Barraba Golf Club is celebrating 100 years since it was officially founded in 1925, with an anniversary dinner being held at the clubhouse on September 19.
A large number of past and present members are expected to attend to reminisce and reflect on ‘the growth of Barraba Golf Club into one of the best sand green clubs in NSW’, according to spokesperson Amanda Koopman.
“To be able to maintain an 18 hole golf course in such a small town is a testament to the hard work and dedication of many members over the years,” Koopman said.
One such member is David ‘Davo’ York who, at 92, has been playing at the club for 80 years. Who won his first club championship at the age of 14 against his school principal, according to his self-published history of the club.
York’s history of Barraba Golf Club contains a number of insights into the early years of the club, including how golfers carried firearms to prevent crows from picking up balls off the fairway and how the Second World War made golf ‘low key’, in York’s words.
Koopman said York has spent most of his ‘retirement’ at the golf course, on the mower, installing watering systems, building additions to the clubhouse and facilitating construction of plant and buggy sheds as well as serving as a Board Member and secretary for many years.
Along with golf functions, the clubhouse is also used as a home base for the local Lions’ Club, yoga lessons and is a ‘popular’ party and wedding venue. Several golf charity days are held each year and while winter competition golf numbers are steady, the more social summer twilight competition has been thriving in recent years, Koopman said.
The club is proud to be hosting the men’s NSW Sand Green Championships on October 11 and 12 as part of its centenary celebrations in conjunction with Golf NSW.
People can find out more about the celebrations by contacting Koopman on 0429 958 816 or emailing amanda@stockandcrop.com.au.
The celebratory dinner will take place a day before the 2025 running of the Barraba Cup at Barraba Jockey Club on September 20.
Six races will be held with total prize money of $78,000 on offer, with around $10,000 going to the winner of the 1400-metre Barraba Cup race taking place first on the day.
Off the track, there will be fashions on the field, a jumping castle, and catering courtesy of a barbeque lunch and bar.
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