a flock, a flock" a flock being 12 or 13 glasses of good Scotch. With 36 or 40 whiskies among four players, one can hardly wonder at this reputation for conviviality.
Although there had been no increase in subscriptions since 1924, a special meeting to increase entrance fees and subscriptions by 50% to 25 guineas and 14 guineas respectively, played to a packed house.
The course was lengthened to 6568 yards.
Qualifying rounds for The Australian Open were played at The Australian and The Lakes.
A proposal by Associates that ladies be permitted to join members in their dining room was defeated.
1947 - Mr. R.J. Webster, a veteran of Gallipoli, threw his considerable influence behind War Services Day. The dinner which followed the casual day's golf was to be dignified by formal dress.
Mr. Frank Packer, later Sir Frank, donated 1300 pounds for professionals playing in The Australian Medal. Eventually the PGA asked for a purse so large that the club was forced to return this to an amateur event.
1948 - The members approved a new layout which provided for two starting holes near the clubhouse due to the size of the weekend fields.
Harry Hattersley won the Australian Amateur for the second time.
The committee called for plans for a bowling green and pavilion and a refreshment kiosk on the tenth tee.
An enormous increase in the valuation of the property - some 50% - caused some serious consideration for obtaining another site outside the metropolitan area.
1949 - The 'men only' attitude of the membership was confirmed when a meeting was called to consider the following business:

• That the top floor of the clubhouse be opened to both sexes on a Sunday. No.
• The dining room be made available to both Members and Associates. No.
• Once a year there be a gala day for husbands and wives. Yes.
• There be mixed fourballs on a Sunday. No.
• There be a short course competition for Associates on a Saturday and Sunday. No.
• Tuesday be set aside for trade day golf. Already operating.
• Dinner and cards once a month. Deferred.
• That lunch be a buffet in the dining room midweek and on Sunday. No.

1949 - McWilliams Wines sponsored a tournament with prize money of 2500 pounds. This attracted such overseas players as Dai Rees and Harry Weetman. The event was won by Norman Von Nida (281) from Ossie Pickworth.
Later the same year the first of a series of Ampol tournaments was won by Ossie Pickworth (294) from Billy Bolger (295).
1950 - A second McWilliams tournament and the State Amateur Championships were played.
The club withdrew its objection to the revaluation, thereby ensuring that club land could be sold for housing at a later period.
In July, after 30 inches of rain, the water table rose and came up through the surface of the course isolating parts of it.

1951 - Professional, Bill MacKenzie, celebrated 20 years with the club and was given the right to use the clubhouse.
Eric Cremin was appointed the club's playing professional.
1953 - The McWilliam's Wines tournament was broadcast on radio. The prize of 5000 pounds was won by Kel Nagle (277) from Roberto de Vicenzo of Argentina (284).
1954 - In February, a bowling green was officially opened.
The short course was leased to the Universities Golf Club for 2000 pounds per annum.
1956 - Various schemes to raise money by selling land were considered. These included an offer from Sydney County Council, a proposal to sell a sand hill on the Southern side of the course and the sale of unwanted land around the perimeter.

1957 - The Ampol Tournament was won by Gary Player.
The Pelaco tournament was won by Bruce Crampton from Gary Player. Wednesdays and Thursdays were declared visitors' days.
1958 - The sale of the sand hill on the 5th (now the 14th) hole, necessitated a redesign of the hole. The overburden was useful in solving a recurrent flooding problem in front of the 5th tee.
Peter Thomson won the Pelaco tournament by six shots from Gary Player.
The club's improved financial position led to many alterations and improvements to the clubhouse.
The Pennant team won for the first time since the competition was revised.
Reciprocal affiliations were made with Royal Durban and New Zealand clubs in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin.
1959 - Life member, the Hon Michael Scott, winner of the inaugural Australian Open at Botany, died in England.
Half price food and drinks for Associate members in the club were deemed uneconomical and prices were increased to 2/3rds.
The first annual competition between the AGC and Bowral Golf Club was held.
Both The Open and Ampol tournaments were held at the Australian. Sydney professional, Kel Nagle won the Open and shared first place in the Ampol with Gary Player.
Following the Canada Cup (later the World Cup) in Melbourne, a four ball match between Sam Snead and Cary Middlecoff and Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle was won by the Australians.
1960 - 174 Applications for membership, received in 1959 were processed and created some problems with large competition fields.
Extensions to the clubhouse were officially opened in May.
The order of play of the holes was reversed for a three month's trial. Consensus after this was that the original way of playing was the better.

