Tocumwal (Presidents)

Situated on the north bank of the Murray River, among the flatlands of the Riverina, the two 18-hole layouts at Tocumwal Golf & Bowls Club are largely laid out on land that was purchased from the Royal Australian Air Force in the 1950s.

During World War II, an enormous 60 square kilometre area – including the site of both courses today – was used by the US Army Air Corps as a top secret aerodrome base for Liberator B-24 bombers, along with 600 buildings, seven hangars and four runways.

The original nine holes were converted to grass greens in 1970. Another nine was added four years later to complete what is now known as the Presidents course. A second 18-hole layout called the Captains course was then fashioned by Kevin Hartley, the 1958 Australian Amateur champion, in the early 1990s.

The Presidents also boasts a new par three 18th hole – designed by Phil Ryan at Pacific Coast Design – which was created because two synthetic bowling rinks now occupy the ground that the hole once stood on.

The club is in the fortunate position that it can offer six different 18-hole combinations because the 1st and 10th tees of both the Presidents and Captains Courses are located right next to clubhouse. Indeed, many think the best 18-hole combination at Tocumwal is actually the back nine holes of both layouts.

In the early 2020s, Ben Chambers of Centreline Golf Design produced a Master Plan for all thirty-six holes at the club.