Southern's golf affiliations go back to 1937, when a group of friends were playing on the Brighton Municipal Golf Links in Dendy St, Brighton. On a wintery Saturday morning in August 1937 the Brighton regulars started sounding each other out about banding together and forming their own club to try to beat the crowds and at the same time organise competitions among themselves. The group became the Brighton Golf Club, the forerunner of Southern Golf Club.
 
The Brighton Golf Club began the first full year at its new home in a healthy and hopeful position. At the start of 1949 it had money in the bank, more than 500 members, a golf course and a clubhouse called "Emily". It wasn't until 1951, that the Company name be changed to "Southern Golf Club."

In 1997 the club was ranked in the top 100 golf courses in Australia and is proud of many of its members including; the legendary Bob Shearer. Other members with notable performances include professionals, Trevor McDonald, David Iwasaki-Smith and Cameron Percy. Some great players never turned professional but are still classified as 'legends' of their time, they include Les O'Shea and Harry McGain. 

In 1998, the club celebrated its 50 year anniversary. This celebration was to commemorate the work, struggles, and triumphs that have made Southern Golf Club what it is today.