Introduction.
It was the early 1970's and there was lots of talk around the club about how important it was to move to grass greens on the course. There was a view developing that the Red Cliffs Golf Club was being left behind the other golf clubs in Sunraysia and after almost fifty years of sand scrapes it was time to move the club to the next level.
The introduction of grass greens was arguably the most significant development to occur at the club since it was established in 1925. You can follow the key steps in this major change to the course below and we are confident that you will find it interesting.
The introduction of grass greens was arguably the most significant development to occur at the club since it was established in 1925. You can follow the key steps in this major change to the course below and we are confident that you will find it interesting.
The beginning of the process!
Throughout 1973 the then General Committee had ongoing discussions about how grass greens could be established on the course. One of the major stumbling blocks was always - Where would the money come from?
In an attempt to get the process started, the President at the time, Robert Dean wrote to the Victorian Minister for Youth, Sport & Recreation, Mr Brian Dixon:
"November 14th 1973,
Mr Brian Dixon MP,
Dear Minister,
The Red Cliffs Golf Club is considering laying down 18 grass greens on its links instead of continuing with sand scrapes. The outlay for this will be considerable and we believe that we may receive some assistance from your department.If this is correct would you please advise me.
Yours Faithfully,
R.J. Dean,
President, Red Cliffs Golf Club"
A couple of weeks later the club received the following reply from the Minister.
[Editor's comment: This must be some sort of record for a reply from a politician].
"26th November 1973,
Dear Mr. Dean,
Thank you for your letter seeking financial assistance for improvements to greens at the Red Cliffs Golf Club.
The policy for the distribution of subsidies by this Department has recently been completed and I am enclosing a copy of the policy guidelines for your information. My Department will channel assistance for projects such as this through the municipal councils responsible for the areas in which such facilities are located. It is necessary for organisations and clubs to place their proposals through the local council, which will be responsible for indicating to the Department the priorities in which they would have these facilities developed.
Therefore, I would suggest you approach the Shire of Mildura with a view to securing their support for their project.
Yours Faithfully,
Brian Dixon,
Minister for Youth, Sport & Recreation."
Attached to the Minister’s letter was an eight page document setting out the guidelines relating to financial subsidies from the Victorian Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation dated October 1973.
It's important to point out that the club did not receive any financial assistance from any external body, government or otherwise, to assist with the grass greens project. The entire development was funded through a bank loan and paid for by the club through its own resources.
In an attempt to get the process started, the President at the time, Robert Dean wrote to the Victorian Minister for Youth, Sport & Recreation, Mr Brian Dixon:
"November 14th 1973,
Mr Brian Dixon MP,
Dear Minister,
The Red Cliffs Golf Club is considering laying down 18 grass greens on its links instead of continuing with sand scrapes. The outlay for this will be considerable and we believe that we may receive some assistance from your department.If this is correct would you please advise me.
Yours Faithfully,
R.J. Dean,
President, Red Cliffs Golf Club"
A couple of weeks later the club received the following reply from the Minister.
[Editor's comment: This must be some sort of record for a reply from a politician].
"26th November 1973,
Dear Mr. Dean,
Thank you for your letter seeking financial assistance for improvements to greens at the Red Cliffs Golf Club.
The policy for the distribution of subsidies by this Department has recently been completed and I am enclosing a copy of the policy guidelines for your information. My Department will channel assistance for projects such as this through the municipal councils responsible for the areas in which such facilities are located. It is necessary for organisations and clubs to place their proposals through the local council, which will be responsible for indicating to the Department the priorities in which they would have these facilities developed.
Therefore, I would suggest you approach the Shire of Mildura with a view to securing their support for their project.
Yours Faithfully,
Brian Dixon,
Minister for Youth, Sport & Recreation."
Attached to the Minister’s letter was an eight page document setting out the guidelines relating to financial subsidies from the Victorian Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation dated October 1973.
It's important to point out that the club did not receive any financial assistance from any external body, government or otherwise, to assist with the grass greens project. The entire development was funded through a bank loan and paid for by the club through its own resources.
The next steps!
1. A Feasibility Study.
Once again, the club's connections with the agricultural industry paid off when in 1973 the Victorian Department of Agriculture's 'Turf Research & Advisory Institute' agreed to conduct an extensive feasibility study into the introduction of grass greens on the Red Cliffs golf course.
In February 1974 the club received a detailed report from the institute's Officer in Charge, Mr. R.J. Newman. This report was a major turning point in the move to establish grass greens because it provided the club with the evidence it needed to proceed.
The feasibility study made a number of comments about the course layout that anyone familiar with the course will find very interesting. To get a full understanding of the progress towards the establishment of grass greens on the course, this document is a 'must read'.
In February 1974 the club received a detailed report from the institute's Officer in Charge, Mr. R.J. Newman. This report was a major turning point in the move to establish grass greens because it provided the club with the evidence it needed to proceed.
The feasibility study made a number of comments about the course layout that anyone familiar with the course will find very interesting. To get a full understanding of the progress towards the establishment of grass greens on the course, this document is a 'must read'.
2. The First Four Greens.
In February 1976, as the project to construct the first four grass greens was almost completed, the Sunraysia Daily published an article on how this major milestone was conceived and achieved.
To read this article, click on the button below.
To read this article, click on the button below.
3.The Final Outcome.
Bryan Milner, in his 1976 President's report summed up the thoughts of the club once the grass greens had been established.