"SENIOR WOMEN GOLFERS'

ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA"

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The forming of a golf club for senior women golfers in Victoria was the idea of Mrs Austin Gatehouse, a member of Royal Melbourne Golf Club, who, early in the 1960's when a member of the VLGU, approached Mrs Ellie Hinton, an Associate of Huntingdale Golf Club for support.

 

The idea was received with enthusiasm and plans to interest keen golfers in Victoria were instigated.

 

After many discussions with ex Presidents and Captains of their home clubs, an enthusiastic response encouraged the formation of a Committee to enquire into the possiblity of forming such a club.    The idea of a club for women members only, became the dream for the future and in 1963 the Senior Women Golfers' Association of Victoria was formed.

 

The first official Committee Meeting was held at the home of Mrs Ellie Hinton in February 1963 and apart from three years when they were held at Huntingdale Golf Club, continued to do so until 1987.

 

By the end of 1965, membership had grown to 560, representing 36 clubs and through an advertisement in the Australian Ladies Golf Union Year Book attracting Country Associates, interest became statewide.

 

So popular was this new Association that in 1965, such big fields as 212, 192, 200, 226 became difficult to handle. Canadian Foursomes, Bogey or Stableford were mostly played although the majority of members preferred a stroke round of golf. Later the competition was played regularly as a Four Ball Best Ball event. However even at this early stage. it was felt a smaller membership could be handled more easily and after much thought and discussion, the decision was made to reduce the number of members and open a waiting list. In 1971 the age of eligibility was raised to 55 and in 1986, to 60 years of age. The age of eligibility was lowered back to 55 in 2022.

 

The Association has always been well received with a good selection of courses played, resulting in 5 decades of very successful golf being enjoyed by the senior women golfers.  

 

And so, the Senior Women Golfers' Assoc of Victoria continues on and today in 2024, we have representatives in 45 clubs across Victoria (private and public) and approx 230 members.