Our history

The following includes excerpts from The History of the Upper Blackwood Golf Club written by the late Janet E. Purse in 1972. To download a full copy of the book CLICK HERE

Brancaster

The early history of golf in the Boyup Brook district is closely associated with the Whistler family. Early in this century they left England and went to South Australia. In about 1905 the two sons Robert and John came to Western Australia and took up land In the Boyup Brook district. They named the property “Brancaster”, after the village in Norfolk from which they came. Robert married Fanny Smith of Boyanup and they had a son, Harold.

In 1912 Robert took his wife and son for a trip home to England and one of the highlights of their holiday was a game of golf at St. Andrew’s, the ‘I home of Golf” in Scotland. They grew so interested in the game that when they returned to their farm in W.A. they brought with them sets of clubs, golf bags and balls. They then decided to lay out a nine-hole course of their own.

The course was constructed on the paddocks adjacent to the homestead and had some interesting features such as a creek to cross and a dog-leg around a dam, One short hole had thick bracken fern from tee to green and another hole, near the sheep yards, had a solid jarrah slab fence across the fairway. The greens were small by present standards and made of sand, naturally. Wherever a fence had to be crossed, a stile was built for climbing over. Of course, in those days golf buggies were unheard of and the writer well remembers, when the first buggies appeared at Brancaster after the second World War, wondering whether they were worth the business of lifting them over the fences!

When the course was established the Whistlers invited some of their friends and neighbours to come and join them for a game of golf at weekends. Mainly the Lovells from “Condinup” who also had a nine-hole practice course laid out on their property and the Swinneys from “Dinninup Vale”. Gradually, other neighbours joined in and golf at Brancaster developed into a regular and very pleasant family outing. The visitors brought their own lunch and ate it on the verandah of the homestead and Mrs Whistler presided as hostess and made cups of tea for everyone.

Others who joined in included Mr M.S. Hack and his sons Bill, Doug and Ron. Doug’s wife Fan, Jim Lee Steere, Bob and Mrs Johnson, Percy and Lou Chidgzey, Frank Money and the Blechynden family including Myra, Ellen, Charles, Hubert and his wife Trixie.

Patrick Glynn came to the district and then his brother Gerard and the Purse brothers Jack and Bill, John Broadhurstl Scot McKie and his wife Olga, Alan McKie and they all played golf at Brancaster.

Eventually it was decided to form a committee and register “Brancaster” as an official golf club. Thus grew the first Golf Club in the Boyup Brook district and Mrs. Robert Whistler became known as the “Mother of Golf” in this area. In 1954 she was made a Life Member of the new Upper Blackwood Golf Club in recognition of the keen interest and untiring efforts towards golf which resulted in the spread of the game throughout the district. She was asked to drive the first ball at the official opening of the new club and at the age of 88 was still playing golf. Even into her 90’s Mrs Whistler still drove the ball for the official opening of each season cleanly and truly, straight down the middle.

Dinninup

Soon after the establishment of golf at Brancaster another 9-hole course was built out at “Bayndup” the property of the Beatty brothers. The late George Tichener of Kullkup played a large part in the planning and formation of this as a golf club.

After some years Bayndup closed down as a golf club, and the members formed a new one on public reserve land west of the old Dinninup School. This was then known as the Dinninup Club and together with the soon to be formed Boyup Brook club and Brancaster, formed the Upper Blackwood Zone of the Blackwood Districts Golf Association.

Play at the Dinninup Club was suspended during the war and would not ever resume. At the end of the war, most of the players joined Brancaster.

Boyup Brook – The Original Courses

The first golf course at Boyup Brook was a 9-hole layout laid down in about 1929 or 1930 on Mr E.A. Proctor’s farm adjoining the western boundary of the town. Mr H.C. Smith who at that time was managing the Boyup Brook Hotel for Mrs Balharry, seems to have been the person mainly responsible for getting this club started and he was helped by Mervyn Butterly, Harry Bostockl, Ern Proctor, Jack Cuneo, Reg Blechynden and Arthur Lee Steere.

