Major golf club upgrade tees off

CONSTRUCTION is well under way on a major redevelopment of one of the city’s sports clubs.

As part of its $7m project, Midlands Golf and Bowls Club is currently building a space that will include new bistros, bars, function facilities, an indoor kids area and a kitchen.

“We’re really looking at growing this place further to become a destination club in the local community,” Cameron Vallance, the club’s general manager, said.

With funding from its subdivision with Villawood of Drew’s Paddock, Midlands has been able to progress through to beginning the bulk of its upgrade.

They hope to have the majority of their construction stages completed by the Christmas and New Year period.

Meanwhile, Midlands remains open, driven by a business plan that aims to offer more to a variety of age groups.

“Something for all ages is one of our key things under our strategic plan,” Darren Bandy, club chairman, said. “Doesn’t matter what age you are, you can come here and there’s something for you to do.”

Vallance said: “We’re golf, we’re bowls, we’ve got darts playing here, we’ve got bingo, we’ve got Malaysian food, we’ve got the RSL… We’ve got all these things happening.”

He said such an approach has reduced patrons’ age profile from the 60s to the 40s.

“And the other thing is when we do have events, like music on the grass and all those things, it’s really a family day,” Bandy said.

“We have jumping pillows and different games, different activities so that there’s something here for everyone.”

Bandy said the infrastructure upgrade would serve the club into the coming decades.

Villawood’s Victorian regional manager Julian Perez said the club’s expansion and upgrade was a testament to the club and the developer working in tandem.

“Drew’s Paddock is a remarkable project, one where Midlands had the foresight to develop a section of its driving range as a true quality housing project and spearhead a very real resurrection in the club’s fortunes.

“This has allowed the club to address its debt, renovate and expand its clubhouse, attract new members and post successive fiscal surpluses.”