20th February 2025
Living History – A Glimpse Into the Past: Revisiting Pennant Hills Through 1949 Eyes
As the renovation of our beloved Pennant Hills course is well underway, it is the perfect time to reflect on its storied past. With nostalgia in mind, a fascinating piece of history has resurfaced—a March 1949 article from PGA Monthly written by a journalist known as The Roaming Golfer.
The article captures the writer’s first impressions of Pennant Hills, detailing his encounters with key figures of the time, including then-President E.J. Hyde, Secretary-Manager Bill Lannon, and Club Professional Bill Davidson. But beyond these personal interactions, what stands out is his vivid description of the course itself—a landscape both familiar and yet markedly different from the one we know today.
The accompanying photo from that era reveals a strikingly open western end of the course, a contrast to its current form. While the essence of the layout remains, the description in the article paints a picture of a rougher, less manicured terrain. This was a time when each swing faced the unpredictability of untamed fairways and unrefined greens.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this discovery is that only one current member, John Duckworth, would have played the course in its original state—having joined in October 1948. While substantial changes to the course were gradual, each decade introduced refinements that shaped the Pennant Hills experience into what we cherish today.
With this historical insight in mind, we invite members to take a step back in time. Using The Roaming Golfer’s account as inspiration, why not imagine playing Pennant Hills as it was 76 years ago? It’s an opportunity to appreciate not only how far the club has come but also the enduring character of a course that has challenged and delighted generations of golfers.
Stay tuned for further updates on the renovation, and in the meantime, let’s celebrate the legacy that continues to make Pennant Hills a truly special place to play.
