Hole in one (hundred)

The Mt Derrimut Golf and Community Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary. (L-R) Troy Casak, Darren Russel, Simon Cochrane, Gary Harvey, Michael Fry, Josh Cochrane and Ian Crews. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 345149_01

Over the years, the Mt Derrimut Golf and Community Club has found a home across three different courses. Now, the former Sunshine Golf Club is celebrating its 100 year anniversary.

Vice President Chris Saldanha joined the club as a teenager and has spent more than 25 years on the green. He said the club’s history includes periods of significant challenges which threatened to force closure of the club.

“This milestone is reward for all the hard work, blood sweat and tears put in over the years by many of our loyal and generous members, and who today continue to support the club, securing our future and setting us up for another 100 years of success,” he said.

The club hosted a centenary dinner celebration attended by many current and former members as well as professional golfer Craig Parry.

Mr Saldanha said the highlight of the night was hearing reflections from Parry who grew up in Sunshine and spent the majority of his junior days playing and practicing at the old Sunshine Golf Course.

Across the 100 year journey, Mr Saldanha said the club has seen many members come and go, but whether you are a new member joining or visiting from elsewhere, you will always be made to feel at home.

“… [We have] approximately 700 members, many of which have been loyal and long standing members for many decades, including club stalwarts Ron Westgarth, 91, and Evelyn Tricklebank, 92, who have both been members for over 50 years and [are] still playing golf weekly into their 90s with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.”

Hannah Hammoud