Frankston Golf Club

Golf Links Road , Frankston

History
Information is based on the description of the development of the golf course in the Record Books of the Frankston Golf Ltd. held at the Frankston Golf Club house and discussions with Mr. Wagstaff, former Curator.1

Herbert Sargood put forward the idea of a private golf course in the Frankston area as early as 1911. In 1912 a syndicate was formed which purchased 240 acres of land from J Harkins and partner at a price of four pounds per acre. The nine hole golf course was constructed on about half of this land and the rest remained unused and was sold in 1968.

The first works were commenced in 1915 comprising fencing, clearing of land and planting, building a dam and curator's house, and installing reticulation pipes.

In 1917 and 1918, rabbits caused heavy losses of many plants and hundreds of netting guards were introduced to reduce the lose. By late 1918, the stand of sugar gums between the club house and the front gate had been planted and the on site nursery was producing thousands of seedlings for use around the property.

A Plantation Committee directed the works and five of the proposed shrubberies at the tees had been planted. The planting at the tee at the 8th hole survives in a relatively intact form today.

In 1918, Russell Grimwade planted five seedlings of Thryptomene ?sp. (syn. Thryptomene mitchelliana) grown from seed collected in the Grampians. These were planted next to the 8th tee and, over the next few years, many hundreds of cuttings were grown on and exchanged with nurserymen for other Australian plants.

In 1925, the directors recognised the uniqueness of the course and reaffirmed their objectives to keep the course a simple site with minimal developments. Consequently, the initial plan to develop an 18 hole golf course was shelved.

Throughout the 1920's and 1930's an extensive planting program was continued. Plants were raised in the nursery and many exchanges were made with other growers - eg. the Grimwade garden at Harleston; two young flowering gums, raised from seed of the tree at the Metropolitan Golf Club, were planted between the golf house and the ninth green. In 1922 the club house was extended.

The site was affected by the 1939 fires but only marginally compared to the disastrous bush fires of January 1944. The course was closed for some time and the financial burden reduced by the sale of firewood, the growing of vegetables and the fattening of pigs.

Many self-sown seedlings had emerged after the fires and extensive clearing and remaking of greens ensued, followed by the transplanting of seedlings.

In September 1947, Russell Grimwade invited the curator Jim Swanston to join him on an expedition of naturalists to Western Australia. He returned with seed and seedlings which were propagated and planted throughout the course. throughout the 1950s and 60s works were continued to reduce the undergrowth and dead wood, allowing the existing trees and shrubs to develop to maturity.

In 1968 a new Plantation Committee was formed which embarked on an extensive program of replanting.

Description
The original area of land purchased was approx. 250 ac,; now reduced to 100 ac.

The nine hole course is attractively laid out and planted with an extensive collection of mature specimens of Australian trees and shrubs, Eucalyptus especially.

Of particular interest is the large specimen of Banksia grandis at the end of the second fairway. The site is also important for its birdlife.

The club house dates from c1945; the red brick steps of the original club house (1922) also survive. The complex is owned by the Frankston Golf Club (1970) Ltd.

Significance
Frankston Golf Club, dating from 1913 and continuously maintained as a private golf course, is of regional significance:

• as a reserve for significant native species;
• for its role in providing active recreation to citizens of Frankston and neighbouring areas;
• for its association with the development of interest, enthusiasm and collection and use in the public landscape of native flora;
• for its association with notable persons