City of Greater Geelong’s to stop running Geelong golf courses

A new council strategy will see the city overhaul its involvement in the running of Geelong’s public golf courses – but one councillor dubbed the plan “wrong”.

Geelong council will stop operating public golf courses. Keen golfer Barry Stewart at Queens Park. Picture: Peter Ristevski

The City of Greater Geelong will exit out of direct operation of golf facilities, after council endorsed a new strategy at Tuesday night’s meeting.

As part of the implementation of the new Golf Facilities Strategy, the city will put alternative management models in place for the three courses still under its full or partial operation.

They are Balyang Par 3; Lara Golf Course; and Queens Park Golf Course.

The other four council-owned golf courses – Barwon Valley, Ocean Grove, Clifton Springs and East Geelong – are already maintained and operated by tenant clubs.

The city said the strategy aimed to help it remain financially sustainable and deliver community benefit by supporting golf clubs and facilities, and ensuring public access to golf courses.

Councillor Kylie Grzybek said public golf courses had an important role to play in the physical and mental wellbeing of the local community.

“Golf is one of our most popular participation sports and helps many people stay active and socially connected,” Ms Grzybek said.

“Through this strategy, all council-owned courses will remain assets of the city but could be operated under a different management model.

“The city will provide support to help the tenant clubs achieve long-term success.”

At the meeting, councillor Ron Nelson said he thought the strategy to “get out of golf in Geelong” was “wrong”.

Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken said public courses provided affordable golf for the community but needed to adapt to modern participation trends.

“Research for this strategy found that it’s important for golf clubs to keep offering experiences for the traditional golfer, but that they must also take advantage of opportunities to increase participation through different golf experiences aimed at broader markets,” Mr Aitken said.

“This includes offering fun and social experiences with less emphasis on competitions.

“In the implementation of this strategy, the city will work with each of the tenant clubs to help them grab hold of these opportunities.”

Council to consider new golf strategy

Geelong’s council will abandon the direct operation of local public golf courses if its Golf Facilities Strategy is endorsed.

The move would see council step back from running seven of the region’s golf courses on council-owned crown land – Balyang, Barwon Valley, Ocean Grove, Clifton Springs, East Geelong, Lara and Queens Park.

The strategy first went before council in 2019 and there has since been extensive engagement with the courses and the community.

The strategy says the city would “exit out of direct operation of golf facilities by exploring alternative management models and long-term leases for all seven golf facilities”.

A report by council officers found golf was one of the region’s most popular recreational sports, but that many of the city-owned facilities had failed to diversify and had “declining relevance”.

Chris Bedford on the golf course at Queens Park. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Key issues identified with the existing operating model included:

ONLY offering traditional golf play formats;

NOT having a diverse membership;

HAVING minimal marketing activity; and

CLUBS failing to play a significant role in their communities beyond offering golf play.

The report found golf clubs should be customer focused and needed to “become friendlier to women, families, younger generations, diverse groups and social golf clubs”.

It also found clubs and facilities should “focus less on competition golf and introduce social, short-format and other golf-entertainment participation options”.

Under the strategy, council will look at different operating model options for each of the seven courses.

The report noted the existing operating model at Balyang was not sustainable and found that council was continuing to incur deficits with no indication that they would “reduce in the short or long term”.

It noted a decision on the future operation of Balyang would be considered, while council would engage with Barwon Valley and Ocean Grove golf clubs to offer “support and monitor performance of these clubs”.

Clifton Springs Golf Course.

Under the plan, council would finalise a long-term lease with Clifton Springs Golf Club and engage with the club to ensure the club was “addressing the challenges and opportunities of the contemporary golf club and facility”.

Council would reduce the annual rental value of East Geelong Golf Club, while Lara Golf Course management would transition from council to the Lara Golf Course.

Queens Park Golf Course would operate under a similar model, with plans for the club to take over a long-term operating lease for the management and operation of the entire facility.

The report also found that Queens Park Golf Course needed $1m for irrigation.

Councillors will vote on officer recommendations to endorse the strategy on Tuesday.

Originally published as City of Greater Geelong’s to stop running Geelong golf courses