Golf
21 May, 2024
Ladies social golf celebrates 20th anniversary
In 2004, Julie Obst started a women's social golf on Mondays and Fridays at the Horsham Golf Club and on Monday, May 20, they held their anniversary celebrations.
Originally from Jeparit, Obst tried out the Horsham Golf Course as a country member and loved it and when she sold the family farm to move to Horsham, decided to get social golf happening.
"I saw the course was underutilised on the Mondays and Fridays and thought to myself that I should start a social golf," Obst said.
"At Jeparit, I ran one and we would make sandwiches and enjoy ourselves after our round and thought if that worked there, surely it would work here.
"I then approached Bob Hayes, the president of the golf club at the time and asked if I could be allowed the opportunity to run a program. He said he would give me seven weeks."
In the first week, 41 ladies joined and in the second week, it increased to 43 and it gradually built from there.
Two-day membership was brought in due to the social golf.
"Before I approached Bob, you were either a full member or nothing else and I suggested we could try a two-day membership," Obst said.
"It got held down a bit by some of the locals as they thought everyone would do that and that they would lose all their full members.
"It was brought in and at the moment, out of the 35 or 36 that attend social golf, about 24 are full members, so it gives a good option for people who have time constraints due to work."
To this day, there are still approximately 35 participants. Following the success the women had, the men decided to do social golf in 2006.
Obst said it's a good introduction for women to play golf, and also to come back from injury or illness. Being only nine holes, instead of 18, is also appealing for a lot of ladies.
"It's catered for everyone and it gives the older ladies an opportunity to have a game of golf," Obst said.
"The social part is more important to me rather than focusing on whether someone has played well or not.
"A lot of ladies love the social aspect and we have seen a lot of ladies who have turned into champion golfers and this is where they started."
Erin Schultz and Julie Krahe both commented on why social golf is good for them.
"A lot of us wouldn't be playing if it wasn't for our Monday and Friday golf. We just wouldn't be out there," Schultz said.
"It is a good introduction for golf to women who haven't played golf or any other sport and it's particularly good for people that have had an illness or injury and a returning to play or want to try a different sport," Krahe said.
With the evolution of social golf came Pink Ladies' Day.
Jedda Berry was part of social golf and when she passed away from breast cancer in 2013, Obst alongside Liz Robertson and Elaine Milbourne started 'Pink Ladies Day.'
"We ran it every year for eight years to raise money for breast cancer and approximately 100 ladies would come," Obst said.
"We all miss Jedda so much. She was a beautiful girl. We still run it to this day, but it is held every two years, so the next event will be March 2025."
Dorothy Adamson played a lot of social golf, and at 92 years of age was still on the golf course last year until she moved away. At the Golf Club's 125 year anniversary in November last year, Adamson said social golf is very important.
"It's a great feeding ground for new people and anyone recovering from surgery who is not yet ready for 18 holes. It's a great friendship bowl. Everyone cares for each other and is loving and sharing," Adamson said.
When asked what advice she has for anyone who may want to join, Obst wanted to encourage everyone to join in.
"Come and join us. It's nonthreatening and you don't have to be a good golfer. You can start totally from scratch," Obst said.
"Just come out, have some fun and you will make good friends."