History

Golf

Inverleigh Golf Club had its beginning at a property owned by the McCallum Bros “Argyle Park” Inverleigh which was leased, and a nine hole Sandscrape course was constructed by voluntary labour. Competition commenced in July 1937. There was no clubhouse and players met under a gum tree, later a tent was erected followed by construction of a shed.

In 1972 a new 9 hole course was constructed on temporarily leased land owned by Mrs Merna Pearce on Shelford Road. More permanent land was found in the 1970’s and a 21 year lease of Crown land was obtained and accepted in 1977 at the club’s present location.

This course was designed by local District Golf Champion Joe Briody. It was cut out of dense bushland using a Dozer, a flag on a long pole, and a whistle, this indicated to the dozer driver where to clear.

A clubhouse was built under supervision of David McMillan and Jack Bath. This course was first played on in 1979, it was only 9 holes, and in 1981/82 an additional 9 holes was constructed which made the 18 holes that is here still today.There was no golf played from 1942 until the end of WW11.

In 1989, and 2014 the Victorian Ladies Sandgreen Championship tournament was held at Inverleigh, and in 1994 the Mens Victorian Sandgreen Championship was also held here.

There is an annual Open Tournament held each year, the first was in 1949. This was a 4 day event, however recently it is run over 3 days. Friday is Ladies Day, Saturday is Mens day and Sunday is a mixed event.

In 2000 we were very honoured to have a visit from 2 officials from R&A St. Andrews Executive Committee, this was the first time they had seen a ‘Sandgreens’ course and they were most impressed with the course and delighted with the hospitality extended.

2020 saw the installation of piping and sprinkler system across the front 9 tees and fairways, improving the quality of the fairways and keeping areas greener for longer periods.

Major acacia clearance works in 2022 opened up vast areas of the course unseen in the club’s history, and these clearance works will continue to improve the look and landscape of the course.

Disc Golf

Initially instigated in 2016 by golf club president David Brown, 2018 saw the addition of the Disc Golf course. Designed by Andrew Ferguson, the disc golf course uses areas on and off the golf course fairways and involved a lot of clearance works and volunteer hours setting the course up. Initially starting out as a 9 hole course, a full 18 holes was established in 2022 which culminated in the Australian Open Disc Golf Tournament being held in February, 2022 and saw players compete from around the country. The Inverleigh Disc Golf course is considered one of the tougher courses in Victoria.