Mary Merlin

Mary Merlin

Mary Merlin did not play golf but she was instrumental to the development of the Robinvale Golf Club. On 30th July 1958 Ron Merlin, Arthur Woodhead and Arthur Spiller bought 124 acres of Crown Land for one thousand five hundred pounds. And so, Mary’s 67-year association with the golf club began.

In Mary’s words, the course had a “rough 18-hole layout and had sandscapes and not greens”. Then in 1965, the irrigation system for the fairways and trees was installed, and Mary began the task of planting the trees.

As everyone knows Mary was a true gardener. The original trees were purchased at the native nursery in Merbein. Mary took them home and “grew them on” and then together with Ron, planted them on the golf course. Mary didn’t want rows of trees all the same, so she planted a great variety of trees that she knew would grow in Robinvale. She described the course as a botanic garden where people of Robinvale could see which trees suited the area and would know which trees to plant in their own gardens. Last year, when asked about her contribution to the Robinvale Golf Club, Mary said, “I’d say the trees are mine”. Fair call, Mary.

Mary visited the club regularly and every Friday dined in the bistro, usually dinner but more recently lunch, with her group of friends. Her standard order was fish and chips. But in the last few weeks, Mary changed to a special order of half a parmigiana with a half serve of chips and salad. She was well known and much loved by all the staff.

Farewell Mary. You will be greatly missed.