161 Old Bass Highway, Wynyard 7325 ...... ph. +61-(0)3-64-422-173
Extracted from the Golden Jubilee (1926 - 1976) booklet compiled by Mr C.W. Stratton.
The inspiration for a Golf Links at Seabrook came from the late Mrs Eileen Howden, who formed an Associates’ Club in 1923. The Associates’ Club comprised many people from the old Burnie Round Hill course but at the meeting forming the Seabrook Golf Club on 19 April 1926, all the members were from the Wynyard district. The Seabrook Golf Club was formed at Toomeys Restaurant, Wynyard. The first President was the late Dr Smellie, a very well known and popular local doctor.
First clubhouse (1925), drawn from memory by Jack Wells in 1975. This was near sixth tee on original nine hole course (see below). |
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Many prominent local names appear in the first list of officers, including Mr TF Howden, Eileen’s husband. Mr Howden was appointed sole trustee and was authorised to sign a lease with Mr Alex Shekleton the then owner of the property embracing the present course and of the property later owned by Mr CE Napier. When the lease was obtained a letter was sent to the Wynyard Club extending an invitation to join the new club.
At the first Annual Meeting there were twelve members present and three apologies were received. It was decided to seek admission to the Northern Tasmanian Golf Association and to write to the North West District Golf Association advising that it wished to join the Association and enter a Junior Pennant Team in the competition. A recommendation was made to the incoming committee to borrow £200 on individual members’ guarantees of not less than £10 per member and this was later adopted.
The second Annual Meeting was significant in as much as the first Burnie names appear: JW McGrath (father of Frank and John), Jack R Wells, Lindsay Bird, Dr HZ Stephens, R Rowe, G Duthiot, HM Garrard and AH Flower. Later, Messrs Garrard and Flower were destined to establish Seabrook as a recognised Golf Links, with Mr Flower as President and Mr Garrard as Secretary. Authority was given at this meeting to raise £500 in Debentures at 6% interest.
At the third Annual Meeting held, on 16 March 1929 at the old Club House (behind the present thirteenth green) further Burnie names appear among those present, including Messrs KF Brown, Ken Coleman, A Gillam, HC Lewis, G Moyle, W Parris, RC Harris, SU Harris and G Harris. The Harris families were to become very prominently associated with Seabrook in the administration of both Members’ and Associates’ affairs. A few years later Mr LB Harris joined the Club, and not only played a major role in Seabrook affairs but did a wonderful job in North West Coast, Northern and Tasmanian Golf administration.
Later in 1929 the Club experienced a setback with the death of Mr Howden, the Club's secretary and sole trustee. The Club appointed four trustees, Messrs Russell Harris, H0 Sperring, AG Baly and HC Lewis.
The 1930 Annual Meeting was notable for the preponderance of Burnie people. This was due in part to the increased interest in golf and also to the transfer of several members from the red soil Round Hill Course to the Links land at Seabrook. Among them were the late Jack Fidler and Harold Tanner, who became very prominent in Seabrook Golf affairs.
Following Dr Smellie's resignation as President, Mr AH Flower was elected in his stead, and Mr HM Garrard was elected secretary, confirming the position that he had occupied on a temporary basis since the death of Mr Howden. These two men unquestionably laid the foundation of Seabrook as a recognised Golf Club. Mr Hatsell Garrard was a dynamic personality and created an enthusiasm and growth, which really placed the Club on the golfing map. Mr Flower continued as President until 1945 and, together with his popular wife, became the sheet anchor of the Club. In 1944 they were honoured with Life Membership.
From 1930, in the early years of the depression, fields for Club events increased to fifty players. This was in large part due to the Secretary, who organised transport to the Links through the co-operation of car-owning members.
First course layout. "First clubhouse" shown bottom left was actually the second one, built after 1926. |
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The Burnie Town Hall was the venue of the 1931 Annual Meeting as Club members were now mostly Burnie people. As few members owned cars transport was of major concern, and about this period the Railways were approached to see if a stopping place could be arranged opposite the Western entry to the Links.
The Club suffered a serious setback with the transfer of the Secretary, Mr Garrard, to the mainland. Mr JP (Phil) Beanland was elected to fill the vacancy and proved a most efficient and popular Secretary. During 1934 the Rev Father P Hayes joined Seabrook. He was previously one of Round Hill's keenest members. Father Patrick was a remarkable personality and was known far and wide for his love of a little interest on the side. Although a law unto himself, he was an extremely popular person.
Around the mid 1930s the Club had progressed to the stage where it was necessary to divide the competition into two grades.
Following the sale of the Shekleton property to Mrs Napier and Son (Mr C E Napier, the present owner), and option of purchase was obtained over the original nine holes (approx 38 acres), for £25 per acre; this was later reduced to £18 per acre. In 1936, after great deliberation, it was decided “the time was inappropriate to purchase the property” and a further lease for five years was obtained at the same rental and right of purchase at six month’s notice. Mr RA Gutteridge was elected a life member "due to his long and valuable service in the beautification of the Links." Towards the end of 1936 Mr Beanland was transferred to the mainland. He had been a very good secretary and keen member and made a fine contribution to Seabrook during his term of office. His successor was Mr TC Thompson, who became one of the great personalities of the Club. Mr Thompson came to Burnie about 1914 and played a major role in the establishment of the Round Hill Golf Club. His knowledge of the game and his personality brought a great dignity to the Club. He was respected for what he unquestionably was – an English gentleman. Tommy's influence is still remembered by many members and his memory was perpetuated by the annual TC Thompson Mixed Foursome.
Around this time it was agreed to enter a Senior Pennant Team and, if the requisite number of teams was forthcoming, a Junior Pennant Team as well. The Senior Pennant Competition comprised teams from Launceston, Riverside, Longford, Devonport and Seabrook.
