About us

Course Information

Situated on a natural watercourse which forms part of Lake Forbes the golf course boasts fully watered fairways and greens. This watercourse bisects some holes which players cross 4 times during a round of golf.

It is a 6100m, Par 72 course (hosting Pro Ams) with Slope ratings of 123 for Men, and 116 for Women. There are four par 3s ranging from 130-192m, ten par 4s ranging from 311-411m, and four par 5s ranging from 419-493m.

Highlights include: the opening 192m 1st with trees to avoid off the tee; the 367m 4th which doglegs 90 degrees right from 200m off the tee with a small dam on the dogleg corner and a creek across the fairway about 50m short of the bunkerless green; the challenging 473m straight 7th with a narrow driving area with trees both sides and OOB right to avoid; the 341m 8th which doglegs 60 degrees left from 280m off the tee with the creek on the right from tee to green; the 130m 9th with a teeshot over the creek to a green guarded short right by the only bunker on the course; the 403m 11th which doglegs left 30 degrees 210m off the tee; the 364m 14th which doglegs right 220m off the tee; the short 438m Par 5 straight 15th with the 50m wide creek bisecting the fairway about 140m out from the bunkerless green.

Hole 1

Men: 192m Par 3

Stroke Index 3 Match Index 18

Women: 175m Par 3

Stroke Index 12 Match Index 11

Hole 2

Men: 493m Par 5

Stroke Index 16 Match Index 8

Women: 424m Par 5

Stroke Index 6 Match Index 5

Hole 3

Men: 149m Par 3

Stroke Index 14 Match Index 12

Women: 148m Par 3

Stroke Index 14 Match Index 15

Hole 4

Men: 367m Par 4

Stroke Index 7 Match Index 3

Women: 351m Par 4

Stroke Index 3 Match Index 1

Hole 5

Men: 320m Par 4

Stroke Index 11 Match Index 14

Women: 315m Par 4

Stroke Index 10 Match Index 9

Hole 6

Men: 419m Par 5

Stroke Index 18 Match Index 6

Women: 419m Par 5

Stroke Index 8 Match Index 7

Hole 7

Men: 473m Par 5

Stroke Index 1 Match Index 10

Women: 363m Par 4

Stroke Index 2 Match Index 3

Hole 8

Men: 341m Par 4

Stroke Index 8 Match Index 1

Women: 242m Par 4

Stroke Index 16 Match Index 13

Hole 9

Men: 130m Par 3

Stroke Index 17 Match Index 16

Women: 88m Par 3

Stroke Index 18 Match Index 17

Hole 10

Men: 362m Par 4

Stroke Index 9 Match Index 5

Women: 268m Par 4

Stroke Index 15 Match Index 12

Hole 11

Men: 403m Par 4

Stroke Index 2 Match Index 11

Women: 404m Par 5

Stroke Index 9 Match Index 2

Hole 12

Men: 311m Par 4

Stroke Index 15 Match Index 2

Women: 281m Par 4

Stroke Index 11 Match Index 14

Hole 13

Men: 385m Par 4

Stroke Index 10 Match Index 15

Women: 220m Par 4

Stroke Index 17 Match Index 16

Hole 14

Men: 364m Par 4

Stroke Index 5 Match Index 7

Women: 316m Par 4

Stroke Index 5 Match Index 6

Hole 15

Men: 438m Par 5

Stroke Index 12 Match Index 13

Women: 423m Par 5

Stroke Index 1 Match Index 4

Hole 16

Men: 382m Par 4

Stroke Index 6 Match Index 4

Women: 319m Par 4

Stroke Index 7 Match Index 10

Hole 17

Men: 411m Par 4

Stroke Index 4 Match Index 17

Women: 345m Par 4

Stroke Index 4 Match Index 8

Hole 18

Men: 160m Par 3

Stroke Index 13 Match Index 9

Women: 130m Par 3

Stroke Index 13 Match Index 18

History

This brief History is based on the wonderful books published by Margaret Bailey, a much loved and respected icon of Forbes and western NSW golf. It seeks to review the past but regretfully room does not allow mention of the many office bearers, players and characters who have made up the fine golfing tradition at the Forbes Golf Club.

