Industry News
WOLLONGONG GOLF CLUB – THRIVING ON EVERY LEVEL
Tackling the demographic shift away from the
longstanding club membership model and a reduction in
participation levels in the game have unquestionably been
among the most significant challenges the Australian golf
industry has faced in recent years.
However, recent figures released by the Australian Golf
Industry Council reflect on some exciting national trends
with healthy increases in competition rounds played
around the country in almost every state over the past
financial year.
Strong growth and a surge in interest in the game at
all levels are just some of the positives that have also
been emerging from the Wollongong Golf Club in NSW
for quite some time now, with the club declaring a 10%
increase in income growth over the previous year across
all divisions of the business.
A whopping 8% rise in golfing membership on the
previous year has been a highlight and together with
increases in social play, clubhouse and restaurant
patronage and a burgeoning influx of house guests at
the Best Western City Sands apartments housed within
the clubhouse complex, are key components behind the
positive vibe emanating from one of Australia’s oldest
golf clubs.
The industry counted on a groundswell of interest from
the ‘Adam Scott effect’ but truthfully, the inspiration
derived from Scott’s achievement in becoming Australia’s
first Masters champion in 2013 is just one of the many
elements linked to the success at Wollongong.
Of equal significance has been the club’s commitment
to course improvement strategies, highlighted by the
overwhelmingly positive feedback to the four newly
designed holes that opened for play in April, and an
unflinching desire to provide an outstanding service to the
membership and their house guests.
Wollongong Golf Club General Manager, Leigh Hingston,
is excited to be at the helm of a golf club that is surging
ahead in all facets of its business.
“For us, it’s so exciting to see such a positive reaction to
the investment and dedication everyone at the club has
embarked upon to sustain and continue to improve the
overall experience for our members and guests.”
“I’m a firm believer that people want to be associated
with success and our growth in membership alone is
testament to that. We’ve not been constrained from trying
anything different or new to try to divest some wealth into
our membership base and customers.”
The staging of a highly successful 2014 Subaru State
Championships, part of the Jack Newton Junior Golf
series, at Wollongong in early July was another highlight
for the club with national and international competitors
and tournament officials praising the host venue,
according to Hingston.
8 The Golf Marketing Professionals www.golfindustrycentral.com.au