AFTER 65 years of competition, Krambach Golf Club’s final day’s play will be decided on Sunday.
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The field will be restricted to members only, with a couple of invited guests. Play starts at 8am.
“We’ll invite a few players who have particular significance to the club,’’ assistant club captain Jim Land said.
It was announced last year that the club would cease operations in June 2017. The course is unique, as Taree club captain Peter Wildblood described after playing in the open day last month.
“Krambach is a course like no other,’’ Peter wrote.
“A condition of the lease was the continuing right of the Paterson family to graze cattle on rotation on the block.
“This meant a consequent need to fence the greens with four-strand barbed wire … and a necessity for local rules allowing a free drop from a cow pat and the compulsory re-play of any shot involving a ball striking the fence.
“The fences around the greens no doubt intrigue first time visitors. They do, however, appreciate it when they find the fence-gates are always placed on the away side toward the next tee.
“Think of that – never a wait on the fairway while inconsiderate players retrieve carts and buggies in front of the green.’’
Michael White is the club’s most decorated player. A club junior, he won the NSW junior championships and had 42 open victories throughout NSW, including Kogarah, where he was successful in 1973/74/76/77 and 78.
White returned to his home club in May for the open day.
The privately owned course will close after Sunday’s play.
“We’ll finish the game and have the presentation to the winners of this year's championships. Then that’ll be it,’’ Mr Land said.
Mr Land added that members have had 12 months to come to terms with the club’s closure.
“It’s not as though it’s happened overnight,’’ he said.
“Now we can look back at the good times.
“The Patterson family (owners of the course) have given this community 65 years of golf and we’re grateful to them. They’ve never charged us rent – not even peppercorn,’’ Mr Land said.
He said the current membership stood at 60 and he was of the opinion the club would have closed within five or six years, given the age of the members.
“We don’t have any juniors coming through,’’ Mr Land added.
The club was formed in 1952. George Paterson, Tom Lynch, Jack Bidner, Dudley Paterson, Max Ross and Mac McKinnon were the founding members. The women’s club hit off in 1954 with the veteran’s club starting in 1997.
Mr Land understands some members will look to join other clubs in the area. But he said a number will retire once their home course is no longer in play. Mr Land will be joining Harrington Waters.
“It’s closer for me – I don’t live in Krambach, I’m not a villager,’’ he explained.
The clubhouse was sold by auction last month, just before the men’s open day.
Mr Land said the club’s history will live on.
Memorabilia including the honour boards listing the executive members and champions will be now stored in the Krambach hall for prosperity.