EARLY DAYS – 1909 to 1959

A meeting, attended by 10 enthusiastic men, was convened on 20th May 1909 for the purpose of reforming the Forbes Golf Club. The 9 hole Forbes golf links were opened on 29th May 1909 with an annual subscription of 5 shillings (50cents) per annum for members and an honorary subscription for ladies. The initial Account Books for 1909/10 record income of 10 pounds, 7 shillings and 5 pence ($20.75).

In 1911, the membership fee more than doubled and the Club affiliated with the Suburban and Country Golf Association of NSW, the forerunner of NSW Golf.

Hazards were aplenty for intrepid golfers – stock roamed at will necessitating the fencing of each fairway and gravel ‘green’; water lagoons and bunkers were in place; and old mining mullock heaps abounded. Players crossed the lagoon with the aid of a punt attached to gum trees on either side of the lagoon and having a base kept afloat by empty drums.

Each player had a caddy and the Committee decided that the caddies were to be paid 3 pence for the 1st ball of the player retrieved from a lagoon and 1 pence for each succeeding ball of the same player. Players used ‘floater’ and ‘sinker’ golf balls,‘floaters’ being purchased for 18 shillings ($1.80) a dozen.

In 1912, a further 9 hole course was marked out unfenced for a cost of 6 pounds ($12.00), while in 1915 the first weather board Club House with a saw dust floor was constructed for a total cost of 20 pounds and 8 shillings($40.80). This began a long history of improving and relocating Club buildings, financed initially by a levy of 6 pence (5 cents) a week per member. Facilities were minimal in the early life of the Club as meetings, functions and most other forms of entertainment were held away from the golf course.

In 1922, Forbes affiliated with the Western District’s Golf Association and decided to engage a Mr. Souter from Sydney to give professional golf lessons. The Lady Associates held their 1st AGM on 8th April 1925 and also decided to join the Ladies’ Golf Union.

Very few records exist regarding the happenings of the Club from 1926 to the early 1930’s, no doubt due to limitations arising from the Great Depression. The golf course continued to be leased out for grazing rights and a more spacious clubhouse being built in 1934. In 1939, the 100th Club member was elected.

In 1941, bridges were constructed to cross the lagoon on the present 4th and 10th holes.

After the war and its difficulties, golf flourished and the Club began to progress. Voluntary labour was used extensively on the course and around the clubhouse: eg. to maintain heavily oiled sand greens, fill bunkers with sawdust and use farm machinery on the fairways. In 1945 the Minister for Lands was approached to convert the Crown Land to a Reserve for recreation, so that from 1947 the course was no longer made available for agistment of livestock. In 1946, Members’ Green Fees were charged at 1 shilling for 18 holes, 6 pence for 9 holes with Associates charged 6 pence for 18 holes. By 1952, membership had risen to 130 Members and 82 Associates. From 1954, the Trustees of the Forbes Golf Club leased the course from the Forbes Municipal Council. In 1955, a new course design was commissioned from Al Howard, Professional at Monash, while visiting Professionals Norman von Nida and Bobby Locke played an exhibition match at Forbes. In addition, from 1955 the Club purchased 5 acres of land adjacent to the Crown Land, including the present ‘FGA House’ in 1957.

With the advent of a liquor licence in 1955, finances improved and the first paid personnel were subsequently employed: a full time Secretary/Manager, a greenkeeper and a Golf Professional was appointed in 1959. Later a spray irrigation system was purchased and fairway watering was introduced from the lagoon, with plenty of newly planted trees (350 in 1958).

