When Henry Casey died in 1916, his islands were already leased to the trustees of a private charitable trust called Casey Island Syndicate.
The trust held the islands’ 42ha for the benefit of Benalla residents as a public recreation reserve.
The syndicate, in turn, sublet the islands to the Benalla Golf Club.
In 1913, the Benalla Golf Club, with the help of Dick Banks, a golf professional, laid out a short nine-hole golf course of 1983 metres on the islands.
The first golf was played on the course on September 27, 1913.
Mrs Barrington won a stroke competition over 18 holes that day with a corrected handicap score of 100.
However, clearing of timber and greens preparation were still under way in November of that year.
Bunkers guarded the greens, but the main obstacles were water traps formed by billabongs.
The clubhouse site was to be on a bend in the river.
By 1920, the rental paid by the club was $77.03 per annum. Annual membership was $2.
In 1925 the club purchased “Sharp’s paddock”. This was land adjacent to Casey’s islands.
The club’s course was extended to a standard-length 18-hole course.
Member’s fees rose to $4.20.
In July 1932, it was proposed that the golf club move from Casey’s islands to a site about five kilometres from town.
The club had been offered the land for $2400.
At a rowdy meeting chaired by Mal Ryan, the president, opposing views were put by Eric Brown and Harold Hanlon.
Although Brown laid out a good case, Hanlon pointed out that the land was too expensive.
Only six members voted to move.
By 1933, during the Great Depression, the club was finding it difficult to maintain its mortgage and lease payments. The lease payments had risen to $84.
By 1938, the club had struggled through.
Regular four-ball best-ball rounds were held as well as multiple grade championships.
On August 11, 1938, the club held the Casey Island Tournament to reduce the mortgage on land acquired to extend the course.
The clubhouse was now well patronised and the course so busy that balloting for rounds began.
In March 1946 Geoff Oliver raised the idea of the club relocating to the 50ha offered in 1932.
The club had purchased the land on Mansfield Rd in 1945.
The purchse price was $6000 of which $1000 had been paid. The rest was to be paid over five years.
Mr Sayers had laid out the new course and the tenant agreed to have the course ready for play next season.
This time, the idea was enthusiastically endorsed.
By 1950, the cost of the lease rental and the mortgage on Casey Island golf course had become too much for the golf club.
On May 25 the club sought a reduction in the lease rental.
After negotiations the shire council transferred the land to Benalla Borough Council, subject to the payment of $500 to pay out the mortgage over the land.
The terms of the trust were continued.
— John Barry, Coo-ee
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