Victorian Chemist Golf Club History

 

History of the Club Keith Smith has kindly given his permission to include this extract from his book: History of the Australian Chemists Golf Association The First Fifty Years

   

The inaugural meeting to form the Victorian Chemist Golf Club was held at the Pharmacy College in 1946 and was convened by Larry Fripp. Harry Henshall was elected the first president.

Previously, records from the AJP in 1928 have “The Victorian Chemists Recreation Club” which organised cricket and bowls interstate matches between Queensland, NSW and Victoria and it was about this time that H G McRoberts started the C & D Cup for golf. He was a very good golfer himself having been champion of Riversdale Golf Club when it was in Camberwell, and later became President of Yarra Yarra Golf Club in its present site at the sand belt. Later he was president of the VGA and in business was managing director of Felton Grimwade and Duerdins.

Ted Beacham succeeded Harry Henshall as president and instigated the President’s Cup to encourage members to participate in all the golf days. This coveted trophy is an aggregate event won by the member who scores best over four rounds out of five nominated days in each year. Ted also generously made his factory of Riley Williams the venue for the beginning of many carnivals in Victoria and used to have sumptuous food and drinks unlimited for us to begin our week. After his passing Ray Riley continued the tradition with Monty Ross as his assistant, until the numbers increased to such an extent that it became impractical, so future receptions were held at hotels.

One of the funny incidents that has been told concerning Monty (who was promoted as Sales Manager of Riley Williams) and Hymie Eizenberg was when Hymie walked into his room to congratulate him on his promotion. Monty was in the shower and Hymie took the “Old feller” and shook it saying “Congratulations on your appointment & Good luck.” Both gentlemen’s countenance remained poker faced during this incident!

As well as the President's Trophy, and The Chemists and Druggists Cup we have a Charity Legacy Trophy to commemorate Bill Alcock who was secretary from 1949-1980, and was instrumental in working for The Girl Guides Extension Auxiliary to which the Victorian Chemists Golf Club contributed $1000 plus per year for many years. It would be remiss of me not to mention Harvey Wastell who was a fantastic treasurer during this period and did not retire from the job until 1987. Colin Trebilcock took on the finance of the club and has done a wonderful job ever since. Syd Hirsh was president during 1973 and 1974 and died during his term of office. A memorial trophy has been played in his honour since 1977.

The Birth of VCGC

In 1990 it was passed at an Annual General Meeting at Keysborough Golf Club that in future we would be renamed “The Victorian Chemists Golf Club Incorporated” with the following purposes and powers:

1. To promote the game of golf and other athletic sports and pastimes
2. To arrange and conduct golf competitions for members and their guests on a regular basis.
3. To arrange and conduct golf carnivals to which members of equivalent interstate clubs will be invited to attend.
4. To co-operate and liase with interstate clubs and to assist in arrangements to enable members to attend interstate golf carnivals.
5. To arrange social functions for members and their guests.

In order to further the purposes set out above, the Association was to empowered to take over all funds, assets and liabilities of the former Victorian Chemists Golf Club and to carry out administration in all aspects of play, donations to the community, patriotic and charitable institutions and to invest monies of the Club into shares, debentures or other securities to enable them to have funds available for carnivals and other events.

As in the original rules there is a proviso that only a pharmaceutical chemist can be president and that we all have a wonderful time where ever and whenever we meet, be it interstate or in our home state.

Barwon Heads and Phil's Cup

Our final event of the year in Victoria is now a two day event at Barwon Heads.

author's notes ... "where we take over the house as well."

The first day we play for Phil’s Cup, which started as the introduction of fellow pharmacists to the joys of Chemist Golf. Phil Shay invited Stuart Baker to play at Queenscliff on the day before the Barwon Heads golf day in 1991, and to stay over at his home for the night and partake of a few reds. Word got around so that the next year, Michael Tyndall and David Norton turned up for a game, a meal, a bed and accompanied by a bottle of red. The early days hold many memorable moments,the most notable the liquid announcement by Tyndall of the need for a cup for the winner, and so “Phil’s Cup” was born. Stuart actually won this cup, but due to a technicality another liquid executive decision was made not to inscribe his name in 1992. Following the golf was what has become  the beginning of the traditional Five Hundreds card game and the putting lessons against the Shay’s architrave in their lounge room. The latter would have been okay had it not been at 3am, so since this date all golf has been outside and at a reasonable time of day

author's notes ... by “petticoat law.” 

The lessons did not help anyway as Michael still can’t putt. Since then the cup has been won by Bjorn Vedelsby, Chris McConnell, Michael Tyndall, Frank Montegano, Peter Berman and, in 1998, Geoff Belleville.

As luck would have it Michael Story, Victorian State Manager of Sigma (who had been on the job for a week), decided after a sumptuous meal and good fellowship that sponsorship for this event could be arranged and this is now the case. More mature players joined the group in 1996 and numbers increased considerably so that it became necessary to play Barwon Heads only. One golfer apparently was not told of the new arrangements and arrived to play at Queenscliff and played solo. Hence the birth of the “ Stuart Baker Best” at Queenscliff trophy won that year by Stuart himself. The main trophy of the day was won by none other than Norman Burgess, the same golfer who took everything at the previous carnival including B Grade and the Aggregate Shield donated by Barry and Brian Shepherd. What started out around a dining roon table will be well remembered in the annals of Chemist Golf and gives us lucky ones a great opportunity to play golf and, of course, drink some obligatory reds.