Reciprocal Club’s Centenary Event
In May 1923, a vision was born when Melbourne businessman Arthur W. Relph, then Captain of Riversdale Golf Club, stood gazing across the undulating landscape near Portsea pier and saw not just ti-tree and scrubland, but possibility.
What began as one person’s vision slowly became a shared passion. Through determination, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in what could be, a group of people transformed dense bushland from the wild Mornington Peninsula landscape, while battling plagues of rabbits and noxious weeds, into a nine-hole course that became Portsea Golf Club on January 1, 1926.
A century later, that pioneering spirit still runs through every blade of grass at Portsea. From those humble nine holes painstakingly designed by Scottish-born professional Jock Young and subsequently improved by golf course architects Alex Russell in the 1930s, Sloan Morpeth in the 1960s, and, more recently, Mike Clayton, our club has grown into an Australian Top 50 golf course with nearly 1,300 members—each one part of a living legacy built by the dedication of our founders.
As we celebrate our centenary year, we look forward to welcoming you and members from each of our reciprocal clubs to Portsea on Sunday, 22nd March 2026, for what we trust will be a celebration of golf and the creation of lasting friendships.
Event Program
Sunday, March 22nd – 5:30 PM onwards: A welcome cocktail party to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones before the golf begins.
Monday, March 23rd – 7:30 AM onwards: Three nine-hole rounds of pairs matchplay with breaks between each round – time to grab food and drink in the clubhouse and continue the conversations that start out on the course.
The day concludes with a celebration dinner at approximately 7:00 PM.
Tuesday, March 24th – 8:30 AM onwards: Two nine-hole rounds followed by a closing presentation around 4:00 PM.
All five rounds will feature pairs matchplay, with forty-eight pairs competing in eight groups organised by combined handicap. Portsea members and our reciprocal clubs will be paired in both mixed-gender and single-gender groups.
Breakfast will be served in the clubhouse on both Monday and Tuesday mornings.
Practical Details
Accommodation: Thank you to those who’ve booked our 24 on-site rooms – they’re now full. Our hotel manager will be in touch over the next couple of weeks with arrival details.
Carts and Buggies: With 45 holes over two days on our undulating course, a limited number of carts will be available, and pull buggies will also be available. You’re equally welcome to walk and carry or use a pull cart if you prefer – most of our members will be walking as they usually do. If you’re driving to Portsea and want to bring your own electric buggy, please pre-charge it, as, for insurance reasons, we have limited charging facilities within the clubhouse.
Practice Facilities: Our current facilities include a putting green, a short-game area, and practice nets for iron play.
Weather: The Mornington Peninsula in late March is beautiful, with typically fantastic golf weather: warm, pleasant days averaging 23-25°C and cool evenings around 13°C. It’s usually one of the more settled months with low rainfall. That said, wind is generally a key element at Portsea, so be prepared!
Dress Code
● On the course: Collared shirts, tailored shorts or pants, short socks are fine, no denim, no large logos
● Evening events: Smart casual, jackets optional. Smart denim is fine in the clubhouse
Our Centenary Year
We kicked off 2026 on January 1st with a flag-raising ceremony attended by 200 members, followed by our Celebrity Pro-Am on January 4th. Our members’ cocktail party is scheduled for a couple of weeks from now.
This reciprocal event in March sits at the heart of our centenary celebrations – bringing together the clubs and friendships that have been part of our story.
We’re looking forward to seeing you. Please contact us if you have any questions.