1971 - The Wills Masters was won by English professional Brian Barnes.Dress rules for Associates created some debate over culottes. These garments appeared to be a skirt but as a woman took long strides along the fairway it became clear they were in fact breeches and not aproved for wear on the course.
It was decided that culottes were divided skirts and therefore acceptable. The wearing of slacks was limited to inclement weather and then only with permission of the lady captain.
The first "People to People" golf match was played and many friendships made then have stood the test of time.

1972 - Short course Associate membership was introduced at a reduced fee.
Three electric carts were purchased and a charge of seven dollars a round was made.
Reciprocal clubs acquired this year were Royal Canberra, Royal Selangor in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore Island Country Club.
The Wills tournament was won by American professional Bob Murphy.
1973 - Club President and now Lieutenant Governor of NSW, Sir Leslie Herron passed away. The office was duly filled by Mr. Justice Taylor.
Life membership was bestowed on Mr A.J. Chown and Mr."Bertie "Deane.
Reciprocity was arranged with Japan's most exclusive club, the 300 Club in Tokyo.
Entrance fee was increased to 300 dollars and visitors fees to 3 dollars.
1974 - The Wills Masters was played in an atmosphere of racial violence. Gary Player was the target of anti-apartheid groups. Several greens were damaged.
1975 - Plans were approved for the building of a new machinery shed at a cost of $42,000 to replace the building which had stood for the past 70 years.
A proposal to build tennis courts was shelved.
The Australian Open was won by Jack Nicklaus (279).
1976 - Kerry Packer's company Consolidated Press had hopes the AGU would confirm their sponsorship of the next three Open championships. It was suggested that Jack Nicklaus should be invited to submit his ideas on altering the course to increase the difficulty. The club was informed that the cost of such alterations would be at Mr. Packer's expense.
However this could not proceed until the members had given their consent.
1977 - The Open was a huge success, a world television first was achieved by Channel 9 in being able to cover every shot from tee to green on all 18 holes.
On a fishing trip subsequent to the tournament, the idea of improvements to the course to include water hazards was born.
In November the plans were submitted to the board and in December at an emotional meeting 60% of members voted for the alterations, which were to be completed in 40 days. Due to many unforeseen problems this deadline came and went.
The Ladies' Open was withdrawn from The Australian and played at Manly Golf Club.
The Annual Match between the President's team and the Captain's team was played in a new format. The locker room was divided down the centre to allocate teams. On the eve of the match all teams were to meet at dinner when a Calcutta Sweep would be conducted.
The reformation of this match laid the foundation for one of the club's most popular matches and social events of the year.
The Open was held on the new layout and professional golfers gave it a thumbs up. However further changes were required by Nicklaus.
Subscriptions were increased by 60 dollars.
The success of electric carts was proven and an increase in the numbers was planned.
1978 - An increase in the numbers of Associates playing on the course necessitated changes to their playing rights.
Young Associate, Edwina Kennedy, won the British Ladies' Amateur Championship, an event coinciding with her 21st birthday. She was the first, and so far only, Australian to achieve this feat.
The 1978 Open was to be the final in a series of three. These tournaments were notable for their high standard of presentation and the world quality of the professionals who competed.
1979 - Mr. Packer generously disclaimed ownership to the equipment he had purchased for course maintenance and agreed to continue financial arrangements on the same terms as previously.
1980 - A sundial was unveiled by the practice green to acknowledge the contributions of various individuals to the new course.
It was decided to introduce a new trophy, "The Jack Nicklaus Commemorative Cup."
Annual subs were raised to 570 dollars.
Norman Von Nida, was elected to honorary membership.
A rustic bridge was built between the 7th green and the 8th tee to accommodate the increase in the use of powered carts.
In September, it was decided by Kerry Packer that the subsidy in lieu of trade days should cease.