About Us
About Us
History of the MP Vets Association
Veterans golf began in Victoria in 1981 when the Victorian Veteran Golfers Association was formed by Messrs Keith McK. Jamison (Kingston Heath Golf Club) and Glen A. Cooper (Kingswood Golf Club). The competition to accommodate Veteran Golfers residing or playing on courses located on the Mornington Peninsula was established in the mid 1980’s.
This new competition format – for players over 55 years of age – was introduced to the Peninsula by the then Manager/Secretary of the Mornington Golf Club, Mr. Eric Northey, who became the inaugural President of the Southern Peninsula Veteran Golfers Association. This name was retained until 2003 when it was changed to the M.P.V.G.A. The late Mr. Len Barrow of Flinders Golf Club was the first Secretary/Manager and his work is still honoured today by the M.P.V.G.A., which presents an annual perpetual trophy in his name to the most consistently excellent player over the years’ events.
In the mid – 1990’s, the then Mornington delegate Mr. Stan Robertson passed away after a great contribution to the district association and Mr. Stan Aldridge took over this position. Mr. Aldridge not only joined the S.P.V.G.A. Executive and then the Victorian State Board, he went on to become district Vice President and the President from 1996 to 2002. Then in 2003 with sweeping alterations to the management, a change of name and incorporation at that time, Mr. John Morgan was elected President, a position he held until 2008. Through his drive, the Association has gone from strength to strength and now boasts a growing membership of over 330 veteran golfers. These members are drawn from 13 of the 14 Golf Clubs and courses located on the Mornington Peninsula, from Mornington to Portsea and including the internationally acclaimed Moonah Links and The National.
Members compete in at least 20 events each year with fields averaging 75 players although quite often the number of members wishing to play outweighs the course capacity and ballots are necessary. A glance through the course details listed under “Local Courses” reveals an excellent variety of top quality Mornington Peninsula golf courses – all within less than an hour’s travel – and most little more from Melbourne. There is no doubt that interest in Veterans Golf on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is growing. We hope our web site is of interest to you.