Wingate Sports Club - Zimbabwe Jewish Community

This page is dedicated to the development and involvement of many Jewish men and women who were members of the Wingate Park Sports Club in Harare (Salisbury).

Sport was a key part of the local culture in the country and this page highlights the Jewish Community’s many sport activities and achievements. The content will evolve over time.

Wingate Sports Club was established in the early 1950s and served the Harare (then Salisbury) Jewish Community with sports including Tennis, Lawn Bowls, Golf and Cricket. In the early 1990s the Tennis and Bowls continued to operate until the early 2000s and then only the Golf Club remained active and remains so until today in 2026.

History

Established in 1950s, the Wingate Park Golf Club in Harare (formerly Salisbury) is one of Zimbabwe’s oldest golf clubs. It was founded by the local Jewish community as a space for Jewish who, at the time, were not admitted to the Royal Harare Golf Club.

Key Historical Details

Namesake: The club is named after Major-General Orde Wingate, a British officer and hero to the Jewish community for his leadership of the “Special Night Squads” in Palestine and the “Chindits” in Burma during WWII.
Original Purpose: Beyond its sporting role, it served as a social sanctuary. Founding members like Ronnie Cowan, Sam Jones, Stanley Jones, Jos Schwartz, Harry Robinson, S Cowan, Leslie Bloom, Werner Kaim and many others established the club with sections such as lawn bowling because Jews were barred from other local clubs at the time.
Facilities: The club currently features an 18-hole, par 72 championship course measuring approximately 6,460 yards. It is known for its mature trees and the “Loyal & Ancient” bar in the clubhouse.
Community Events: The club has a long tradition of hosting regional tournaments, such as the annual Julius Robinson Trophy, and fundraising events for local charities like Nazareth House.