History Introduction

I have been asked to compile a brief history of the Commonwealth Bank Sydney Golf Club for our new web site.

The history is derived from various records, committee meeting minutes, newsletters and my own experiences and recollections.

I might also add that record keeping in the early days was not as reliable as today. Many committee meeting minutes were handwritten (first minutes held date from 1965). Various “Honour Rolls” have been compiled by me from above minutes and “Bank Notes” a monthly magazine issued to all Staff. Bank Notes date back to 1940, however mentions regarding the golf club are not regular.  As such many names, events and results cannot be determined.

Although our records show that the club was officially established in 1956 with the presentation to Club Champions by Mr Henry of Henry and Long Pty Ltd, club games were held prior to this. In fact the first known mention was in Bank Notes June 1940 with an article titled:-  Sydney Golf – A Day Out with “The Bashers”

“The club sprang from the nucleus of a very small band of enthusiasts who, a few years ago rushed out to the Moore Park Golf Course (Sydney) on one of those – now almost forgotten – early afternoons”

The next mention of the club occurs in Bank Notes in June 1953 where mention is made of the various office bearers and 102 playing members in the club. I mention that the Handicapper in 1953 was Terry Lennox (Life Member 1974) – who is still a member of Manly Golf Club. Terry has provided valuable assistance throughout the years of his recollection of the early days of the club.

The club continued throughout the years, where all members worked for the Commonwealth Bank. In the yearly 1990’s, the Bank underwent a major upheaval where many staff were retrenched, consequently it was decided to allow members to join who had never worked for the Bank before. (subject to Committee approval).

At this point, the history of each major event will be documented in chronological order of commencement.

Peter Bendeich

Patron

March 2016