Here is a brief history on the Development of the Victorian Golf League Inc. [VGL.]

The formation of the VGL was due largely to the efforts of two men,  namely English born Saxon William Sidderley and James Wilson, of the Elsternwick Park Golf Club.

Sidderley founded ElsternwickPark in 1932; seven years after Elsternwick Golf Club left Elsternwick for the sand belt and became Kingston Heath.  At the time, most public course players, knew little about competitions etc. Sidderley and Wilson wanted Clubs established on all Public courses with properly conducted competitions.

Jack Dillon, the Herald’s golf writer, wrote in November 1933

“To date, public links golfers have been like sheep without a shepherd…they are outside the pale of organised golf and may not compete in open meetings. A move has been initiated to set up a governing body for public links golfers. "

On June 14^th 1935 five Clubs were represent at a meeting in Sidderley’s rooms inElizabeth Street, and agreed to form the Public Golf Links Association of Victoria. The Clubs present were: - Ashburton, Australasian, East Malvern,ElsternwickPark andWattlePark (which moved to Box Hill the following year).

The objectives were to form and control, public links golf Clubs, promote interclub and pennant games and annual championships, to improve the standards of golf, and introduce uniform methods of handicapping in conformity with the requirements of the Australian Golf Union.

At a second meeting on August 25^th 1935, the name was changed to the Victorian Golf League.  Sidderley was elected President, Wilson Secretary, and Russell Keon-Cohen (then President of the VFA) honorary Solicitor.

Doncaster Golf Club joined later that year and in 1936 Ivanhoe, Rosanna, Medway,MountAlbert,Hampton andBrighton joined making 13 Clubs.

Sidderley’s next big task was to win the right for members of Clubs to complete in Victorian Golf Association events and to have their handicaps recognised throughoutAustralia. He began lengthy correspondence in 1936 applying for affiliation with the VGA, similar to that granted to country associations. Eventually, the VGA was satisfied that the conduct of events and procedures were well up to the standards required, and the VGL was granted affiliation in 1939, giving VGL members recognized Australian handicaps, to compete in all open events.

By 1939 there were 20 clubs, the others being Patterson River, a newly formed Wattle Park (which later generated Whittlesea), Sandridge (Port Melbourne), Ranfurlie, Forest Hills, Sandringham and Latrobe.

Hampton, Sandridge, Doncaster andMountAlbert went out of existence when their land was sold for housing development.Doncaster later became Eastern Golf Club and Rosanna went to a new course when its land was taken over for development.

After the war, several strong Clubs came into the League. Among these wereLakeside (which was formed after the Albert Park Club moved to Keysborough), Eastwood, Ringwood, Glen Waverley and Moorabbin. Various Clubs then transferred to the VGA namely, Box Hill,ChirnsidePark, Eastern, Eastwood, Latrobe, Medway,PattersonRiver, Rosanna and Whittlesea.

By 2004, the League had 30 affiliated Clubs, and in 2005, The league grew to 32, with the additions of  Growling Frog and Yarrambat.

By 2007 the League had grown to 35 Clubs,  with the inclusion of three new Clubs, namely Eastern Sward, which is a 9 hole course situated at the South Eastern Treatment Plant, Kingston Links situated in Rowville and Wellington Links which is also in Rowville.

Mirboo

In 1989 the League started to conduct junior golf Camps at Mirboo North Golf Club inWest Gippsland. These Junior Golf Camps have continued ever since, and are held for one week, inSeptemberSchool Holidays, every year.

In 1997 the League investigated the idea of establishing its own accommodation at Mirboo North for the golf camps. After discussions with Mirboo North Golf Club, a parcel of land adjacent to the 1^st Tee, was offered to the League for a perpetual lease.  In 1998 negotiations were concluded, and the League, with approval from Council members, commenced the project to build a 13 room motel beside the 1^st tee of the golf course.  The "1^st Tee Motel" was opened in 2002.

The motel is used by Affiliated Golf Club Members on Golf Packages. Also by The Victorian Golf Association [VGA] and Women’s Golf Victorian [WGV] who conduct their Junior Golf Camps at Mirboo North.

Please refer to the 1st T Motel Page on this web-site for further details and bookings.