From the 1890s through to 1927, Club members had much to thank founding member, RC Kirk, for. He was a former Mayor of Petone, long-time captain, handicapper, selector and (more than once) club champion, and wax chairman of the NZ Golf Council through a critical phase of the game’s development in NZ. He was also a prime mover in the club’s relocation to Military Road, the course development and its beautification.
Tensions developed 1901 when ladies signaled their intention to employ their own greens staff. This was resolved when men agreed to consult with the ladies on the state of the greens.
By 1902, 15 holes were playable though the conditions were frequently described as ‘soppy’ and the greens ‘inferior’. Membership stood at 82.
In 1903, demarcation disputes between the men’s and ladies clubs were de-escalated with the agreement to merge the two clubs . This happened on September 19 1903. It was agreed that the ladies clubhouse be moved so as to be adjacent to the men’s clubrooms, with a tearoom built to link the two
David Howden also played a pivotal role in formation of Wellington Golf Club (he was a member of both) and in its relocation in 1906 from Miramar to Heretaunga.
In late 1908, the Hutt club purchased 108 acres of largely gorse covered river flat adjacent to the river for 3000 pounds, which became and principally was the Hutt Club’s permanent location.
By 1909, sufficient land had been cleared and improvements made for 9 holes to be playable at the new location, with a further 9 mapped out. These became fully playable a further decade later, after WWI
By May 29 1909 the clubhouse had been built in time for formal opening of new links.
In 1910, holes 10 to 13 were gradually brought into play, with 13 playable by 1911. As an indication of the Club’s struggle with the limitations of its original location and the work still ahead of it at its new location, the recognition of the Club as ‘the metropolitan club’ was lost to the Wellington Golf Club.
In 1913, TM Wilford, the MP for the Hutt, the leader of the Liberal Party and the former High Commissioner in London assumed the captaincy. He presented a silver trophy, the Wilford Cup, which remains as one of the Club’s premier trophies.
1914 – 18: WWI interregnum
1920s was post war and they were years of struggle. Finances were very tight with the desire for improvements requiring heavy borrowing which was a cause of tension within the club and there was “serious embarrassment” at the size of its overdraft. Sheep were still extensively used to manage grass growth on course, replaced by a tractor and mower late in the decade. The sheep had proved to be a “tenacious adversary for the Hutt golfer”
1922 and 1923 saw the club’s professional, Arthur Brooks winning the NZ Open.
1926 saw extensive gum and pine plantings (4000 trees) on perimeter of course and as wind breaks
In 1929 the Club operating deficit was £200, but the BNZ agreed an overdraft of £7000, with a second mortgage taken over the club’s property, to fund clubhouse improvements, water to tees and greens and the lengthening of the course to a par 76.