Deep in the Wimmera scrub where wattles bloom gold in early spring and phone reception fades, the hum of a generator and the smell of wood smoke mark the heart of one of Victoria’s most-loved little golf clubs: Toolondo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As many other regional sports clubs struggle to attract volunteers and players, this 18-hole course 45 kilometres south of Horsham in western Victoria continues to thrive, despite no mobile phone reception, no electricity, no mains water and no paid staff.<\/p>\n
Each year, the club in the scrub pulls about 50 members from near and far.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The clubhouse holds many fond memories for members. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)<\/p>\n
Players connect not over luxury but laughter, light-hearted rivalries and homemade cream cakes.<\/p>\n
Local farmers carved the first nine holes in the 1950s, before expanding to 18 holes the following decade.<\/p>\n
As the years have gone by, many small neighbouring clubs have folded, including Pimpinio further north in the Wimmera.<\/p>\n
But Toolondo endures.<\/p>\n
So what makes it so special?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Toolondo Golf Club in regional Victoria has about 50 members. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)<\/p>\n
Heart and hospitality<\/p>\n
Each Saturday in winter, players fill the historic clubhouse, a former classroom from a local school.<\/p>\n
There is no stocked bar. Drinks arrive by ute each weekend.<\/p>\n
And there is no wi-fi to distract from conversation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The fire drum at Toolondo Golf Club is a meeting place for the small regional community. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)<\/p>\n
Beyond the fairways fragrant with Australian botanicals, kangaroos hop, emus nest, and sunsets glow over the wetlands where brolgas can be spotted.<\/p>\n
Swan Hill golfer Lindsay Watts has competed in the Australian and Victorian Opens.<\/p>\n
He has been making the 540-kilometre round trip to Toolondo for 35 years.<\/p>\n
“I have played a lot of courses, but Toolondo is unique; I can par it but I have never beaten it and that is a challenge,” Watts said.<\/p>\n
“But it’s the people \u2014 I love the people, they are so welcoming.<\/p>\n
“Playing here is the highlight of my year. It’s my happy place.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Allan Parfett has been with Toolondo Golf Club for a decade, since his former club at Brim folded. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)<\/p>\n
According to club president Allan Parfett, offering a sense of homecoming is intentional.<\/p>\n
“We welcome everyone. It’s a real country community and I think we have become pretty well-known for our afternoon teas,” Mr Parfett said.<\/p>\n
The famous spreads of sweets, sandwiches and scones are made in the simple volunteer kitchen.<\/p>\n
And former club champion Lorraine O’Beirne, 91, still sends her son Glen O’Beirne to the club each Saturday bearing mum’s popular sausage rolls.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Toolondo golfers enjoy a drink after a day on the course. (ABC News: Sue Dunstan)<\/p>\n
Value of simplicity<\/p>\n
Toolondo’s grassroots affordability is a ticket to the sand scrapes at a time when golf’s expense can be an inhibiting factor.<\/p>\n
According to a 2024 Golf Australia survey of operations, the average club membership in regional Victoria costs between about $700 and $1,000 annually.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Cheap fees keep people coming back to Toolondo Golf Club. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)<\/p>\n
In Melbourne, memberships for private clubs cost an average of more than $3,000 a year, and for elite clubs like Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Club can exceed $7,000.<\/p>\n
Weekend greens fees may cost between $35 and $50 in regional Victoria \u2014 or $80 to $100 in metropolitan areas \u2014 according to the Golf Australia 2024 Annual Report.<\/p>\n
At Toolondo, membership is $50 for newbies \u2014 and the greens fee is $5.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A stumpy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) enjoys the sun at Toolondo Golf Club. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)<\/p>\n
Wimmera District Golf Association president Lee English said Toolondo was a symbol of survival for an ageing sport.<\/p>\n
“At the moment, there are 29 golf clubs in the Wimmera district \u2014 we have lost about five clubs in recent years,” Mr English said.<\/p>\n
“There are probably about 8,000 golfers in the region, but that is well down on what we had probably 10 years ago.”<\/p>\n
He blamed reduced funding and high participation costs.<\/p>\n
“They used to hold clinics at school, competitions, but they have dumped all that. Maybe it’s time to go back to that community ethos, community effort, community theme,” Mr English said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Toolondo’s golf course smells of native botanicals. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)<\/p>\n
Charitable community charm<\/p>\n
Brimpaen farmer Ron Winfield said it was the community that drew him back each week.<\/p>\n
“It’s an outing. You don’t necessarily go for the golf; it’s the people,” Mr Winfield said.<\/p>\n
“Everyone sits around, has a chat, sometimes that is the only time of the week you see people.”<\/p>\n
That spirit fuels the club’s charity days.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Toolondo Golf Club has a long and rich history. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)<\/p>\n
When local boy Joel Rees had a stroke aged three, the community rallied for him.<\/p>\n
For the past 15 years, Toolondo has hosted a tournament for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, raising thousands in his name.<\/p>\n
“I can’t thank the Toolondo Golf Club enough for its support,” Joel said.<\/p>\n
“It’s a place that not only cares for its members but also for the community and that makes a real difference to the lives of a lot of people.”<\/p>\n
In August, the club hosts its annual four-person ambrose, which attracts people from all over the state.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ladies captain Liz Jackman volunteers many hours each week to keep the club thriving. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)<\/p>\n
It’s a 27-hole tournament \u2014 but to ladies captain Liz Jackman, it’s a reunion.<\/p>\n
“We’ve shared wine and cheese, smoked oysters and champagne with other teams. It’s a real fun day. It’s challenging, but it’s the country atmosphere,” Ms Jackman said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Liz Jackman swings like a pro. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)<\/p>\n
Self-described golf “hacker” Jack Alexander said, despite his handicap of 39, he would never miss a week at the course.<\/p>\n
“It isn’t the game; it is the people. It is like a family, a real family, everyone looks out for everyone,” he said.<\/p>\n
From wood fires to wattles, Toolondo proves you don’t need polished greens or city budgets to create a place of belonging.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Through the club, Allan Parfett and Liz Jackman are friends for life. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)<\/p>\n
ABC reporter Sue Dunstan is a volunteer committee member at Toolondo Golf Club.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Deep in the Wimmera scrub where wattles bloom gold in early spring and phone reception fades, the hum…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":285054,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[566],"tags":[164665,64,63,5214,4991,755,9262,164663,13262,85,164664,164666,93757],"class_list":{"0":"post-285053","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-golf","8":"tag-18-holes","9":"tag-au","10":"tag-australia","11":"tag-community","12":"tag-country","13":"tag-golf","14":"tag-golf-course","15":"tag-handicap","16":"tag-regional","17":"tag-sports","18":"tag-toolondo","19":"tag-toolondo-golf-club","20":"tag-wimmera"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285053","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=285053"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285053\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/285054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=285053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=285053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=285053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}