There have been 3 golf clubs in Shannon, and for a short period they were operating simultaneously. The Shannon Golf Club formed in 1919, played on Harry Barber's property in Otauru Road, then for a year on Gordon Mitchell's farm in East Road, later moving to the Buckley Road properties of H and C Easton, with part of the course on the north side of the road and part on the south.  In 1925 - 1926, the club moved further along Buckley Road to the Stern Bros. Farm.  In 1935 there was a split in the club, and some of members, remaining the Shannon Golf Club identity, moved to George Wilkinson's property on Margaret Street, while the others formed a new club, Buckley Golf Club, and remained on the Stern property.  The Shannon Golf Club folded in 1937-38, and some of the members joined the Buckley Club, which went into recess because of the war from 1942-45. During the war many golfers played at the Mangaore Golf Club which had been formed by power station employees, their course being on the Kilmister farm in East Road. Buckley re-opened in 1946, most of the old players returning along with an influx of new members among the ex-servicemen. The club remained on the Stern property until it was sold in 1961, then moved to Mac Higgie's farm on East Road. The clubhouse was cut into sections, and moved to the temporary course. The bank balance at the time was 13 shillings and 7 pence, and after 3 years had increased to about $2,000. In 1968,58 acres of land in Pretoria Road was purchased from E.H. Crombie, the money being raised by a mortgage and debentures; an additional one acre was purchased as a-site for the clubhouse, which was again shifted in sections. A large amount of work was required to convert the ex­ dairy farm to a 9 hole golf course, and working bees were held year round. Membership increased to around 100 and the future looked very promising. The committee felt that eventually a further 9 holes would be required, and 45 acres of land were therefore purchased in Engles Road, which backed on to the Pretoria Road property. This land, which the club did not intend to develop until membership warranted it, cost $18,750, financed by a $12,000 mortgage and funds on hand. By 1976, a new clubhouse was planned for the Engles Road property. A double row of pine trees running down the centre of it were offered to the fire brigade to sell for firewood, provided the trunks were retained for the golf club to have milled for the new building. The new clubhouse was built by RP. Moynihan Limited, other sub­contractors and voluntary working parties on Saturdays, and was opened in 1978 by ex-member and well-known golfer, Doug Leng-Ward. The ladies' committee assisted with the interior decorating, providing most of the furniture, and of course the endless cups of tea and scones for the working bees.

It was decided to grow potatoes, which were showing good returns, on the unused land. The Bank of New Zealand approved a loan of $25,000 for the venture on condition that all profits from the potatoes were used to payoff the loan. The club entered the market on a down turn and after 3 years was in a very serious financial state. Bridging finance was obtained until 10 acres then a further 20 acres of land could be sold. Land prices had risen, so that the proceeds from the sale of 30 acres enabled all mortgages and debentures to be repaid, leaving the land and clubhouse debt free. The remaining 15 acres has now been developed, and the 18th hole is in front of the clubhouse as originally planned. The Buckley Golf Club celebrated its 50th Jubilee in October 1986. In the speeches, tribute was paid to the Stern family, who not only provided the course, and the four legged green keepers, but also contributed fully to the life of the club, several members of the family becoming excellent golfers. John Stern and Doug Leng-Ward started their Golf as teenagers at the Buckley Golf Club and progressed to represent Manawatu-Wanganui in the Freyburg Rose bowl competitions, John Stern captaining the winning team in 1964. Regular tournaments are held at Buckley, which are very poplar and draw players from far afield.


History