North Adelaide Golf Club could slice nine holes from its course to accommodate a redesign

THE North Adelaide Golf Club could slice nine holes from its course to accommodate a redesign. But why does this involve cutting back nine holes?

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THE North Adelaide Golf Club could slice nine holes from its course to accommodate a redesign by Aussie golfing great Graham Marsh, as the city council considers plans for a multi-million dollar function centre at the site.

Marsh, the winner of 63 professional tournaments on all five international PGA Tours, is in talks to redesign the 36-hole north and south course as part of the soon-to-be-unveiled Adelaide City Council Masterplan.

The club is pushing for the two 18-hole courses to be redeveloped into three, nine-hole intertwined courses, similar to that of the Royal Canberra Golf Club, to make way for a major revamp which would also lead to a large section being returned to parkland use.

Kevin Naughton, President of the North Adelaide Golf Club, said Marsh had visited the course as recently as last month and the council has proposed some bold ideas for the golf course.

“They (Adelaide City Council) basically want to make it much more of a part of the whole Riverbank Precinct and sporting precinct than it currently is,” Mr Naughton said.

North Adelaide Golf Club course looking towards the city. Picture: Google Maps

“The most significant thing for the course is to turn the two courses in 27 holes all of a very high standard so that you can run the course in three different configurations of 18.

“In reconfiguring the course, I think they’ve put to the designers to relocate the building and if you're going to do that, you’re better off putting it down the end of the course where there’s no residential objections to functions and you can tap in to the footy crowds that are going past a bit like the tennis centre has.”

“The council is thinking well beyond golf with training academies and driving ranges and entertainment facilities and they want all that stuff explored.”

Lord Mayor Martin Haese would not comment directly on details of the master plan but said the North Adelaide Golf Course was a “jewel in the crown” of the city’s parklands and that consultation with golfers and the community would form an integral part of the development.

“Our aim is to grow and improve the services and experience offered by North Adelaide Golf Course and hearing from those directly and indirectly involved with its operations is essential to this process,” he said.

“The master plan will need to be sympathetic of the surrounding residential zone and also reflect the community land status of the Park Lands that the NAGC sits within.

“I want to stress that no decisions have yet been taken about any aspect of the Golf Course’s

operations or layout,” the Lord Mayor said.

A draft masterplan from consultants GHD Woodheads will be presented to council midyear.