Subscriptions at this period (1937) were: Members £4/4/-, Associates £2/2/-, Junior males, 16-18 years, £1/1/- and 19-21, £2/2/-. Children under 16 were not allowed to play on the course.
A Committee comprising JR Fidler, EC Weatherhead and H Hunter was formed to investigate the possibility of purchasing the Links. Their recommendation to proceed with the purchase was adopted. A Committee was then formed to explore the possibilities of purchasing further land from Mr CE Napier at the Eastern end of the Links to build a new Clubhouse. Mr. Napier advised the President he would meet the wishes of the Club if it decided to build a new Clubhouse. At a General Meeting held on 18 June, 1938, it was unanimously agreed to proceed with the purchase of the Links and to build a new Clubhouse at the combined cost of £1650. The successful tenderer was Mr AP Best, of Burnie, a well known builder. The tender price was £810 and the Clubhouse was completed towards the end of 1939 at a figure in excess of the tender price. The sale of the old Clubhouse realized £46/10/-.
At this time membership was 71 Members and 56 Associates, but because of the Second World War membership began to fall and the Club was forced to make many economies to be able to carry on. The Cleaners’ services were dispensed with and the telephone disconnected. The Secretary offered his service free, but was appointed at a salary of £25 per annum. In 1942, membership had fallen to 44 Members and 42 Associates, and in 1943 to 35 Members and 29 Associates. The total revenue of the Club for that year was £478. The Secretary’s salary was reduced to £12/10/- per year and the Greenkeeper reduced to three days per week. By 1944, the Club had dropped to its lowest ebb – 29 Members and 39 Associates. It was mainly due to the efforts of the late Jack Fidler that the course was kept in playable condition. The Club had lost its greenkeeper and, apart from supervising casual labour and working bees, Jack Fidler used to cut the Fairways with a horse drawn side delivery mower. The Secretary, Mr T C Thompson, who was now in an honorary position, was paid an honorarium of £15. The President and Mrs Flower were also extremely generous in their endeavours to keep the Club afloat.
The Club commenced to pull out of its difficulties and membership increased to 42 Members and 56 Associates.
After sixteen years as President, Mr Flower relinquished the position and was unanimously elected Club Patron. Extremely popular Jack Fidler was elected President and, apart from being one of Seabrook's hardest workers and most generous members, Jack was Club Champion for many years. He was later rewarded with Life Membership.
Efforts were again made to secure land at the Western end of the Links, but without avail, and a sub-committee was formed to try to obtain further land nearby, because with the War now over membership was increasing rapidly.
In 1947, the Club suffered a great loss in the death of Mr TC Thompson, who had endeared himself to all members. Mr Thompson's place was taken by Mr SH Wall, who rendered fine service over the next few years.
Membership increased so rapidly that it was necessary to close the membership book during 1948. At the Annual Meeting in that year the President reported that the Club had 94 Members and 75 Associate Members. The receipts for the year had increased to £2189, a great improvement on its turnover of £478 in 1943. The practice of using both Wynyard and Seabrook courses for their respective Tournaments, which was introduced in the middle thirties, was resumed. This proved most beneficial to both Clubs because of the increasing interest in golf.
Because of the proposed PWD plans for widening the main highway and the consequent resumption of some of the Club's highway frontage, the matter of obtaining further land nearby, or an alternative site, became of major concern to the Club.
By 1951 membership had increased to 132 members and 124 Associate members. Juniors were still restricted to a minimum age of 15. In the following year efforts were made to lower the age of entry for Juniors in keeping with other clubs.
The need for an eighteen hole course was becoming more and more evident. With this in mind, the Burnie Club was approached with the idea of amalgamation, and the Wynyard Club was also approached. The committee which had been appointed to investigate the purchase of further land nearby or at an alternative site had spent many, many hours investigating possibilities, but without a clear result:
(i) A very suitable area for an eighteen hole course was found at Stowport and a very substantial offer was received by the Club for the purchase of the Seabrook Links.
(ii) Eventually, an option was obtained over land adjoining the Links from Mr CE Napier.
The Club had a general meeting to decide between the purchase of the Stowport property or land adjoining the Links. This meeting proved to be the largest in the Club's history and, following the presentation of two extremely well documented arguments, the purchase of further land from Mr. Napier was decided upon. This area now comprises the "bottom" nine. It was a happy coincidence that the person who signed the documents on behalf of the Club for the purchase of the land was Mr JC Nicol, the then President. Together with his wife, Col rendered tremendous service to Seabrook as President, Director, Captain and Patron.
Work began early in 1964 to construct the new nine holes. Because of the enthusiasm and a tremendous amount of hard work by the members, rapid progress was made. Many problems were encountered and overcome – particularly regarding drainage problems. So many remarkable contributions were made by members, many of whom have now left the district because of transfer in their employment, that it would be unfair to mention names in case someone was overlooked. Nevertheless, history records their names in various ways and their reward is the magnificent eighteen hole course at Seabrook which has now attained Championship status.
Vere Hudson retired from the field of engineering to accept the position of Head Greenkeeper and Supervisor, and what a gem he proved to be. Vere’s sudden passing a year of so ago was a great loss to the Club, but his work in those vital formative years of the “bottom” nine lives on.
There have been many great contributions to the Club over its fifty years, but none more valuable than the present Directors and Office Bearers under the enthusiastic and hard-working leadership of Kevin Watkinson.
The Associates celebrated their Golden Jubilee in 1973 with a very enjoyable, well-organised week of celebrations. Seabrook's existence owes much to the fine Associate membership. Without their help, particularly during the War years, Seabrook would certainly not be what it is today.