Golfing Ovelinks And Fairways
Coaching in Pittwater

The history of Mona Vale Golf Club is the story of the long and laborious task of converting a swamp and sand dunes to a rolling green golf course and a clubhouse that grew from a tent. The golf course was a minor part of the resort, which also comprised a race and polo ground and abundant grand buildings. At the southern final of this wide estate Brock built an fussy threestorey mansion as a clubhouse and accommodation and four single place villas that also served as accommodation. Brock spared no expense building his dream resort but it was built on the unfulfilled promise of a tramway that would have brought guests to his door. He was unable to repay his loan and was eventually forced to sell what had become a white elephant. Worse still, the threestorey mansion was gutted by fire in 1912 and rebuilt in a less flamboyant style but it never returned a earnings and gradually decayed. But while the estate languished, the locals took things into their own hands. The club possessed no club house so a tent was old until one could be obtained. Slowly the number of players grew and it became necessary to expand and relocate the course, parts of which encroached on private land. Kitchener Park, which was owned by the Commonwealth but vested in Warringah Council, was chosen as the site for the fresh golf course and permission was obtained to flourish it. The club possessed no club house, so a tent was used until one could be obtained. Over the years the clubhouse was expanded and a veranda was added. When World War II broke out many club members enlisted and the Commonwealth exercised its correct to establish a camp on part of the course. To thwart or stall a feared invasion by Japanese forces, a tank trap was built across the course from Turrimetta to Mona Vale heads and barbed wire entanglements erected next to the beach. Although the influx of defense forces to the area briefly lifted the Club’s restrict sales, the clubhouse was later commandeered for use as administration offices and officers’ mess for the nearby army camp. With the end of the war and the filling in of the tank trap and removal of the barbed wire entanglements, the Club resumed its deposit in local life but the course had been damaged and downgraded by the military activities and it was not until 1947 that the course was reopened. With the return of enlisted men and with fresh members swelling its ranks, the Club was in a position to extend its clubhouse in stages and permission was sought to extend the boundaries of the course and amplify it to one of 18 holes. With maximum of the work involved having been done by club members. Along with the clubhouse, almost all the club’s records were also destroyed. The igloo hut was removed and worn as an equipment shed. Since then the club invested much effort in improving the layout of the course, upgrading the drainage and beautifying the course by planting trees. But what about the history of the bell itself? By the time of her arrival, Portugal had declared war on Germany and Essen’ was interned and subsequently declared a war prize. In 1917 she was renamed Inhambane’ and in 1924 was sold to a Portuguese firm, which operated her between Portugal’s African colonies and Europe.