History and Milestone

1870, December

The Rajah's Arms was established as the first ever hotel in Kuching at the site of the present Kuching Touris Information Centre.

1875

The Rajah's Arms was put up for sale for $3,000. The Second Rajah of Sarawak, Rajah Charles Brooke, purchased the build to use as The Sarawak Club

1876, 1st January

The Sarawak Club was lent to the public for use as a clubhouse-cum-hotel. The Rajah directed that all Government officers of the Rajah be accepted as members. The first committee members consisted of W.G. Brodie, W.M. Crocker, James Ines and Dr. E.P. Houghton. The honorary secretary was C.S. Pearse.

1893

The club was renovated and the bowling alley was added to the Club.

1896

The European ladies of the time formed a ladies club at the corner of Khoo Huu Yeang Street and Barrack Road. This club eventually became known as the Ranee's Club.

1906, 5th August

The Kuching Social Club was established to cater for the needs of Europeans who were not the Rajah's officers

1911, 22nd June

The Sarawak Club, relocated at a house called 'KMARK', at what was previously known as Rock Road and now known as Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg. It was formally opened by Rajah Charles Brooke.

1920

The Ranee's Club, the women-only Club of Kuching, was dissolved. The Kuching Social Club was also believed to have dissolved at this time. Women started to be accepted as members at The Sarawak Club.

1920s

The Club's new golf course was established across the road from the site of the present clubhouse.

1927

The Sarawak Club was relocated to its present site, on what was then known as Golf Links Road. Its relocation is said to also be the confirmation of the acceptance of the members of the Ranee Club and the Kuching Social Club into The Sarawak Club.

1927, 29th August

The Sarawak Club was officially opened at its present site, here at Jalan Taman Budaya by the Tuan Muda, Captain Bertram Willes Dayrell Brooke. A library was proposed by the Tuan Muda to be added to the Club.

1941-1945, World War II

During the Japanese Occupation, Senior Japanese Officers used the club. it featured a restaurant, billiards, and archery range and a rice storage area.

1948

First Hole-in-One recorded by C.W. Dawson in Hole 4.

1950s

Mr. (later Tan Sri Datuk) Ong Kee Hui became the first local to be admitted as member to The Sarawak Club.

1950s

Children first allowed at the Club but only till 7.00pm.

1959

The first Kuching and Sarawak Club swimming pool was opened. It was officiated by one Mrs Person.

1968

The first local presiden. Dr. Yim Khai Sun took office.

1972, March

Sarawak Club received the visit of Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth.

1980

Sarawak Club Golf Course's 60 year land leased expired and the State allowed a temporary/annual occupation and use of the land for golfing until further notice.

1983

The State Government commenced development of the Sarawak Club and Country Club (now known as Kelab Golf Sarawak) and offered it to The Sarawak Club to take over. Members at an Extra-ordinary Meeting declined the offer by a narrow margin. Hence the decision was made to remain at the present site without golfing.

1985

The bowling alley was demolished and gave way to the gymnasium.

1986
  • The Sarawak Club's golf course temporary/annual lease was not renewed and the site was finally returned to the State Government to be used for the establishment of a Civic Centre and Amphitheatre for Kuching.
 
  • The Sarawak Club received the visit of the Then Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di Pertuan Agong Sulan Iskandar Shah after laying the foundation stone at the new Civic Centre site.
1988-1991

The Sarawak Club underwent extensive re-development done in 3 phases over 2 years and totaling RM3.5 million. Works included a new 50-meter swimming pool, the back section of the present clubhouse holding 4 new squash courts, a new snooker room, new library, office, and other facilities. The new clubhouse was officially opened by the Chief Minister of Sarawak, YAB Datuk Abdul Taib Mahmud on 1 December 1991.

1990

The tennis and squash facilities of The Sarawak Club were used to host the 1990 SUKMA (Sukan Malaysia) Games.

1999
  • A new wing was added to the Hornbill Restaurant. The kitchen was extended and extension was done for the back-wing to the clubhouse-a new Audio Visual lounge and the Brooke Chambers (a room for meetings and seminars) were added there. This was done at a cost of RM3.5 million.

 

  • Basketball was introduced to The Sarawak Club with the conversion of Tennis Court No.5. Subsequently, futsal was played on the basketball court on selected days.
2000, 1st January

Membership of The Sarawak Club became transferable for the first time.

2001

The Sarawak Club celebrated its 125th anniversary.

2005, 20th December

The Sarawak Club multi-storey car park was completed to hold another 80 parking bays.

2005, 16th August

Construction of the golf course commenced at the UNIMAS site.

2006, 27th July

The Sarawak Club was razed to the ground by a fire lasting some 3 hours starting at approximately 3am.

2006, 21st September

The restoration and reconstruction efforts of city clubhouse began.

2007, 15th March

The foundation stone was laid by then President of The Sarawak Club, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Abdul Aziz Dato' Haji Husain for the clubhouse of the golf at Samarahan course and construction began.

2007, 26th April

Restoration and reconstruction of the city clubhouse achieved practical completion.

2007, 28th July

The reconstructed clubhouse was offically declared open by YAB Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, one year and a day after the fire of 27 July 2006.

SARAWAK CLUB GOLF: SINCE 1920

But perhaps the major sport being reclaimed by Sarawak Club members now is golf, with the soon-to-be completed construction of the golf course. Golf has been in existence in Kuching since the early 1890s.

Extracted from “Kuching 1868-1890: Charles Brooke (1)”

By Elizabeth Pollard

In the early 1890s, golf suddenly came into vogue and addicts could be seen hitting balls up and down the government grazing grounds. Nothing seemed to dampen their enthusiasm, and at last a course was laid out at government expense in 1899. 

Tidbits on the Club’s Golfing History

  • The first recorded Hole-in-One on this course was by C. W. Dawson in Hole 4 in 1948.
  • The last was achieved by teenager Elyna Effendi in Hole 5 on December 31, 1986 The last Golf Captain prior to the closure of the Sarawak Club Golf Course was Peter Lee Kok Chiang 1985-7.

What follows is a layout and photos of the old golf house course. The photos were donated by generous members and staff are perhaps the only pictorial records or the historical golf-course.

100 years, members began to dwindle away – some dead, other moved elsewhere, so much so, that the badger bar is but now a shadow of its old glory. The Badger Bar then was not only popular amongst the Club members but also the drinking hole and the center of hilarious argument & jokes and social gatherings. The former atmosphere of the combination of the Golf Course and Badger Bar was irreplaceable.

Hopefully under the present new management of the Sarawak Golf Club, there is a concerted attempt to re-popularize the Badger bar and the Club as a whole. Their laudable effort is bearing fruit and more members are now patronizing the Badger Bar. But sadly the past hilarious camaraderie is still missing.