According to a letter written to the West Gippsland Advertiser in 1910 a Mr. H.T. Robertson takes credit for starting the game of golf in Drouin.  He made a few holes near the railway station and then with the assistance of Major Stephen developed nine holes on land rented from Mr. McLachlan.

The Drouin Golf Club came into existence in 1902 and was officially registered with the VGA in 1903.

An eager group of people used the golf course in those early days, playing either stroke or bogey golf; Dr Stableford didn't develop his method of scoring until much later.  One of the more notable members of the club was the Honourable Michael Scott, who helped found the club and went on to win the first Australian Open Championship, held at Botany Bay in 1904.

The Club moved its course a number of times until going into recession during the second word war.

In 1955 it was decided to reform the club and build a course on Matthew Bennett Park, which was already being used by the race club.

A Committee was formed and work got under way to clear the scrub from the area inside the race track.  When this was done sand greens were formed and golf restarted in Drouin.

IN 1967 the Gas and Fuel board decided to put a pipe line through the course which caused much disruption to play and the need for bridges to be built over the work in order to play the 12th, 14th and 16th fairways.

The next big step (in the 1980's) was the purchase of land on the town side of the club house. This enabled the club to extend the first and second holes and develop a practice fairway.

Then toward the end of the 80's, a 200 acre property became available for purchase to the south of the club.  This was bought with profits from the earlier purchase and by raising debentures from the members. 

A further nine holes was constructed and opened in 2002, bringing the total number of holes to 27.     

Feature:  Michael Scott,
First Aust. Open Champion and founding Member of Drouin Golf Club!

Michael Scott (1878--1959) has the   distinction of winning the first Aust. Open in 1904 and again in 1907, but his   achievements were not restricted to this part of the world.  The youngest of seven children of the Earl of Eldon arrived in Australia to farm in 1904 and was one of the founders of the Drouin Golf Club.

By the time he returned to Britain in 1911 he had also won four Australian Amateurs, five Victorian Amateurs, the Riversdale Cup and scores of lesser events, including four club championships in a row at Royal Melbourne from 1907.

After returning to Britain he continued to play at the highest level for another 20 years.  The crowning glory of his career was winning the British Amateur in 1933, a couple of weeks short of his 55th birthday.  In becoming the oldest man to win the title, he went one better than his brother, Osmund, who was runner up in 1905.

Unlike their sister Margaret, who won  three (1893-95) British ladies titles and then retired, Scott kept playing until the end and in 1957, at the age of 79, shot a round of 69.

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Michael Scott's career wins:

1904: Aust Open
1905: Aust & Vic Amateur
1907: Aust Open, Aust & Vic Amateur
1908: Vic Amateur
1909: Aust, Vic & NSW Amateur
1910: Aust, Vic & NSW Amateur
1912: French Amateur
1922: French Amateur
1933: British Amateur

To Contact Us

Phone                            5625 1330
Pro Shop                       5625 4985
PO Box 179,      Drouin  VIC  3818
Email dgcc@dcsi.net.au