OPENING DAY GOLF CLUB

This golf club is traditionally used to make the first tee shot on the opening day of each golf season at Melville Glades. The tradition originated on the first official day of golf at the club on the 3rd May 1969 when the City of Melville Mayor, Ron Carroll, performed that role.

Several archive images show Ron Carroll on that day:

• See attachment number 3
• Item ''Golf Opening Day 1969'' (Item 2022.345 attachments 5 and 6)
• Item ''Golden Anniversary Booklet'' (Item 2020.64.1 attachment number 31)

The club in his hand is a Jack Nicklaus Slazenger brand 4 wood. The clubhouse can be seen in the background of these photographs and several people, including some of the club founders, watching the event.

The club was donated by the Carroll family in 1990. The correspondence (also in the attachments to this item) from Ron's son G.J. Carroll states: "The club in question is one of a Jack Nicklaus set No. 625 given to my father by myself in 1967. On the death of my father the set of clubs passed to my son Mr. Craig Carroll who has used them regularly to this time. Craig is most willing to present the club to Melville Glades Golf Club in memory of the opening by his grandfather." A nominal cheque for $20 was provided by MGGC to cover the family's expenses.

The honour of making the ceremonial tee shot on every season's opening day has been offered to the Melville City Mayor, who is also the Patron of the club, every year since with most taking up that offer and participating in the day's events.

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