Golfing Women Celebrate 100 Years

Golf may once have been purely a man's domain, but times have well and truly changed ' and nowhere is this more evident than at the Sandgate Golf Club.

Proudly celebrating its centenary this year, the club is holding a series of events to mark the occasion ' one of the main ones being the Ladies Centenary Open Golf Day this month, when the club will throw open its doors to the golfing public.

Tucked in behind a serenely picturesque stretch of the Shorncliffe shoreline, the club is home to a thriving population of women players, many of whom represent the club at various competitions throughout Brisbane with great success.

Originally, men were the only ones able to be members, and women were associates. That officially changed in 2008, when women were put on an equal membership footing with the men, although the male members of the club still outweigh the females in numbers (209 to 45).

Ladies vice-president Janis Fagan has been a member herself for 20 years and said the Sandgate club had a unique, family-friendly appeal, welcoming players from all skill levels. Every Tuesday is Ladies' Day, however, many women members play on other days too.

We are hosting our first open day for many a year, and look forward to showcasing our elite club in this our centenary year,� Janis said.

We welcome everyone to come join us, for lots of laughter, great golfing for all players, and we even present a very enjoyable and tasty lunch.�

Men and women members work closely together at the club, she said, with the men sometimes stepping in to caddy for women at competitions. The men also cook the barbecue (which has quite a good name amongst the golfing community�) when the Sandgate club hosts the ladies' competition days.

Sandgate has a different feel to it than a lot of clubs,� Janis said. We still have that family feel. And that's how we've always liked to present ourselves to the public ' an all-inclusive, friendly club. It doesn't matter whether you're an A-grade player, a C-grade player, or a social player.�

For more information, call 3269 3252, or email sandgategolf@bigpond.net.au.

Ladies Centenary Open Day
Tuesday, 27 April, 2021
Sandgate Golf Club
Allpass Parade, Shorncliffe
4BBB Stableford, shotgun start 8.30am.
$20 per player, morning tea �and lunch included.