THE GOLDEN ERA: 1960 TO 1989

It was in the 1960’s that great improvements were made to facilities, including tennis courts, 2 bowling greens, a new 2 storey Clubhouse (in 1962 costing $180,000) and a spray irrigation system for the whole course (in 1965 costing $25,000) allowing the construction of hybrid bent grass greens (cost in vicinity of $40,000). In 1968, $10 debentures were issued to help finance the building and renovations program. A further 385 trees were planted by volunteer labour in 1966 and a specific 9 hole Junior golf course was opened in 1966. When it is considered that the spray irrigation system is due to be replaced in 2014 at a cost of $400,000 and a new bowling green now costs over $300,000, the present day value of all the 1960’s development would be several million dollars in 2013.

The ‘Golden Era’ of the Forbes Golf Club featured an annual Pro-Am event that is still well remembered today by many Golf Professionals throughout Australia – during the 11 years from 1967 to 1978 Forbes galleries had the privilege of seeing such world class golfers and Major winners in action as Kel Nagle, Tony Jacklin, Greg Norman and David Graham, as well as golf legends including Jack Newton, Norman von Nida, Billy Dunk, Bob Shaw, Stuart Ginn, Bob Shearer, Ian Stanley and so the list goes on.

In 1968, Forbes was the first course outside a capital city to host the Shell Junior Interstate Teams Competition, which included many of the above players. In 1967, Forbes was the 14th country course in NSW to acquire ‘Group 1’ status and the first in the Lachlan Valley to do so, meaning that Forbes could conduct any state or intra-state titles and interstate pennant matches.

During this period Forbes had a male membership of 948, the second highest male membership of any golf club in non-metropolitan NSW. The Forbes Golf Club became a social hub for the larger region, holding weekly Dinner Dances and smorgasbord lunches which are still talked about. Tee times were sought after and the course was always busy with up to 150 players nominating for each weekend competition day. Under the guidance of Allan Silver, the long-term Golf Professional, the Junior program led to a flourishing of boy and girl players into State events/ teams.

In 1971, the Forbes Golf Club was registered as a company limited by guarantee. The fortunes of the Club ebbed and flowed, however, for example with a profit of $29,671.17 declared in 1976 but losses of $54,000 in 1981 and $46,000 in 1982. 1.5 acres of land were sold in 1983 to build the Town and Country Motel and the Club showed a profit in 1983 and 1984.

HEADWINDS: 1989 TO 2008

This period can be summed up by: Floods, Droughts and Social Change.

The beginning of problems started with the massive flood of 1990, with an accompanying loss of patronage and repairs. During this period also, changes to drink driving laws and the spread of gaming machines to hotels had a marked effect on all registered clubs. Hospitality had become a very competitive business, with younger people increasingly more attracted to a Pub environment late at night. The costs of operating the Clubhouse on weekends also sky-rocketed, given high penalty rates and manning requirements. Occupational Health and Safety Laws became more stringent.

Since the 1980’s competition fields had also dropped off dramatically, due to family involvement in other sports, work force requirements and the cost of living. While in 1999, the membership of the Club was 971 for both men and women, by 2008 it had fallen to 220.

Large losses by the Club in 1999 and 2000 saw a decision to amalgamate the Forbes Golf Club Ltd. with the Forbes Services Memorial Club Ltd (FSMC). A merged club resulted with FSMC operating the golf course as Licencee appointed by Forbes Shire Council. This merger immediately struck further trouble with the prolonged 8 year ‘Millenium’ drought, which saw the Forbes golf course without irrigation water except for its greens and tees. The result was a decision by FSMC to cease golf operations citing accumulated losses over 8 years of $360,000 before depreciation.

BACK TO THE FUTURE: 2009 Onwards

In November 2008, the Forbes golf community formed the Forbes Golfers Association Inc. (FGA), as a community sporting association whose prime objective is to foster the game of golf in Forbes. FGA is very focussed on conducting high quality golf events, providing 7 day a week services to all golfers, employing well qualified coaching and ground-staff and restoring Forbes golf course to a first class championship standard. In August 2009, FGA hosted a gala week-end to celebrate the Centenary of Golf in Forbes, attended by many past visitors and celebrities and featuring the unveiling of a Centenary plaque by Jack Newton.

FGA has been appointed by Forbes Shire Council as the Licencee of the golf course, with Council acting as Manager of the Crown Reserve on behalf of the NSW Dept. of Lands.

