Open day reveals golf club’s quirky history

From playing in your thongs, to police ready to pounce on wayward events, the Lawrence Golf Club has a long and interesting story to tell.

Lawrence racecourse crowd from 1989. Photo: Contributed

Lawrence Golf and Sports Club are looking for new members to join them on and off the green with a special open day to be held this Saturday.

“The club may be just a little club in the county, but it has a big heart,” former club secretary Bryan Whalan said.

“Golfers can expect something different at the club. There are the usual serious competitions and social days, but on Friday you can play golf in thongs!

At the Lawrence Golf and Sports Club you can play golf in thongs! Photo: Contributed

“There are also tennis courts and playing fields. The club has regular social events, Monday night meals, card games on Sundays, Ladies’ Nights and more.

Visitors can have a try at golf or croquet on the day, while those looking for some mental exercise can play euchre, cribbage, scrabble or mahjong in the club house.

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However, if history is your thing, Mr Whalan said there were plenty of stories to tell about the club, including its origins as a racecourse.

“The Lawrence Museum has the cup given to the winning owner in the late 1800s,” Mr Whalan said.

“A century later, some Lawrence residents decided to upgrade the course. They had some well-attended picnic races, complete with billycart derby, foot races, eel catching and many other activities.”

However, when the RSPCA intervened on one particular event, the locals weren’t too worried.

“The RSPCA banned the eel racing, but the organisers vowed to go ahead with it. The RSPCA and police were there waiting for the eels to turn up … when the tarp was thrown back there were three real eels… from Parramatta.”

Mr Whalan said a chance meeting at the pub started the idea that a golf course could be built in the centre of the racetrack.

The builders of the Lawrence Golf Club were all volunteers, and were labelled 'Dad's Army'. Photo: Contributed

“The designer dreamt of a residential village surrounding the course. That never came to fruition, but it would certainly have been something big for Lawrence. And quite before its time,” he said.

In 1990, the races stopped and the golf course we know today was built.

“The builders were all volunteers, and were labelled ‘Dad’s Army’,” Mr Whalan said.

“The story goes that many were Maclean Council workers who volunteered their time and their machinery on the weekends.

“When the first golf was played, there were three holes, and players managed to do nine separate holes by moving the tees and finish points.”

The open day will be held on Saturday, June 26 from 12.30pm to 4pm, located along March St, Lawrence.