~ 1895 ~

On 30 April l895 a meeting of people interested in establishing a golf club in Wellington, led by Miss Ethel Duncan and Mr DB Howden, formed a committee to investigate leasing part of the Crawford farmland on the Miramar peninsula. The committee comprised four women and four men, the Chairman being Mr LOH Tripp.  At the next meeting The Wellington Golf Club was formed, members to consist of ladies and gentlemen; 70 of those attending applied for membership, subscription one guinea.

In 73 days the club was opened with a 15 hole course laid out and a clubhouse with two rooms completed. The target of l00 members had been achieved before the official opening on l8 July l895. The women's committee selected the club colours, black and yellow.

In 1904 the club experienced difficulties in renewing its lease and looked elsewhere for suitable golfing land. The Barton family offered to sell club 120 acres of their Silverstream farm which was agreed to by a meeting on 20 November l906. With much planning and hard work taming marshy areas of ill-drained land the course was laid out. A tennis court, croquet green and putting green were included. A tender was accepted for the building of a clubhouse and on 25 April l908 Joseph Ward, Prime Minister and President of the club, performed the opening ceremony and invited ADS Duncan to drive the first ball.

ADS Duncan dominated amateur golf for a longer period than any other player winning 3 Open and l0 amateur championships. During the Second World War, 45 years after his first national appearance, he was still playing at Heretaunga on single figures.

As well in the early years at Heretaunga WGC had five NZ women champions, Mrs Guy Williams (1904,7,13,14,21,22), Mrs AE Pearce 1903, Babs Collins l910,1912, Lucy Brandon l911 and Suzanne Collins l938.

In 1932 the club held the NZ Open Championship, won by AT Shaw, and received high praise on its course.

An earlier NZ Open was held at Heretaunga in 1912 and was won by JA Clements. In l954 the 38th Open at Heretaunga was won by 18 year-old Bob Charles, the youngest player and first left-hander to win the championship. The Open in l976 was won by Simon Owen. The 1981 Open was won by Bob Shearer and in l987 Ronan Rafferty won after a lengthy playoff with Larry Nelson. In l995, Lucas Parsons was the winner.

In 1960, after much discussion, a swimming pool was installed.

The course layout remained basically unaltered until l972 when the club, having acquired additional land, laid out a new l8-hole championship course and also a shorter 9-hole inner course. At the same time the clubhouse underwent substantial alteration and extension. The new course was opened on 24 March l974.

In l984 a combined sprig bar and tennis pavilion was built; later changes were made to the professional shop and the environs and access to the car park.

In l995 the club held its centenary year, holding the NZ Open in January and a week of centenary celebrations in November.

To commemorate the 250th year of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth consented on l0 June 2004 that the club should be known as Royal Wellington Golf Club.

In 2006 a Michael Clayton course master plan was approved by the club as the basis for future course development.