Blackwood, Stirling golf clubs offer life line to Belair Park Country Club, Belair National Park Golf Course members

THE last couple of days have been below par for the passionate golfers of Belair and have had brides-to-be in tears. But thanks to the support and goodwill of other local clubs and the wedding industry, the future is looking brighter.

• Couples without wedding venue after Belair club closure
• Wedding venue, suppliers aid couples hit by Belair country club closure

THE past few days have been below par for the passionate golfers of Belair – and brides-to-be have also been in tears.

But the support and goodwill of other local clubs and the wedding industry mean the future is now looking brighter. The Belair National Park Golf Course and Belair Park Country Club, on State Government-owned land, were placed into administration on January 16.

The country club’s last wedding is scheduled for next month, leaving up to 20 other couples who had booked the venue without a place to marry.

Administrators Clifton Hall previously said the decision to shut the businesses was made on Wednesday after “an urgent review of the financial position”.

Local businesses, including Sfera’s Park Suites & Convention Centre, Invitations for all Occasions and the Sporting Car Club of SA, are among wedding suppliers offering free or discounted services to couples left in the lurch.

Golf clubs have also reached out to Belair Park Golf Club members. Club captain Rod Winders said the sudden closure of the course, where the club has been based since 1979, was “quite devastating” for its 112 members.

But they had spoken to two other clubs who may be able to help “save our club”.

“The discussions we are going to have shortly with (the clubs) is an interim measure to share their facilities ... as we work out how the (situation at) Belair National Park Golf Course pans out,” he said.

Belair Park Golf Club members Rod Kllimionok, Colin Luscombe and Paul Luscombe are upset the Belair Country Club has gone out of business. Picture: Tom Huntley

Stirling Golf Club president Paul Durham said they were “certainly prepared to help” members of the Belair club because “there are a lot of golf clubs under financial stress and you want to try to keep people in the sport”.

“We would work out some sort of temporary arrangement so they can continue playing until they sort out what is going on at Belair,” he said.

Blackwood Golf Club vice president Con Katsaros said they would offer existing Belair members the opportunity to transfer to the neighbouring club at the same membership costs, which he said was “a huge reduction on our normal fees”.

“Our membership starts in April, so we’re also offering free membership from February to March,” he said.

Mr Katsaros said they were also willing to help people who had functions cancelled at the country club by waiving room hire. Sfera’s Park Suites & Convention Centre general manager Michael Sfera said they would price-match their packages for any couples who were without a venue, while Invitations for all Occasions owner Tina Douvartzidis said they would print amendment cards for free.

Golf SA chief executive Chris Luz-Raymond said he would like to see the area “retained as a golf course”. While administrator Tim Clifton was unable to confirm how much was owed to creditors, he said it would be “hundreds of thousands” of dollars. Mr Clifton said he had also had “lots of inquiries” from firms interested in securing a lease for the Belair property.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Department, which leases the buildings and site, said once the site was recovered from the administrator, the department would work with “any interested businesses”.

Hackham West bride-to-be Rebecca Aldridge, 28, who was due to marry fiance Adam Tilbrook, 31, at the country club on September 15, said she was in “complete shock” at the closure.

Ms Aldridge said that she did not expect to get their $1500 deposit back but they had been contacted by suppliers offering to help. “The kind support and offers I’ve received are wonderful,” she said.