From Peninsula to Wainui

A meeting was called for 21 May 1955 for all residents interested in the formation of a golf club to cater for Silverdale and surrounding districts. A committee of five — Bill Funnell, Tim Couldrey, Alun Tyler-Davies, Don Boocock and Keith McDonald — was appointed to investigate suitable properties and report back to a meeting held in the Silverdale Hall on 20 June.

Options were secured over neighbouring land with three five-pound notes, produced in turn by Mr Couldrey, Mr Funnell and Mr Tyler-Davies. Golf architect Mr H Babbage advised the purchase of further acreage from Mr Fred Moffat to facilitate the layout of the course. Because the land was too valuable to be used entirely for golf, a scheme plan was prepared showing 64 sections for sale on the road perimeters, reducing the cost of the centre block.

At a public meeting on 8 December 1955 a motion was carried that a club be formed and that its name be the Peninsula Golf Club. The interim committee was constituted as a Board of Trustees, with Mr T M D Butts elected as its fifth member and appointed Honorary Secretary/Treasurer.

The first AGM was held in April 1956. Membership grew from 161 to 193 — the foundation members of the Peninsula Golf Club. In May and June, 287 sheep were purchased to stock the course, with the farming operation financed by Alfred Buckland & Sons Ltd.

A temporary nine-hole course was laid down on the Red Beach side of the property by members who turned out with home motor mowers, hay mowers and rollers, ready for the opening of the course for golf on 13 April 1957. The barn on Red Beach Road was made into a temporary clubhouse with a tar and sawdust floor and hay bales to sit on, later converted into an adequate three-roomed clubhouse.

At the first meeting and formation of the Ladies Club on 21 May 1957, Mrs Jessie Symes was elected inaugural Lady Captain and Mrs May Thompson Vice Captain, with Mrs Ethel Tyler-Davies the first Secretary-Treasurer and Handicap Manager.

Continued member effort — working bees that included women and children clearing sticks, stones and rubble — enabled the club to have a full eighteen holes to play in 1958. The first ball was held on 2 May 1958 in the Silverdale Hall.

1959 saw seven permanent greens down and ready for use, with drainage treated as the club's top priority. The return from sheep farming continued to show a substantial surplus through the efforts of Mr F Symes and the farming committee. That same year Sir John Allum accepted the office of Patron.

On his retirement from the office of President, Mr Bill Funnell was elected a Life Member and, in recognition of his services to golf, a member of the Eagles Golfing Society. Life Membership was bestowed on Mr H (Tim) Couldrey in 1962. By November 1960 membership had reached 306, and extensive tree planting was underway.

The club secured the services of Mr Rod Kriletich full time, his duties divided between course development, course maintenance and farming operations. He was runner-up in the Green-keeper of the Year Award before winning it in 1971.

A draft plan for a new clubhouse was accepted at the 1966 AGM. Trueman Builders Ltd commenced construction in February 1968, and in November the new $65,000 clubhouse was officially opened by Mr Funnell before approximately 300 members and representatives of the NZGA and ADGA. Mr Funnell offered special thanks to the ladies who had proved such stalwarts throughout the club's history.

Course development continued under the Dale Plan, explained to members at a special meeting in April 1971, with earthworks spread over three years and assisted by an offer of 170,000 cubic yards of spoil from the Ministry of Works. Water reticulation and automatic sprinkler service to all greens followed.

Professional tournaments were held through this period, including a successful Pro-Am on 21 June 1972 and a three-day professional tournament at the end of December 1973 co-sponsored with Hopper Bros Ltd. 1976 was the club's 21st year, and in January 1977 Mr H (Tim) Couldrey accepted the position of Patron.

Mr A Tyler-Davies was granted Life Membership in December 1980 in recognition of his many years of service and association with the club.

The Silver Jubilee in May 1981 was a memorable weekend. A cocktail evening on the Friday drew 300 to 350 past and present members, and a Jubilee Ball was held in Orewa on the Saturday, where Jessie Bawden, the oldest surviving member, cut a cake decorated as a golf course. Life Membership was bestowed on Mrs May Thompson in recognition of her immeasurable service to the club from its foundation.

At the closing function the Patron, Mr Couldrey, presented a 25-year-old bottle of scotch to the club, to be sealed in the bank vault and opened on the occasion of the club's 50th anniversary.

Women's, veterans', junior and midweek golf all developed through this period, supported by hard-working social committees running Trivial Pursuits evenings, Casino nights, Melbourne Cup days, St Patrick's days, picnic days and charity days. Tree planting projects including the Kauri Grove and Arkle Grove added to the character of the course.

Clubhouse and course improvements continued alongside pennant and tournament achievements, and the dam extension and causeway were completed in 1996.

The 40th Jubilee in May 1996 was a momentous occasion. A Mix and Mingle evening was greatly enjoyed by past and present members, and a Jubilee cake was cut by May Thompson and Fred Moffatt, both foundation and Life Members. A 40th Jubilee Ball followed in the Orewa Community Hall.

Membership in October 1996 totalled 1,015 across full playing, midweek, limited, junior, senior veteran, life, social and honorary categories. In 1996 Fred Moffat was approached to accept the role of Patron.

At a Special General Meeting in October 1996 the existing constitution was rescinded and new rules passed. The old committee structure was replaced with a Board of Management and a Golf Committee, providing better governance and a sound structure for the future.

Nine-hole golf was introduced nationally for ladies and a group formed at Peninsula in August 1997, beginning with 20 ladies under the guidance of June Chetwynd and Doreen Hayes. It grew into one of the club's most popular programmes, with its own competitions and tee times.

In 1999 Mrs Ann Cambie was elected President — the first woman to hold the role — and also chaired the Board. Her election initiated a course that saw other women take on Board and Golf Committee roles outside of allocated gender roles.

Equal subscriptions for full playing men and ladies were introduced in 1999, giving all members equal status for the first time, and men's midweek status was replaced with six-day status.

In December 1999 the Pitman Master Plan was adopted into the constitution, with significant changes only able to be made by resolution at a Special Meeting or AGM. The first project was the rebuilding of the 14th green, followed by the 1st tee surrounds, the 15th and 16th holes, new 6th and 13th tees, and major construction on the new 17th and 18th holes.

Junior development was strengthened through a dedicated sub-committee, with Sheila Taylor appointed the first Junior Development Officer for North Harbour and Rosemary Jennings appointed Junior Director from 2004 to 2006. A highlight of the junior programme is the Hopper Memorial Day, a team event played with juniors from other clubs.

Charity and community initiatives included a very successful Charity Day tournament organised by Graeme and Jocelyn Fairgray in November 2004, and the purchase of a defibrillator with training for staff and members, funded by the Sunderland Pennant teams.

2005 was a year of great jubilation for the pennant teams, with Sunderland, Rangitoto and Hibiscus Coast teams all recording success. Planning began in late 2005 for the club's 50th Jubilee, held in April 2006.

Detailed records covering the negotiations, member consultation, construction period, the farewell to Red Beach and the opening events at Wainui are held within the club archive and will be published here once confirmed by the club.

If you hold minutes, photographs, programmes or personal recollections from this period, we would be pleased to hear from you.

The Wainui 18 championship course and purpose-built clubhouse opened in 2016, giving the club a home designed for golf, hospitality and events across one destination.

Orchard 9 opened in 2017 as a short-course experience, extending golf to beginners, families, juniors and players with less time available.

The club continues to develop its courses, coaching pathways, hospitality and event facilities, guided by the same spirit of member contribution that created Peninsula Golf Club in 1955.