Other players who joined included Mrs. Paddy Dent, Miss Connie Balharry, Walter Cowley, Fred Proctor, Mrs Bostock, Avon Smith-Ryan, Nigel Haines, Dr. Hiram Raises, Marjorie Hodgson, Duance and Thora Meagher, Janet and Frank Ritson, Bob Duncan the headmaster, Geoff Jones the Commercial Bank manager, M.C. (Peter) Hawkins, Jim Lee Steere and HIC (Chris) Ball who was Dalgety’s staff officer.

The clubhouse was a three-sided open weatherboard and iron shed alongside Banks Road, just opposite the site of the timber mill.

In about 1934 the club moved onto the recreation reserve just across the brook from the town. A new 9-hole course was laid out here, with the help of Tommy Howard the professional at Royal Perth Golf Club and one-time Professional Champion of Australia. He planned the bunkers etc. for the course for a fee of five pounds a day and transport to Bridgetown. The building of the greens and bunkers was done mostly under contract by Harry Bostock and Mervyn Butterly with the help of busy bees by members.

The Club grew in numbers and the membership now included Reg Wass the policeman, Walter Fewings manager of the Hotel, Len Moore, Alec and George Affleck, Jack Smethurst the Roads Board Secretary, Graham Wright, Phyllis and Jack Young and Ron Young. With the exception of the war years, golf continued at this club until the amalgamation with Brancaster.

The Upper Blackwood Golf Club

Golf was resumed at Boyup Brook and Brancaster Clubs about two years after the war. Members realised the need to expand and a move was made to form a district club with an 18-hole layout. A public meeting was called and held on 28th April 1952 at the Boyup Brook hall which was attended by 30 members from both clubs and chaired by Mr George Treloar.

A letter from Mr J R Purse was read. offering 130 acres on the Six Mile Road With the following conditions of purchase:

Price: One hundred pounds in cash plus one hundred pounds in debentures at 4 1 /20/0 redeemable at some future date. All survey and transfer fees to be borne by the Club. Any fencing required to be at the expense of the Club. (i.e. sub-division of Nelson Location 6443)

Mr J. Doust said he was not prepared to recommend the site as he did not think the land was quite suitable. He also referred to the poor attendance at two previous inspections of the area by members appointed to do so. Mr. J. Broadhurst was in favour of the land offered. The meeting decided to contact Mr Chippingham the engineer of Collie, and invite him to inspect the area with the Committee. A survey committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. B. Wallace, P. Glynn and D. Doust.

Messrs. P. Glynn and W. Hack apologised for their unavoidable absence from the inspection of the proposed area but said that Brancaster Club was firmly behind the formation of a joint club. Mr. G. Glynn strongly urged that this should proceed immediately and Mr. Purse supported him. Mr. J. Young put the motion to this effect. It was then formally decided that a district golf club should be formed and an area of land suitable for an 18-hole course agreed upon with the name to be the Upper Blackwood Golf Club.

In December 1953 a special meeting was held at Brancaster attended by 30 prospective members. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways and means of raising funds to build a clubhouse at the new course. It was decided to raise a loan of seven hundred pounds for this purpose, guaranteed by some of the members. Messrs W. and D. Hack, H. Whistler, J. Purse, R. Young, B. Wallace, R. Johnson, P. Glynn, and J. Young agreed to act as guarantors.

Early in 1954 building began, but on a larger scale. A building plan was obtained from Bunning Brothers with a cost estimate of six hundred and fourteen pounds, one shilling and four pence for materials. The use of locally sourced materials reduced this somewhat. A small clubhouse was built although the bar lounge was not ready for use.

On the 8th August 1954, the official opening of the new Club took place. Mr Evelyn Hester. President of the Blackwood Districts Golf Association performed the ceremony and a good crowd of visitors from all the surrounding clubs were there to help the new club celebrate its launch. Mrs. Whistler Senior drove the official ball from the first tee for the opening and Mr. P.D. Forrest, Chairman of the Roads Board was also there.

After the official opening, the bar and lounge were completed and a juniors room was included which later became the office.

In 1973 the club name was changed to the BOYUP BROOK GOLF CLUB.

Golf has been played continuously at this course for 70 years with many District events hosted, Championships won and lost and changes of Committees and members. In 1955 the men held an Open Day to mark the anniversary of the club’s opening which is now known as the ANNIVERSARY CUP with a perpetual trophy donated by the late Mr Harold Whistler.