One of our club's boundaries is Waterworks Road, which has long been the primary thoroughfare from the city center to The Gap. In fact, it once formed part of the main route to Ipswich and played a vital role during the early settlement days. Nearby, the granite quarry on Bennetts Road supplied the materials for constructing the iconic buildings of the University of Queensland.
The tale of our club's founding is both captivating and inspiring. A chance remark by visitor George Rigby sparked the imagination of Mark Winstone, who, despite never having swung a golf club, felt compelled to establish and support a golf course. With the assistance of his wife's cousin, an avid golfer who confirmed the land's suitability, Mark Winstone acquired his own property, along with the adjacent land owned by Tom Winstone, totaling 64 acres—a sufficient expanse for a 9-hole course.
A turning point arrived when a group of enthusiastic gentlemen convened for a dinner at Rowe's restaurant, where they decided to hold a meeting, officially establishing the club. Under the guidance of course designer Stan Francis, construction work commenced in June 1938. Mark and Tom Winstone, alongside George Shepherd and David Smith, toiled tirelessly with horse and plough, enduring arduous labor to blast and bury granite boulders. The magnitude of their undertaking is exemplified by Big Rock that graces the 18th fairway. Through 21 committee meetings within the first six months, challenges were overcome, rules were set, and the club embarked on a promising journey.
On the 31st of October 1939, the inaugural Annual General Meeting took place, with the club boasting a membership of 201—comprising 120 men, 60 women, 20 provisional members, and 1 junior. The opening ceremony received coverage in the Sunday Mail. An excerpt from the Sunday Mail, dated 23rd April 1939, reads: "All metropolitan clubs were represented at the opening. The President of Ashgrove Golf Club (Mr Bruce Shearer) expressed confidence in the committee's enthusiasm leading the club to success. The Chairman of the Queensland Golf Council stated that golf was making great progress, and he himself hit the first ball from the tee, receiving a silver tee as a memento. B.F.R Stafford and J. Lyons from Gailes emerged victorious in the four-ball competition."
The original dwelling on the course, named "Aylesbury Villa" after the family's ancestral home in Buckinghamshire, England, belonged to William Henry Paten. The old farmhouse was purchased and relocated to the site, with the bails, barn, and cream house of the original residence demolished to make way for the transformation into a clubhouse. For many years, the lounge room of the former residence served as the Members lounge until 1976. Although significant alterations and additions were made that year, unfortunately, most of the original dairy farmhouse was demolished.
Originally, Mr Francis designed the layout for 18 holes, as the club held a lease over the adjoining army land. Regrettably, the members were unable to finance the completion of the full layout, and the lease lapsed. Thus, the original 9-hole layout persisted for many years. In the 1950s, the course was expanded to an 11-hole layout, which endured for an extended period.
The push for 18 holes gained momentum in the early 1980s, resulting in the extension of the course to 15 holes. Excitement swept through the clubhouse when news spread that negotiations were underway for the purchase of land to the west of the course. However, the exorbitant cost of rezoning the land proved prohibitive. Fortunately, the council made land available to the club in 1984 on the eastern side of Bennetts Road. This land, once a quarry, rifle range, dump, and bicycle racetrack, was transformed into three new holes, completing the transition to an 18-hole layout. The finalization of the 18 holes was celebrated, and play commenced in July 1986.
