The Cranbourne Country Club and Cranbourne Golf Club

An Inspiring Story

The Cranbourne Country Club (CCC) was formed in 1951 with the purpose of forming a golf club free from discrimination. At that time a number of Melbourne golf clubs did not accept Jewish golfers as members.

A group of businessmen, led by Sydney Kaufman (see portrait), signed up two hundred and forty-nine people from within the Melbourne Jewish community to become the Club Founders. Fifty thousand pounds was raised and 212 acres of land was purchased at Cranbourne.

In 1953, responsibility for building the course and conducting a golf club was passed from the CCC to the newly created Cranbourne Golf Club (CGC). At its outset, and right throughout its history, CGC placed no restriction on its membership selection, other than good golfing character. By fostering goodwill and understanding amongst its members and the organisations it touched, The Cranbourne Golf Club holds an extremely proud place in the Australian golfing community.

The Cranbourne Country Club was the owner of the land on which the Cranbourne golf course was built. The land was sold in 2024, and all the proceeds from the sale have been invested to support and nurture the Victorian Jewish Community for generations to come.

The Cranbourne Golf Club was renowned for its welcoming, non-discriminatory membership policy as well as its outstanding course. The course closed in February 2026 however its purpose and legacy will be enduring.

Early Clubhouse

Legacy With Purpose

This website has a twofold purpose. It paints a social history of a society that was fractured, and a human history of triumph and endeavour to overcome this negativity.

Jews, despite being good enough to fight for Australia in the WW2 trenches alongside their gentile ‘brothers’; on their return home Jewish golfers were not good enough to join their golf clubs.

This website will trace the events, the people and the challenges facing the Cranbourne Country Club at its outset, right through to winding up of the Golf Club and beyond.

The website will also trace the overwhelming triumph that was the Cranbourne Golf Club, in both its history of achievement as a golfing venue, and its message that persecution and unwarranted mistrust are not acceptable in our society.

Course Architect

Cranbourne Country Club
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