Club tees up plan for 19th hole to ensure non-stop play

BARWON Heads Golf Club wants to create a 19th hole, or “spare” Par 3 hole, within its course footprint.
The Club has applied to the City of Greater Geelong for permission to develop the additional hole to provide flexibility whenever maintenance works intrude on or close to a particular fairway or hole.
The application states that the addition of a new golf hole (19th), which is estimated to cost $40,000, involves “vegetation removal to build a new tee, green and surrounds complex”.
Barwon Heads Golf Club general manager Anthony Masters said the Club took its environmental stewardship of the land very seriously and was committed to supporting biodiversity values and outcomes.
“Creating a 19th hole will inevitably involve a small loss of native vegetation near the current 10th fairway, but this will be kept to an absolute minimum and be balanced by the addition of other native plantings and offset areas,” Mr Masters said.
“All works associated with the proposed 19th hole would be done sensitively and in consultation with relevant authorities.”
Mr Masters said Barwon Heads was currently rated the #1 public access golf course on mainland Australia (Golf Australia magazine January 2019) and the clubhouse was seen as “hands down the best in Australia,” (Golf Digest magazine August 2019).
“This reputation makes the course a significant destination drawcard in the region, attracting many stay-and-play visitors and green fee players from interstate and around the world. “These visitors benefit the local economy significantly.
“Having a 19th hole means that members and visitors can always play a full 18 holes at Barwon Heads, even when there are maintenance works underway.
“It means that visitors, in particular, who have been drawn to the Bellarine Peninsula to play golf will never be disappointed and will return again and again.”
Public comment closes on August 23 – visit geelongaustralia.com.au/advertisedplanning to have your say.