Clubhouse leader: Curlewis Golf Club hopes to open accommodation by October

CONSTRUCTION has teed off on the accommodation at the Curlewis Golf Club, with the $8 million project to open as soon as October.

Golf course owners The Sharp Group submitted their planning application for the development, which would include 60 hotel rooms, a manager’s unit, associated parking (77 spaces) and golf cart parking (10 spaces), in October 2019.

To be located to the south of the existing clubhouse and to the west of the 9th green, the hotel – which has the working title of Accommodation @ Curlewis, akin to the neighbouring The Range @ Curlewis driving range – would be spread across 17 buildings.

“Off-site construction has commenced and is well under way,” The Sharp Group director Lyndsay Sharp said.

“The site has been levelled and it’s full steam ahead with all the backbone utility installation. All things going to plan, we will be welcoming guests in October or November this year.

“COVID-19 has set the activation back by 12 months. We never lost our commitment to the project, but just had to put it on ice amid the statewide lockdown and all the uncertainties that came with it.”

She said the development’s design was finalised by the time it was submitted to the City of Greater Geelong, with the exception of a few minor tweaks to the interior design of the rooms.

As well as the Curlewis Golf Club and The Range @ Curlewis, The Sharp Group also owns the Leura Park, Jack Rabbit and Yes Said The Seal wineries and the Flying Brick Cider Co., but Mrs Sharp said becoming hotel operators was never part of the company’s original vision.

“We weren’t ever planning to purchase a golf course but we did! Once we settled in to being custodians of a golf course, the concept of building accommodation was a logical, lateral progression.

“Golf is a popular sport and there is definitely demand for stay and play – as well as wine, dine and explore the region – on a number of levels and appealing to a broad demographic.”

She hoped providing accommodation at the golf course would play a role in attracting and retaining visitors to the region.

“Currently, there is a critical shortage of accommodation on the Bellarine in particular. The provision of more accommodation will hopefully mean people choose our region as a destination of choice in the first place and then stay longer to explore, discover and spend,” she said.

“The accommodation is contemporary, 4.5 star and designed for those seeking a more lux experience without smashing their budget -corporates, conferences, golf enthusiasts and those people seeking really nice, centrally located accommodation when visiting the region.”