Steelworks Golf Club Course Record Trophy

This Steelworks Golf Club Trophy was presented to Harry Sinclair in 1936 for setting a course record. Steelworks Golf Club was built in the 1930s by BHP for its staff who lived in Shortland, a suburb of Newcastle. Today, the course is situated directly behind the University of Newcastle and is known as Shortland Waters Golf Club.

Harry Sinclair was an outstanding amateur champion between the wars before turning professional in 1926. A working class lad from Redfern, by 1925 Sinclair had a swag of Australian, Queensland, NSW and Foursomes Amateur championships and a Queensland Open under his belt. 'Golf in Australia' rated Sinclair ahead of Ivo Whitton as Australia’s leading amateur.

Sinclair represented Australia in the 1926 British Open and toured Britain with Fred Popplewell, Carnegie Clark and Tom Howard. In 1931, he added the 1931 Queensland Open to his list of victories. During his career, he was the professional at various courses including Newcastle, Grafton and Maryborough golf clubs.

Sinclair never fully regained his health after being a prisoner-of-war in World War Two. He played few events but established a long lasting association with Randwick Golf Club.