The Association of Ukrainians in Victoria Golf Club (AUVGC) was officially formed on the 26th February 1988.

The club was formed as a result of a very successful 'Ukrainian Golf Day' at the Gisborne Golf Club, on the 30th January 1988, where some 30 Ukrainians with a 'wide range' of golfing abilities took part in a Calloway event.

On the 26th February 1988, at the Ukrainian hall in Essendon, a general meeting of all interested golfers was held. This inaugural meeting officially sanctioned the formation of the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria Golf Club (AUVGC). Mr. Wally Orfini was elected as the inaugural President. The supporting committee elected on the day was:

 Photo of the Original Committee 1

The newly elected committee of the AUVGC aimed at establishing a club whose aims where the promotion of friendship and fellowship amongst club members, their families, and within the Ukrainian community, as well as encouraging all interested to participate in the clubs golfing activities.

Within the first year the enthusiastic committee professionally approached the formidable task of establishing a new sports club within the Ukrainian society, and in a short space of time had achieved for its members the following:

• A pre-booked program of monthly games at a variety of quality golf courses for the remainder of 1988 and the 1989 year,
• A computerised handicapping system,
• Produced a draft Constitution,
• Introduced and maintained a monthly Newsletter which was sent to all members, prospective members and other Ukrainian Golf Clubs.
• Increased the club membership from the original 26 to 35 male and female members in junior, full member, and senior age groups competing in 'A' and 'B' grade divisions (based upon handicaps),
• Made contacts with the Ukrainian Golf Club in Sydney,
• Created a club logo,
• Issued golf bag labels to all members,
• Saw the need for a club uniform.

 During the first ten years the club organised over 120 club events on public and private golf courses all over Melbourne, Geelong, Victoria, along the Murray, in Southern New South Wales, the ACT and in Hawaii.

 The relevant committees have also been supportive to other golfing needs and have helped with the formation of the Geelong Golf Club and the Ukrainian Golf Association of America. Support was also provided for the forming of Golf Clubs in Adelaide and Perth. The relationship with the Sydney Golf Club has steadily grown and the annual Sydney vs Melbourne clash being an well-attended affair with both golfers and golfing widows.

 The AUVGC club membership grew from the 'original' 26 up to a maximum of 105 in 1992. In the last couple of years the membership has now settled to a manageable level of 70 dedicated golfers. The rapid growth of members wanting to play, itself caused its own share of difficulties, from the simple task of booking sufficient places at public golf courses, (where members were actually queuing to book in for a chance to play in a future event, with even having to book two courses on the same day) through to the actual time delays in waiting for everyone to finish their game and presentations being made (worst case was 6½ hours).

 The members of the club have all recognised the amount of work that the various committees have had to perform in not only keeping the monthly games going, but also in the management and coordination of committee meetings, inter-club events an the publication of the monthly newsletter. It is very pleasing to be able to say that everyone in the club has helped when requested.

 However their are also additional bodies, groups of people, organisations and even individuals who have been additionally supportive and/or who have sponsored the club at various times. These people deserve a very big thank you, as it is with their generosity (in both time and/or money) that the committee has been able to go that additional step in providing bigger, better items for the club members.

 A special Recognition is made to the following Sponsors:
 

	Association of Ukrainians in Victoria for the donation of perpetual trophies for A and B grade club champions, in 1988.
	Fielden Management Services (Michael Zylan) for the donation of funds for the first monthly game trophies and the computer facilities for the writing, printing, duplication and mailing of the club newsletter during the period 1988 to 1993.
	George Makahon for the endless requirements of engraving of: monthly trophies, annual trophies, special competition trophies, special award trophies, thank you trophies and every other conceivable trophy the committee could think off. In addition for the donation of an un-estimatable quantity of engraved pens.
	Crest Insurance (Slawko Butrenko) & Daveyduke Industries (Victor Rudewych) both of which donated $500 each as sponsors for the original club shirts in 1989.
	Dnister for the donation of the perpetual Matchplay trophy in 1990.
	Michael & Chris Gembarovsky for the donation of a perpetual trophy awarded to the most improved player since 1990.
	Mimivic (Victor & Mimi Rudevych) for the donation of cash prizes of $100 for the 'Best Junior' and $100 for the 'Most Improved Junior' from 1990 thru and including 1998. (A trophy which every junior truly aspires for.)
	Tanly Planning (Wes Furyk) for the numerous hours required as the Newsletter editor from 1990 thru 1998 and for the provision of his computer services, photocopying, photography and printing requirements for the publication of the Monthly Newsletter.
	Plus the numerous members who donated the many reams of paper required for the printing of the 100 copies of the 13 issues per year, for 10 years, at an average of 5 sheets per issue (100 x 13 x 10 x 5 = 65,000 sheets of double sided photocopy paper). As well as the members who have had to collate, fold, wrap and then mail each individual copy to each member.