Royal Sydney is one of Australia's foremost social and sporting institutions. It is known nationally and internationally for its prime location, the elegance of the clubhouse, the championship course, the quality grass courts and bowling greens, the number of major tournaments "played at Rose Bay", and its many champions and administrators. This is a social history of both the Club and its relationship to the city of Sydney, from first beginnings at Concord in August 1893. The founders who laid down the values and ...
Read More
Royal Sydney is one of Australia's foremost social and sporting institutions. It is known nationally and internationally for its prime location, the elegance of the clubhouse, the championship course, the quality grass courts and bowling greens, the number of major tournaments "played at Rose Bay", and its many champions and administrators. This is a social history of both the Club and its relationship to the city of Sydney, from first beginnings at Concord in August 1893. The founders who laid down the values and traditions are placed in their commercial, professional and sporting contexts. Women have been prominent, and often outstanding, in Club affairs. Their "share" in this total complex of sporting and social relationships is discussed. So too is the contribution of staff to the two remarkable and simultaneous achievements of Royal Sydney, namely, giving comfort and service to its members while sustaining the Club as a successful financial enterprise. For those interested in the architecture of this famous championship course, the evolutionary changes have been recorded in detail. A large slice of the history of golf in New South Wales unfolds with details of the 108 major tournaments hosted by "Rose Bay" in its century. This is complemented by an analysis of the 242 major titles won by Royal Sydney members over the years. Despite "Golf" in the Club's name, Royal Sydney is much more than golf. There are some 6,000 members, of whom a third are golfers: the rest play tennis, squash, bowls, croquet, billiards, or none of these things. For many, social relationships are the essence of their membership. Unlike so many golf histories, this is not a collection of anecdotes and reminiscences, nor is it a photographic portrait of Club memorabilia. The more than 300 photographs provide an insight into the evolution of sport, its fashion and foibles and friendships, over the first hundred years.
Read Less
