Course Updates
Lane Cove Country Club Golf Club
site to be redeveloped
A FIVE-storey multipurpose sports
centre has been planned at the Lane
Cove Country Club, including the site
of its clubhouse and tennis courts.
But directors of the golf club claim
several actions associated with Lane
Cove Council’s development of the
site will ensure the “death of the golf
club”.
The club is unhappy with the
council refusing a long-term lease,
uncertainty over future fees, interim
accommodation during construction
and the club’s location within the
proposed development.
“Our club and board have been in
favour of helping the community and
getting new facilities but the council
has not been mitigating several risks
to our survival,” said club director
Ian Butters.
“The way it has been handled
seriously threatens the existence of
our golf club that our members built.
“Why should it unnecessarily kill off
our golf club?”
A council spokeswoman said the
council has provided long-term
security, including a short-term lease
of five years for the existing facility
until it is replaced and a 20-year
option for access to the new facility.
She said fees for the new facility
have not been confirmed because
the existing fee structure is not
financially sustainable and a new one
is needed.
Bankstown Council Keen to Tee up
Georges River Golf Club Decision
BANKSTOWN Council is hoping
to open dialogue with the State
Government regarding the fate of
Georges River Golf Club.
Under a proposal by Bankstown
Airport Out Tourism In (BAOTI), the
State Government would transfer
Georges River Golf Club lease to the
council.
BAOTI convenor Jon Hillman said he
hoped the council would agree to the
idea.
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The club’s owners last year
approached Bankstown Airport
Limited (BAL) to discuss transferring
the lease to the airport. The NSW
Department of Planning rejected
the proposal pending release and
approval of BAL’s master plan in
2014.
Bankstown Councillor Allan
Winterbottom said he had spoken to
other councillors about the proposal
and they were hoping to take part
in the dialogue that had been
running between BAL and the NSW
Government.
BAL has refused to comment on the
issue.
A council spokesman said the council
acknowledged the contribution of the
airport to the city’s economy.
“Council’s long-standing position
has been to ensure its growth is
consistent with the objectives of the
city and does not compromise the
amenity of its residents,” he said.
Golf Clubs Move as Land
Sought for Housing
Two Auckland golf clubs are moving
out of the suburbs and others
are considering their options as
developers seek land for housing.
Nearly 1000 homes and a private
school are set to be built on golf
course land in deals providing
lifelines to clubs facing financial
pressure.
Auckland needs land for future
housing, and flat golf courses in the
suburbs are being keenly sought by
developers.
Manukau Golf Club will move from
suburban Takanini to rural Alfriston
in several years, while North Shore’s
Peninsula Club will relocate to rural
Wainui.
New Zealand Golf says the deals
enable the clubs to clear debts and
build more modern facilities to help
alter a trend of ageing or declining
memberships.
Two other long-established clubs,
Maungakiekie and The Grange, say
they are considering options which
they won’t yet disclose.
The Golf Marketing Professionals www.golfindustrycentral.com.au
Clubhouse has Potential to
‘reinvent’ Mudgee Golf Club
Mudgee Golf Club is stepping into
a new era, with a new general
manager excited about the
possibilities opening for the club
with the imminent completion of its
new club building. Ray Duncan has
been at the golf club for two weeks,
having moved to Mudgee following
three years as general manager of
Shortland Waters Golf Club. “The
location is superb and the potential
of the club now that they’ve built the
building that they’ve built is a great
opportunity,” he said.
Following the destruction of the
former club house days before
Christmas 2010, the club began
work on an impressive new facility
scheduled for completion. The
new club house will hold up to 250
patrons, and can be divided to host
several smaller functions or opened
to its full size for a major event. As
w [\