Centenary celebrations coming in June
THE History – Loxton through the decades
The Loxton Golf Club Inc, which commenced and affiliated with the SA golf Association in August 1926 celebrates its centenary in 2026.
The club began with a 9-hole sand scrape course overlooking Murray river flats across the road from the now Loxton High School precinct.
Its history is often described as the tale of two era’s – the pioneering years from 1926 to 1950 and the period of development and growth from 1951 until the present time.
The initial years were tough with a small group of golf enthusiasts led by inaugural President B.C. Watson and Secretary M. Pritchard, later succeeded by J.M. Stewart, primarily directing volunteer members to develop a 9-hole course of dry fairways and oily sand scrapes for the joy of about 30-40 men and women.
Social events for fundraising were held regularly including Balls with a strong family support ethic. Golf became not just a sport but a central part of community life.
Loxton GC became a founding member of the Upper Murray Golf association competing against members from neighbouring clubs, Berri, Renmark and Waikerie. The clubs survived the years during the great depression providing a sporting and social outlet for members doing it tough leading up to the outbreak of WW2. New challenges presented as members enlisted to fight for Australia’s freedom, leading to competitions being dramatically scaled back.
When the War ended and ex-servicemen returned home the golf club membership surged and by the late 1940’s Loxton began planning a major step towards developing an 18-hole course but another bigger location was needed to provide the additional holes.
In 1951 the club members were granted a perpetual lease over 150 acres at Loxton North on land cleared as part of the War Service Land Settlement Scheme, however this Lot was deemed unsuited to agricultural purposes but satisfactory for golf.
Local member Eddie Johnson was tasked with mustering volunteers, designing the course layout, clearing of scrublands, shaping fairways and preparing 18 sand greens.
The work was completed and the course opened for play on May 6, 1951. Facilities were modest and a tin shed served as the first clubhouse.
Improvements followed steadily and by the 1960’s President Dr. Ian McInnes (Loxton’s resident Dentist), a keen botanist, supervised extensive tree planting defining the fairways and initiated an ambitious irrigation program.
Recognising the importance of expert advice, noted Kingston Heath Course Superintendent Vern Morcom was engaged in 1963 to oversee course architecture refinement and a number of changes to lengthen some holes and advice on bunker layouts were received to bring the course up to an improved standard.
By the mid-1960’s irrigation had been installed to all 18 fairways, an extraordinary achievement for a small country golf club at that time. A modest clubhouse was built by members during this period and later extended.
In 1973 the members decided to convert the sand scrapes to grass greens, another mammoth task for member volunteers with construction in stages completed by 1976.
An official opening on July 10, 1976, coincided with the 25th anniversary of the new course.
During the 80’s improvements were continuous with a practice area developed, machinery borrowed/purchased and a machinery shed constructed. Members continued to provide labour and equipment to further upgrade facilities.
As the club grew and prospered, a greenkeeper and club manager were employed to reduce volunteer labour pressures and enable the club to progress more professionally.
During the 90’s the course had been developed into a high standard country golf club and visitors progressively increased. Whist all profits were directed into club improvements little reserves were held and the first six golf carts for hire were private member supplied with 100% green fees and 10% cart hire boosting club income. A Pro-Am tournament was conducted for 10 years. The Loxton GC was becoming a premium golf destination.
In 2000 the club acquired a freehold title to the golf course and negotiated with the State Govt to purchase 11.2ha vacant land adjacent to the course. This was subdivided for residential development and sold in Lots over the next 15 years with 2ha also subdivided from unused land on the northern side of the course.
The profits from land sales enabled the club to complete an extensive wish list of capital works on the course, clubhouse renovations, a 25kw solar system on the roof, golf cart fleet (20) + shed, new and extended machinery shed, upgraded plant and equipment mostly new, pop up irrigation upgrade and extended to all 18 holes. In addition, three high quality cart sheds have been built and hired to house golf carts for 30 members. Practice facilities have been upgraded and course improvements continue to be on-going.
To celebrate the 100 years of hard work by members past and current the club is celebrating with a range of activities from 5-8 June, 2026. All past and current members have been contacted, where possible, to join the celebrations and golf events.
The Vern Morcom Tribute Plate sponsored by Coopers Brewery is to be held on Sunday, June 7. This event is rotated annually to the numerous golf clubs Vern Morcom contributed towards developing during his lengthy career in golf course architecture, estimated to be over 100, mostly in Victoria.
– Alan Ling
Loxton – The town
Located on the south bank of the River Murray in the Riverland region of South Australia, Loxton is around 250km and under three hours’ drive east of Adelaide.
A service town with primary productions in agriculture and horticulture, Loxton is the main town for the northern part of the Murray Mallee which is a dryland farming and grain cropping area with citrus fruit, wine grapes, almonds and stone fruit trees are prevalent.
Loxton has a pioneer settlement museum (known as the Loxton Historical Village), preserving the heritage of the mallee region, while it is also famous for the “Loxton Lights Up” Christmas Festival in December each year, and the annual 120m Loxton Gift handicap sprint race held in late February.
The Loxton Golf Club is 8km from the centre of town.
Loxton Golf Club – The course
A course measuring 6079 metres from the back tees, playing to a par of 72, Loxton, consistently ranked as one of South Australia’s best 10 courses, is a tree-lined course set on 125-acres.
Highlights of the front nine include the par three second, a hole played from a raised tee to a green guarded by a bunker to the front right, and the left doglegging uphill par four ninth, rated stroke index one as Loxton’s most challenging.
On the back nine, the 15th, the last of the par threes, a hole without any sand traps to protect the green but a hole often made more difficult when played into the wind, and the tight par four 18th, bending slightly left provides a tough finish to the round.
Grass greens, now considered some of the best putting surfaces in the region, replaced the sand scrapes in 1974, Brian Crafter setting out the new green on holes 1 to 14, with Kevin Harrington fashioning the greens on the closing four holes.
The original layout remains largely intact, though the nines were swapped in 1966.
The club proudly hosts a large number of tournaments each year, drawing strong support from golfers across South Australia and interstate.
Centenary events
Friday June 5th
Meet, Eat & Greet at the Golf Club
Saturday June 6th
Centenary Cup (including the Tri-club Challenge)
Centenary Dinner (@ Loxton Precinct) $55
Sunday June 7th
Vern Morcom Tribute Plate (Lunch/Golf & Dinner)
Monday June 8th
Life Member Tree Commemoration
Tour of golf course in golf club Carts No Cost
Entries and payments to be made via the online interactive form, with all welcome.
All information about events and activities at Loxton Golf Club are on the club’s website www.loxtongolf.com.au
The post CLUB OF THE MONTH: Loxton Golf Club first appeared on Inside Golf. Australia's Most-Read Golf Magazine as named by Australian Golfers - FREE.
Article Link: https://www.insidegolf.com.au/course-reviews/south-australia-course-reviews/club-of-the-month-loxton-golf-club/