There was golf played at Lansdowne: beginning in 1897, between six and eight women played golf on the land that was to become the Lansdowne golf course. In those days it was just farmland; having only the services of four-legged mowers — sheep — it is hard to imagine what the state of the “greens” were back then! From those rough beginnings, golf rapidly became more popular. In 1903 the membership was known to be 24 men and 8 or 9 women; by 1904 that had almost tripled to 52 men and 30 women. In 1906, the role only slightly increased for the men, but women’s golf continued to surge: 59 men and 55 women.
The course, such as it was, was a nine hole one on about 32 acres of land and was endured by the enthusiastic golfers for almost twenty years. In 1916 there began a seven-year quest to purchase more land with a view to having a fully-fledged 18 hole course. Finally, in 1923, the club was able to boast of 97 acres — the current size of the course
As those first changes to the course were being made from the 1920s and 30s onward, the club began to be called home by a growing number of notable golfers: golfers who represented New Zealand with honour as both amateurs and, in one very high profile case, a professional who won New Zealand’s first Major Championship, Sir Bob Charles. For many, many years the only left-hander to win a Major Championship — the 1963 British Open — Charles has been Masterton’s, and New Zealand’s, foremost golfing ambassador for the best part of five decades.
When playing Lansdowne you'll find the rolling topography renders variable changes in elevation across the entire course so flat lies are the exception rather than the norm. However, compensating for the challenging contours, the well-grassed fairways provide a superb playing (and walking) surface.
By the time you leave the 18th green you could be forgiven for feeling somewhat fatigued after walking the course. But the enjoyment factor of playing the well-presented parkland-style course, regardless of your skill level, more than makes up for any tiredness.
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