The Golf Society of Australia was formed in 1982 to research and preserve the history of golf in Australia.
As part of this role, the Society acts as the Museum Committee of Golf Australia
and oversees the Golf Australia Museum collection and Library.
Other activities include:
- Regular golf events
- Dinners with guest speakers
- Publication of a Newsletter – The Long Game
- Coordination of a Golf Club Historians networking group
- Oral history recording project
- Collection of data relating to Golf Club locations
- Researching the history of golf in Australia.
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At the recent Victorian Golf Industry Awards, Golf Society member and former Victorian Golf Association President Dick Kirby OAM was inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame along with Kathleen (Kitty) McEwan Dec.
Kitty was one of Australia’s earliest female golf writers.
Dick was honoured for service to golf, which included five years as President of the VGA from 2002-2007, a long association with the Golf Society of Australia and the Spring Valley Golf Club.
Dick was elected to the VGA council in 1982 and remained for 25 years, ultimately being honoured with VGA life membership in 2007.
He was also Victorian delegate to the Australian Golf Union in this period and managed various Victorian teams on interstate trips.
He was treasurer of the Golf Society for 10 years and a committee member from 2000-2006, and was named a life member in 2019.
He was treasurer, president and vice-president of Spring Valley and also is a life member of that club.
Earlier in the year Dick received an Order of Australia (OAM) in the King’s Birthday Honours.