This weekend Roxburgh Golf Club celebrates 100 years of its annual August tournament, following its last minute postponement in 2021 due to Covid-19.

Ladies club captain Heather Hiscock said all was in hand for a busy, fun weekend.

“We’ve got a full Friday with 116 golfers signed up. There are a few spaces left for Saturday and Sunday.

“It was cancelled due to lockdown, the Tuesday before last year.”

Heather said organisers had picked up where they left off and they were just doing the “last minute things”. 

The evening event at the Roxburgh Town Hall features Newstalk ZB radio personality Jamie Mackay (who hosts flagship rural show ‘The Country’), and longtime Roxburgh local and golf club supporter Eric Olsen. 

Heather said the evening celebrations will be enjoyed by a full house of 100 attendees. 

There are around 80 members of the club, and only 16 of them are women. Saturday is a 36 hole event, and Sunday a ‘four ball, best ball’.

Heather said Sunday is she and fellow committee member Penny Jennings’ “day to shine” as Friday is when lots of visitors enjoy the course and “only a few locals are playing [then]”. 

A Slice of NZ Golf website details the course’s origins in ‘A history of the golf course 1904 -1979’ by S Pearson. It states:

“How fortunate Roxburgh residents are that the early pioneers of this district were farsighted enough to set aside an area for recreation, incorporating as it does today, bowling, tennis, children’s playground, golf and sports ground.”

The course initially had only 14 holes which were named after the gold dredges working in the area; First Chance, Lady Roxburgh, Kohinoor, AI, Rise and Shine, Sailors Bend, Double Entry, Muddy Creek, Endeavour, Keep-it-dark, Enterprise, Hartley and RIley, Jubilee and Last Chance. 

The club fell into a period of recess due to the war until 1920 and in September of 1922 the first annual tournament was held, won by Mr. A Burton and awarded the title “Goldfields Amateur Champion.” The open handicap event was won by Mr. F Jefferey and the second open handicap was tied by Mr. GN Jeffrey and Mr W Gilligan. 

There have been a series of layout amendments over time. In 1927 four final holes were completed, the course was altered and relayed in 1938 because of the Health Camp requiring room. In the 1950s the ninth hole was abolished and a new eighteenth added. 

In the early years sheep were a feature of the course and extra wires were added to green fences to protect the greens from damage. In 1968 the president's report for that year said sheep were off the course for the first time in 40 years. 

In 1917 the Mt Benger Mail published this: “Rabbit burrows, somewhat numerous on the course have been exhausting the patience of some of the players, who in view of so many lost balls, now include a light spade in their golfing equipment.”

The rabbits were again notorious in 1921 when the same publication wrote “[a] lady golfer getting some sand to make a tee to drive off, had the misfortune to have her fingers caught in a rabbit trap.”

A century on, local media is still reporting on pests damaging the course. See The Central App story here explaining the rabbit proof fence making a difference. 

To enter for Saturday or Sunday email Paul

Good luck to everyone playing in the 100th tournament. If you’re taking part share your pictures or story by emailing: [email protected]