THE SPRIG BAR GROVEL

This image captures one of the activities that occurred in the infamous Sprig Bar. The Sprig Bar was a feature of the clubhouse until it was renovated in 2001. It had a relatively small area but was equipped with a pool table, dart board and a servery. It was typically well patronised to the extent that there were often more members in the Sprig Bar after golf than in the main lounge. Club rules in those days required players to shower and change to enter the main lounge, so many opted to spend their time in the noisy and crowded Sprig Bar.

Pictured are Les Jenkinson and Peter Castley standing beside their stools in the bar.

Side bets amongst four men on Wednesdays and Saturdays has always been a common occurrence. Some groups took this to another degree.

Max Hannah described what this image conveys:

“I believe the photograph records a “grovel” event after golf on a Wednesday. The winning two stood at one end of the Sprig Bar while the losing two crawled on hands and knees from one end of the Sprig Bar to the other with $1 or $2 banknotes in their mouths. What is not shown in the photograph is the remaining patrons lining the grovelling area and cheering on the grovellers.

Huge Sprig Bar fun!”