Club ready for revamp

BIG things are getting underway at Midlands Golf Club.

Following the group’s annual general meeting on Tuesday last week which saw 135 members in attendance, board members gave the go-ahead to spend up to $6.5 million for the next stages of their clubroom overhaul.

Encompassing stages 1c and 2 of their venue redevelopment masterplan in place for about eight years, the self-funded project will see the clubrooms expanded over the next few years.

General manager Cameron Vallance said the development is about allowing the 105-year-old club to take in new members.

“It’ll give us a home for new bowlers and a bigger capacity for our membership,” he said.

“Our business has grown a lot over the last five years and we’ve been having to turn away business because we don’t currently have the capacity to host these events and member events.

“1c is a big extension to our veranda extension to our new function room and sports bar. It’ll also tidy up the onlook onto the 13th fairway out here.

“Stage 2 will be a new facility up the back and a new entryway up the clubhouse, and a number of new facilities.”

Development on stage two works are expected to take 12 to 14 months while 1c is expected to take four to five months.

Stages 1a and 1b of the overhaul have recently been completed after beginning in February, and have included changing the 1970s-era changerooms into an administrative and reception area, bar and function room, amenities space, and shop.

Mr Vallance said it’s important to make the venue more accommodating with new residents coming in across from the greens.

“We see an opportunity with the growth development across the highway with the 5000 new homes,” he said.

“We believe if we have a really nice offering of hospitality at Midlands, we can tap into that new market that’s going to be hitting our doorstep in five years’ time.

The club is made up of more than 1000 golfers, 120 bowlers, and nearly 3000 social members.

“Our membership has grown a lot over the past five years,” Mr Vallance said.

“We want to be a destination club and we see by improving our asset here, we can be attractive to a number of new markets.”