Club history.

1951

The St. Leonards Golf Club was founded in 1951 with approximately 40 members. The course was designed and built by Arthur Blanche on land he owned and consisted of 9 holes with sand scraped greens. The Golf Club did not have a clubhouse and met in the St. Leonards Hotel which was also owned by Arthur Blanche.

The golf club continued for a few years but eventually dissolved and during the late 50’s and early 60’s the course fell into disrepair.

1963

In 1963 Arthur Blanche reactivated the course as part of his plan to turn the St. Leonards Hotel into a Country Club complete with golf course. First as a 9-hole pitch and putt course then as a 9 hole course, essentially on the original layout. However, the country Club project did not eventuate.

1966

Around 1966 a new course was designed incorporating the original 9 holes plus an additional 9 holes on the northern section of the land. The course was constructed with grass greens and opened in 1967-68 and operated as 18-hole public golf course.

1979

In 1979 Arthur Blanche agreed to reform the St. Leonards Golf Club with the assistance of John Sullivan and Frank Strauss, both keen local golfers.

1986

The first club house was a tin shed. In 1986 a permanent clubhouse was built in Blanche St.( It was demolished in December 2021 )

At that time Arthur Blanche was responsible for the upkeep of the course and the golf Club was responsible for the organisation of the golf program.

1988

On the death of Arthur Blanche in 1988 it was agreed that the golf club would be responsible for all aspects of the course and the land was leased to the Golf club in a series of ongoing leases. This is the current situation

2005

In 2005 the Blanche family obtained permission to develop part of the golf course as a residential subdivision which meant some course alterations to the golf course.

2014

In 2014 the Blanche Family obtained a permit for a staged multi-lot subdivision on part of the existing golf course land

Also in 2014 the Greater city of Geelong Planning Scheme was amended to ensure that urban development did not occur  outside the defined settlement boundary of St. Leonard’s. The golf course was outside the town boundary and would need to be rezoned before further development could occur.

today

The Blanche family has since then proposed to develop 9 hole 18 tee golf course on land they own on Ibbotson St to assist in their attempt to have the golf course rezoned to residential use.

Upon the successful rezoning the Blanche family would pass ownership to the site along with all improvements to the St. Leonards Golf club.

the future

The new golf course is still being developed with a completion date of approx. 2023

the new course

The new golf course was opened on Saturday 11 November 2023.