Stirling golf course to reopen with new name, focus on women golfers after falling into administration

Stirling Golf Club closed abruptly in July under debts – but now it’s announced it will reopen on Saturday, with a new name and refreshed site.

Stirling Golf Club will reopen as Mount Lofty Golf Course on September 14.

The Stirling Golf Club will reopen next weekend under a new name and company after it went into administration in July – with all staff re-employed.

Opening to the public on September 14 as the Mount Lofty Golf Course, all memberships will be honoured from the previous club.

The new-look course will boast an indoor golfing simulator, while a cottage on the property is being turned into an Airbnb.

Course management is seeking a food operator and working on the buildings, course and new website ahead of the opening, finance general manager Clea Vetch said.

The previous club fell into administration after it couldn’t trade out of its debts, an email to members said.

The email said the club committee and management had worked for six months to “process and consider” what past financial decisions had mean for its future viability.

Current debts are in the hands of the liquidators.

Now, Ms Vetch said a new company had been set up with the support of the land owner and had purchased the old insolvent Stirling Golf Club’s assets.

The new Mount Lofty Golf Course will reopen on September 14.

She said a proposed hotel redevelopment on the site – which was halted late last year after it failed to attract council support – had nothing to do with the running of the course.

“We noticed on Facebook, that a lot of people were saying when the SGC folded, that the insolvency had something to do with the owners of the course, who have development applications in for a new hotel,” Ms Vetch said.

“But one didn’t have anything to do with the other.

“They (the owners) would like to continue running the golf course, regardless of the redevelopment – if and when the redevelopment does go ahead, this would still be a golf course.”

The course will reopen with a focus on female golfers, with Ms Vetch saying there was “misconception” the course was open only to members.

“We have ladies’ clinic lined up, and we’re hoping to hold school holiday program for kids, and a free ladies’ session in October.

The golf course’s buildings and club house.

“If the uptake is popular, we’ll put on more because we want to keep them to a maximum of eight women or kids. Part of those clinics will be on the golf simulator.

“We understand previously there was the feeling the general public wasn’t welcome at the course as it was a member’s only club, but we want to stress that this is no longer the case.”

She said management was working on corporate memberships to help support locals in a collaborative way, including on-course advertising of local businesses.

“There was a lot of passion from the locals displayed when the golf club folded and we hope they can now support this new venture and take the opportunity to enjoy the space,” Ms Vetch said.

“Our current five motel units have been reappointed and we will also have a new three-bedroom cottage currently under renovation that will be added to our accommodation offering.”

The course has two PGA pros – James ‘Jimmy’ Lethlean and Warwick Hazel, with golf lessons and clinics available, while the new golf simulator is available for bookings for fun – or lessons.