The forerunner of the Hobart Golf Club (later to be Royal Hobart) dates back to 1896.

This Club was known as the Newlands Golf Club and is recorded as being the first organised Golf Club in Hobart Town. The Hobart Golf Club was formed in 1901, the course located in the Sandy Bay area.

There were 127 foundation members of the Club made up of 67 Full members, 55 Lady members, 2 Country and 3 Junior. The degree of difficulty of the 18 holes at Sandy Bay was reflected in the scorecard. One par seven, four par sixes, six par fives and seven par fours totalling (for members) a par 80. Par for the Associates was 89 !!

To master the formidable task, James Hunter from Scotland was employed by the Club as the first Golf Professional ever to teach in Tasmania.

In 1915 the Club purchased 130 acres of land on Hobart's Eastern Shore at Rosny, and the new course, on this land, was opened in 1916.

The honour of the Royal Charter was conferred on the Club in 1925.

Because of the accelerated development of the Eastern Shore after the Second World War, it was agreed, in 1956, that the Club should move to the present site at Seven Mile Beach, and 70 hectares of land were purchased for this purpose.

The course at Seven Mile Beach is constructed on sandy soil, of gentle contour in natural bushland only 20 kilometres from the City, near the Hobart Airport and beside the magnificent Seven Mile Beach.

The course as it is today was designed by the acclaimed course architect, Mr Vern Morcom and is considered one of the finest in the Country.

In recent years the Club has been the venue for many major Championship events, including the Tasmanian Open (1968, 1976, 1980, 1986, 1991, 2003), Australian Amateur (1968, 1974, 1987, 1993, 2000 and 2006), Australian Women's Amateur (1968, 1978, 1990, 1997) and the Qantas Australian Open in 1971 won by the legendary Jack Nicklaus.

Royal Hobart can claim amongst its members some of the greatest players Australia has known. In the early part of this century, the brothers Bruce and Clyde Pearce won Australian Championships and Miss Elvie Whiteside won the Australian Ladies Championship.

In the present generation Mrs Lindy Goggin (nee Jennings) won the Australian Ladies Championship in 1971, 1977 and 1980; Victorian Amateur in 1973, 1976, 1980 and 1986; Australian team member, Esperito World Championship 1978; Tasmanian Amateur Champion 19 times from 1976 to 1991 and Club Champion at Royal Hobart 20 times.

Mr Peter Toogood was Australian Amateur Champion 1954; New Zealand Amateur Champion 1956; Australian team member in international events 1956, 1957 (Captain), 1958 and 1969; leading Amateur in the British Open Championship 1954 (sixth overall); Tasmanian Open Champion 1948, 49, 51, 55, 59, 60, 62, 66, 72, 78; Tasmanian Foursome winner 9 times; Tasmanian Amateur team member from 1948 to 1980 (except 2 years); Royal Hobart Club Champion 19 times and Club Champion at Kingston Beach (9 times); Huntingdale (twice); and Riverside (5 times).

Two other Royal Hobart members have won Australian Amateur Championships: Brett Johns in 1987 and Mathew Goggin (son of Lindy) in 1995.