Ivanhoe Club history

On 16th July 1965 came the opening of the new Club.

The Ivanhoe Amateur Football Club first fielded a Junior team in 1966 following a suggestion from Coach Lloyd Williams that it be formed in order to provide recruits to play with the seniors.

In 1967 Under 15s and Under 17s played for Ivanhoe Juniors under coaches Ian Anderson and John Miles with the Under 15s making the Grand Final.

The formation of the Ivanhoe Junior Football Club was held on 5th October 1971 and produced the following report:

April 1972 Minutes - Treasurer John Miles reported $47.51 on hand and R Lucas reported on the lack of parental support and team managers for the Under 17s.

Using a contingency fund established in 1975, Thorngate members began a search for a new site.

But after Harris' death in 1980 and followed by that decade's escalating land prices, it became apparent that Thorngate was a prime development property.

In 1983, Jemsek signed a 25-year lease agreement with the archdiocese to redevelop the course and make it available for daily fee usage.

Though open as a public course only since 1985, Pine Meadow can trace its roots further back than any of the other Mundelein layouts and can credit its existence to two disparate yet extremely influential men: the late Cardinal George Mundelein and nonpareil golf promoter and developer Joe Jemsek.

Over the years there have been a number of refurbishment schemes with new carpets, curtains and furniture and during one of these jobs in 1988 the archway was conceived which opens up the room and yet provides some segregation for TV watchers.

In April 1991, the 240 members of Thorngate became the 240 members of Ivanhoe Club.

In 2003, Ivanhoe Club began a massive $4.5 million renovation of the courses by world renowned golf architect, Arthur Hills.