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The Mount Barker Golf Club originated as a definable body in 1879, which makes it one of the oldest, Clubs, if not the oldest Golf Club in the State and it has been in existence continuously since that time.

Golf at Mt Barker was originally played on the local property now known as the Laurels, and owned by a well-known early settler, Mr John Dunn. The club used this venue for forty-two years. As Mt Barker grew it became necessary to relocate the Club golf course. This was done with the permission of the Warden family who allowed the Club to use their land for a further 45 years. To acknowledge this significant gesture the Club now hold an annual competition called the Warden Putter. The actual putter owned by Commander Warden and donated to the Club by his late widow, is displayed in the Club House.

In 1966 the Club decided to establish a facility and to do so purchased some 288 acres of land near Wistow. A course and clubrooms was duly established by utilising, almost entirely, voluntary labour.

As land pressures changed and the population of Mt Barker grew it became apparent that the Wistow course could not be developed into the standard of course required, mainly due to a deficient water supply.

However, the land increased in value. It was decided to subdivide and sell this land and acquire land closer to Mt Barker with the potential of adequate water. With these objectives in mind the present property was purchased and developed, beginning in 1977. The course was constructed first, with the present workshop used as a clubhouse. The original clubrooms were completed and opened on the 4th October 1980.

The years 1980 to present have seen a tremendous amount of effort and revenue put into the facility by way of continual upgrading of the course and the machinery and resources to keep it in the condition that members have come to know, enjoy and expect.

Along with growth in membership has come a growth in services and facilities, so much so that the Committee, looking to the future of the Club undertook in 1988, a major upgrading of the Club Room facility to provide for even more members services and to provide a Club Room which matches the course in excellence.

Over the years, vast amounts of time have been contributed by volunteer workers to make the Club what it is today and this contribution continues. It is of worthy note that all that has been done without the aid of an outside agency.

There may be longer established, or more modern Clubs around, but there are none with a prouder history of perseverance and steady achievement that the Mt Barker Golf Club.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HAHNDORF GOLF CLUB

The Hahndorf Golf Club is one of the three oldest clubs in the State with all established in 1892. Adelaide (later Royal Adelaide) Golf Club was the first metropolitan club while the title of the oldest country club could rest in a photo-finish between Hahndorf and Oakbank.

In 1907 the Hahndorf Golf Club amalgamated with the newly formed Mount Barker Golf Club and this relationship continued until about 1912.

The course moved several times before settling on the Balhannah Road site. The land was loaned or leased from golfing farmers and many were the hazards with fields ploughed for potatoes or paddocks used for grazing with greens fenced off to prevent straying dairy herds.

In 1963 the Club moved locations for the last time and leased land for a 9-hole course from one of it’s members, Mr. Vic Nitschke. The Club expanded to its full 18-hole course in 1981 and purchases the land in 1994. Peak membership of 550 - 600 was achieved from 1992 to 1996.

Declining membership and hence financial viability of the Club, together with resignations from the Management Committee saw a Task Force meeting held in May 2000 to develop strategies and actions to keep the Club operating. The Task Force members were subsequently appointed at the Annual General Meeting in October 2000 as the Management Committee.

In early 2002 discussions were held with a well known developer who proposed to purchase the property, construct home units adjacent to the clubhouse for sale to the general public and Members, with the course operated by a golf course management group and available to all existing Members. The viability of the development was dependent upon a variation of the encumbrances placed on the property title by the vendor when it was purchased in 1994. A voluntary variation was not forthcoming so a long legal battle ensued. Ultimately this was all in vain as the high legal costs, increased bank debit and reducing membership due to the uncertainty of the Club’s future all contributed to the development not processing.

At a significant and sad Special General Meeting in May 2004 it was decided that the course be closed on Sunday 6th June and the property sold by tender process. The property was subsequently sold with settlement on the 30th November 2004 and all outstanding debits were paid.

A threat of High Court action by the purchaser existed until April 2006 when Members could then finally be canvassed on options for the Club’s future.

After consideration of three options by Members a final decision was made at a Special General Meeting in September 2007 that the Hahndorf Golf Club Incorporated amalgamate with the Mount Barker District Golf Club Incorporated to form the Mount Barker-Hahndorf Golf Club Incorporated.

This action gives both Clubs the chance to continue their long and illustrious histories together as a significant Hills golf club serving one of the fastest growing residential and commercial areas in South Australia.