Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort’s Pro Shop used to be a dairy when Doris Head took up golf and eventually became the club’s number one membership holder.
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Sadly, Doris passed away on March 3 this year, aged 103-years-of-age. The person who became the club’s professional golfer in April 1969, Phil Droop, was announced as the new number one membership card holder last Sunday.
Club president Gil Cunningham made the announcement in the club’s Willow Room at a semi-formal function at the conclusion of the 2021 club championships for both women and men.
In 1999 Phil was made a club Life Member for his 30 years of service. In 2017 he, along with friend Glenn McCully, received an Appreciation Award for Golf in Regional Victoria by PGA President Peter O’Malley.
“When Phil first started back in 1969 Phil was on eighteen bucks a week and one of his duties was cleaning golf sticks for two dollars a week,” Mr Cunningham said. “Perhaps the pro shop can clean our sticks!”
But on a serious note, the president said: “Phil has left a legacy as to how a Pro Shop should be run and (his son) Evan is doing a fantastic job. Congratulations Phil, well done.”
Phil was thrilled and honoured to accept the top card holder and said it was fantastic what the club had produced for the family.
“One of my biggest highlights was that Karen got it (life membership in 2006),” he said. He recalled some of those earlier times, including when the much smaller wooden Pro Shop was open just three-and-a half-days a week and his duties had to include other nearby clubs.
In a big and exciting day, Phil said he and wife Karen are very proud of grandson Baxter’s A Grade club championship win last Sunday and mentioned Karen’s record 12 titles. “The club just keeps going from strength to strength,” the 75-year-old concluded. A standing ovation was given to the club’s newest number one member who quipped: “It will be easier to remember my number!”
Standing ovations were also given to Baxter and to lady club champion Judy Kruger. As lady captain, Judy would have been mentally drained after her courageous victory but handled her microphone duties in an impeccable manner, announcing the lady runners-up and winners in the B, C and D Grades and other special events. As did men’s captain Peter Warner who also featured strongly as a winner of various events.
Advising of the different club championship announcement and celebration format, Mr Cunningham said it was the club’s inaugural, simultaneous, official club championship function for both men and women.
“It’s great to see to see the numbers here. It’s great to celebrate the winners and runners-up but also in respect of all the other players.
“This is a different format following the two weekends of play with the men’s 72 holes and the women’s 54-hole championships,” he told the 140 attendees.
The altered format with delicious house-made canapies provided and a complimentary drink proved a big winner instead of the announcements being made at the annual Christmas function.
Award recipients praised club management then singled out course superintendent Chris Burgess and his team for having the course in pristine condition, and Evan Droop and his Pro Shop team for the smooth running of the club championships.
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