All fairways are now fully grassed with grass greens. The drought-free raw water supply from the Town bore has been replaced by a fully integrated, computer-controlled  irrigation system. FGA has purchased back the heritage Victorian-era building and practice putting green, which remain the focus of the course. Access to the adjacent Forbes Golf & Sportsman Hotel (the ‘Golfie’) has been retained for locker rooms and presentations. Membership has increased and golf sub-committees actively raise funds and carry out volunteer-based projects to refurbish the course and foster an active Junior golf program.

It can be said therefore that FGA and its members are ‘back to the future’, in a similar position and with similar numbers to Forbes golfers in the late 1950’s.

Membership

The Forbes Golf Club currently has new membership positions available. The benefits of being a member with Forbes Golf Club include:

  • Low cost when compared to city and surrounding golf clubs
  • The opportunity to receive a Golf Australia handicap enabling competition play
  • Come and play one of the best golf courses in country NSW, and visit NSW country areas.
  • Fantastic reciprocal rights with other golf clubs throughout Australia

Membership categories include:

  • Full playing member
  • Limited competition and Social competition
  • Concessional rates for Aged Pensioner, New Member, Tertiary Student & Apprentices, Juniors and Distance members

Flexible membership and payment options including:

  • Annual
  • 2 half yearly payments
  • Monthly direct debit
  • Monthly Pro Rata Rate
  • $364 limited membership. GA handicap. 15 competition rounds per year. Not eligible to win Monthly medals or Championship /tournaments, but can play in those events. See Pro- shop for all conditions.
  • Additional Full Membership benefits

The membership process is straightforward. Click on the links below and print the Nomination Form and Privacy statement.

Drop in or e-mail the forms back to the club and we will contact you to confirm your membership and collect payment.

FORMS

Committees

Management Committee

President Tony Cogswell
Vice-President Mark Watts
Secretary Steven Grallelis
Treasurer Caleb Hanrahan
Club Captain John Betland
Mens Captain Steven Betland
Ladies Captain Sarah Black
Committee Brett Thomas, Alfonso Melisi

Junior Golf Committee

Head Pro William Gunn
Junior Coordinator tba
Club Captain John Betland

Veteran's Committee

President Peter Barnes
Secretary/ Treasurer Beryl Roberts
Captain Jeff Haley
Committee Al Rees, Linnie Roberts, K Sanderson, F Hanns, S French, P Grayson.

Men's Events Committee

Chairman tba
Mens Captain Steven Betland
Secretary/ Treasurer Steven Grallelis
Management Committee Rep Tony Cogswell
Committee
Stephen Uphill

Ladies Sub Committee

President Sally Perry
Vice-President Jenny Hubbard
Captain Sarah Black
Vice-Captain Heather Davidson
Secretary Robin Lyell
Treasurer Judy Hodge
Committee Lindy Cowhan, Rose Carroll, Ann-Maree Gaffney
Publicity Jenny Hubbard

Course Committee

Chairman Alfonso Melisi
Course Superintendent Jack Elliott
Mens Captain Steven Betland
Ladies Captain Heather Davidson
Committee Brett Thomas
Tony Cogswell

Annual Reports

AGM 2020

AGM 2019

AGM 2018

AGM 2017

AGM 2016

AGM 2015

Reciprocal Clubs

  • Albert Golf Club
  • Cabramatta Golf Club
  • Carnarvon Golf Club
  • Condobolin Golf Club
  • Cowra Golf Club
  • Cumberland Country Golf Club
  • Dubbo Golf Club
  • Grenfell Golf Club
  • Gundagai District Services Golf Club
  • Moree Golf & Country Club
  • Northbridge Golf Club
  • Parkes Golf Club
  • Penrith Golf & Rec. Club
  • Shelly Beach GC (incl Tuggerah Lakes GC)
  • Tanilba Bay Golf Club
  • Trundle Golf Club
  • Wagga Wagga Country Club
  • Wentworth Golf Club
  • Wollongong Golf Club