Golf Industry Central Autumn 2013 Part Deux | Page 25

BACK IN BUSINESS: Karana Downs Country Club owner Brett
Lawton with golf course superintendent Trevor Weinert.

want to look after the average
golfer, who can come here and
play some golf and enjoy the
facilities.
“We intend to run a good family
suburban golf course catering for
the locals. “Previously people tried
to make this place something
it’s not.”
Once the facility is up to scratch
Lawton plans to host corporate
days and wedding functions.”
KDCLPG spokesperson Sue Cardy
said the community group was
delighted the golf course would
reopen.
“We couldn’t have hoped for a
better outcome,” she said.
“The objection was the developer
was going to carve the land up
into what we considered to be
small lot housing. Over 50 per
cent was going to be 400sq/m
blocks.”
She said the golf course, which
backs on to the Brisbane River,
was a natural flood plain.
“During the 2011 floods, a
large proportion of the site was
completely under water.
“A large proportion of our

Work has begun on restoring Karana Downs golf course.

community is overjoyed that Brett
Lawton is back in the business.

speakers outside the clubhouse
when they had karaoke nights.

“He was well-respected when he
owned the golf course previously
and always ran it very well.”

“We didn’t complain about it
and neither did our neighbours,
but I am sure some neighbours
wouldn’t have found that terribly
entertaining.

In years past, when the golf
course was operational, a number
of residents complained about
greenkeeping staff working on the
course in the early hours of the
morning and noisy wedding and
other functions that went late into
the night.
“We back onto the golf course and
have lived close to the clubhouse
for 22 years and we have never
really had a problem with noise or
anything else,” Cardy said.
“If you purchase a home on the
golf course then you are going to
have to put up with mowers and
everything else. It hasn’t worried
us or our neighbours.

“Brett is conscious of keeping
things indoors. He is an astute
businessman and will make a
good go of the golf course and the
community is right behind him.”
Cardy said the golf course was
starting to take shape.
“It’s looking fantastic compared
to six weeks ago when there was
three-foot grass everywhere and
was an overgrown snake pit,” she
said.
“The boys that have been doing
the work have done a fantastic
job.

“There are people who believe
after they have purchased here
that they wanted quiet, but you
can’t have it both ways.

“The greens have been replanted,
the fairways are mowed and the
clubhouse which was allowed to
rundown dreadfully.

“Brett is mindful of the residents
who surround the clubhouse.

“Brett has had builders in there
and it’s coming along nicely.”

“One of the things that did get
under people’s skin was the (loud)

Golf Industry Central Autumn 2013

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