History
“I love the golf course…I love Huntingdale…I always have.”
Robert Allenby – winner of two Australian Masters
Huntingdale’s golf affiliations go back to 1896, when Surrey Hills Golf Club was established. The Club played on a course where now stands the Mont Albert Station. The Club prospered until 1914, when it disbanded on the outbreak of the first World War.
After the War a few of the original members got together and formed what was then known as the Box Hill Golf Club with its course in Canterbury Road, Box Hill.
In 1924, a Committee leased some property in Doncaster Road, and laid out an 18 hole course amid the surrounding orchards. The same Committee took over the assets of the Box Hill Golf Club and re-established it at the Doncaster Road site, under the name of Eastern Golf Club as it is known today.
In the years prior to the second World War, there had been many discussions on the merit of transferring the Club on to the famous sand belt, but plans were held in abeyance due to the lack of suitable ground being available.
Early in 1938 a chance remark by one of the members elicited the fact that Mrs Creswick was considering the disposal of the old Melbourne Hunt Club grounds at East Oakleigh.
The course design was entrusted to C.H. Alison, an English golf architect, who worked entirely from models, contour plans, and written information as to the topography of the ground. Former curator, the late Sam Beriman, was co-opted to adapt Allison’s designs to the terrain.
The course opened in 1941, and it was at that time the name Huntingdale Golf Club was adopted.
Today with its development as a Club, and advancement as an Australian Championship Golf Course, the future of Huntingdale Golf Club is secure. It proudly takes its place among the unique group of world class courses of which Melbourne is justly proud.
Rising to fame in March 1979 with the inaugural hosting of The Australian Masters, Huntingdale has emerged as one of the most recognisable golf courses in Australia, and the world. Since 1979, Huntingdale has played host to some of the most famous names in world golf, including Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Peter Thomson, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Norman Von Nida, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Ian Baker-Finch, John Daly, Tom Watson, Nick Price, and Tiger Woods.
In 2008, Huntingdale celebrated the 30th year of hosting the Australian Masters and was justifiably recognised as the ‘Home of the Australian Masters’.
The Club completed a new $12million clubhouse which was completed in August 2014. This included a new carpark and renovation of the golf shop which was completed over an 18 month time frame.
In November 2015, Huntingdale again hosted the Australian Masters with Peter Senior winning for a 3rd time.