HOW often does one play a course, and think how it may have looked 50, or even 100 years ago?
This thought passes often through the minds of Catalina Club’s course superintendent, Darcy Jones, and general manager Guy Chapman.
On the South Coast of New South Wales, Catalina Club have unveiled an inaugural tournament that aims to honour the determination and spirit of greenkeeper and groundsmen services, and the work that has helped reshape, modernise and revolutionise not just Catalina Club’s 27-hole course, but courses across the nation.
When Guy and Darcy began searching through the golf club’s archives recently, they discovered that one name was synonymous with the course’s growth and redesign: Athol Manns.
In the 1950’s, more than 30 years after the course was first opened to the public as the Batemans Bay Golf Club, Athol and his brother Claude used massive log haulers to clear the land surrounding the small five holes.
Their goal was to expand five oiled sand greens to a turfed, modern 18-hole course. A photograph found in the Club’s archives shows Athol and Claude standing astride their log hauler where the modern 17th hole is positioned today.
Catalina Club general manager Guy Chapman with Athol Manns’ family members Maureen Law, Irene Backhouse, course superintendent Darcy Jones and Betty Wales.
Guy Chapman, the club’s general manager said his team hopes to honour the Manns brothers’ commitment to Catalina through the inaugural ‘Athol’s Cup’.
“Athol and Claude’s involvement with a number of Club committees, as well as their brother George’s early management of the Club, combined with a passion for golf, makes the Manns surname synonymous with the Club’s early chapters,” Chapman said.
ol Manns’ descendants have been assisting the Catalina Club team to establish the honorary competition, Athol’s Cup, which invites local grounds persons, greenkeepers, sports turf managers and course superintendents to compete at Catalina Club. The inaugural event will be held on Friday 13 November 2026 with a shotgun start at 10:30am.
“With permission from Athol Manns and his brother Claude and George Manns’ descendants, Catalina Club is proud to share the family’s story of determination, leadership and collaboration,” Chapman added.
Athol’s daughter, Betty Wales, recently expressed her gratitude to Catalina Club for honouring the legacy of her late father:
“The Manns family have had a long history with Catalina Club. My father Athol, and my uncle Claude, and several volunteers, began working on the course in the 1950s with nothing but their trucks, picks, shovels and their bare hands,” she said.
“The course which we know today is testament to their pioneering spirit and determination to create a golf course that has become a sporting jewel on the South Coast,” said Mrs Wales.
Historical records provided by the Clyde River & Batemans Bay Historical Society show the brothers served on the Club’s Grounds Committee and Selection Committee alongside local golf tutor and inaugural champion of the NSW Open, Charles “Chas” Grey.
“This tournament in my father’s name is a wonderful legacy that the Manns family are very proud to share. We hope all the turf teams across New South Wales can be proud and celebrate their hard work. We share this honour and event with all the hidden heroes behind sport in Australia,” said Mrs Wales.
Athol and Claude Manns, pictured in the 1950’s standing at today’s 17th hole at Catalina Club.
Writing a new chapter in the club’s history is Darcy Jones, Catalina’s course superintendent, who will be leading a 27-hole course redesign at the course. Darcy joined Catalina’s team in early 2024 and continues to carry the legacy established by Athol and the course’s earliest developers.
“The course maintenance team and I are thrilled to be hosting the Athol’s Cup at Catalina Club. Not only does it give the team an opportunity to showcase their work at Catalina – it also allows them a chance to connect with other turf teams from New South Wales and beyond,” he said.
“Most importantly, the Cup is an opportunity for us to honour the people who have established this course since 1920.”
Athol’s Cup will be held on Friday 13 November at Catalina Club. The invitational event will see course superintendents, greenkeepers, turf professionals and grounds people converge on the South Coast for a 4-person Medley Ambrose event with a shotgun start at 10:30am.
Turf professionals interested in joining the inaugural Athol’s Cup should submit an expression of interest to golfshop@catalinaclub.com.au.
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