MGGC Amateur Open

The MGGC Open, also referred to as the "Glades" Open and MGGC Amateur Open, is one of the premier golfing events of every MGGC golf season.

 

The event is 36 holes of stroke play, conducted over two successive days of a weekend.

 

Some of the historical facts about the event are described below.

 

It has been conducted since the club first opened for golf in 1969. It was originally open to both professional and amateur golfers and in the early years attracted many of Australia's high profile professional golfers through attractive prize moneys. The Council of Management minutes detail the inaugural event:

 

'To be held on 26/10/69

handicap limit 8, entry fee $2.00

Professional purse $100 offered by Kevin James (Motors)'

 

In the inaugural event in 1969, Royal Fremantle Amateur Robbie Peterson scored 68 in his morning round, a course record. Despite his afternoon score of 80, Peterson’s total was sufficient to win the event. In 1971 WA touring professional Graham Marsh won with rounds of 71, 70. The MGGC 1971 Annual Report suggested those scores were most likely course records but seemed to ignore Peterson’s earlier effort.

 

Of significance, in 1981 the MGGC Open was run in conjunction with the WA State Open.

 

As time progressed the focus on attracting professionals to the event waned. This was evident in a Council of Management meeting minute on 30th June 1985 stating 'it was possible that professionals in future would only play in Open events where the prize money was $5000 and above … it was an opportunity … to run a top class amateur event as the Club Open'. And then on 21st August 1986 'Due to poor response from sponsors … this event (will) be an amateur event only'. In 1987 discussion occurred towards conducting a Pro-am on the Friday before the Open with a comment 'A minimum purse of $2,000 was required for the Pro-Am'. Finally, on 25/8/1988 the Board '… unanimously agreed that the event be in the future held as a prestigious Amateur event only.'  In 2009 it was renamed the MGGC Amateur Open, and a trophy bears the names of these winners from 2011.

 

Event brochures in the period 1981 to 1987 (available in the archive) provide further historical information.

 

The event was originally open for men only. From 2015 both men and women were permitted to enter the event. Women play from different tees to the men and all scores are adjusted to an equivalent value relative to par for each hole off their respective tees.

 

Apart from recording all the historical winners this event has links within the archive to other items including "Open" newspaper clippings and Entry Forms.

 

___