Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting’s attempt to secure a membership at the prestigious Royal Melbourne Golf Club was ultimately unsuccessful, despite his sporting prowess and temporary membership status. The rejection, which occurred after a lengthy application process, has shed light on the exclusive nature of some of Melbourne’s elite golf clubs and the internal dynamics that can influence membership decisions.

Key Takeaways

• Ricky Ponting’s bid for full membership at Royal Melbourne Golf Club was rejected.
• A group of 27 members indicated they would vote against his application.
• The rejection followed an incident where Ponting played with Shane Warne and Sam Newman.
• Sam Newman has been critical of the club’s perceived elitism.
• Ponting eventually joined Metropolitan Golf Club.

The Initial Approach

Ponting had initially been granted temporary membership at Royal Melbourne, reportedly to offer leadership guidance to the club’s pennant team. This temporary status allowed him to play the course and engage with the club’s environment. However, the path to full, permanent membership proved to be a significant hurdle.

The Infamous Thursday Game

A pivotal moment in Ponting’s membership journey appears to have been a round of golf in March 2013, where he was joined by fellow golfing enthusiasts Shane Warne, former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, and AFL personality Sam Newman. Sources connected to the club describe the Thursday golfing groups as "the wets" (who enjoy drinks before playing) and "the dries" (who abstain until after their round). The celebrity foursome reportedly returned to the clubhouse after their game, and their post-round demeanour was not well-received by the existing members present.

Sam Newman’s Perspective

Sam Newman, a regular golfing partner of Ponting, has been vocal about the rejection, attributing it to the "insular, patronising, elite people" within the club who he believes fear those outside their immediate circles. Newman suggested that such clubs protect their members’ bubble and surround themselves with their own kind, implying a resistance to outsiders, regardless of their profile.

The Membership Process and Opposition

At Royal Melbourne, a successful membership application requires a significant majority of ‘yes’ votes, with a strict ratio of seven ‘yes’ votes for every ‘no’ vote. Despite a membership base of over 2000, Ponting faced substantial opposition, with 27 members indicating they would vote against his application. Reasons cited by some members included minor grievances, such as Ponting addressing a member as "mate" instead of by name on the practice range.

The Membership Committee’s Role

Lyn Swinburne, who headed the membership committee at the time, is reported by club sources to have been particularly instrumental in blocking Ponting’s application, though her specific reasons remain undisclosed as she declined to comment. Despite efforts by Ponting’s proposers to mediate, the message conveyed was that Ponting should "look for another club."

The Aftermath

After a protracted process spanning over four and a half years, Ricky Ponting withdrew his membership application for Royal Melbourne on November 17, 2017. The following day, he was granted membership at Metropolitan Golf Club, another highly regarded Melbourne course. The situation highlights the complexities and sometimes opaque nature of gaining entry into exclusive private clubs.

Sources

• How former Australia Test cricket captain Ricky Ponting missed out on membership of Royal Melbourne Golf Club
  in the famous sandbelt region, The Age.
• How former Australia Test cricket captain Ricky Ponting missed out on membership of Royal Melbourne Golf Club
  in the famous sandbelt region, SMH.com.au.