Sunshine Coast golf clubs undergo massive spike in demand for course time

Several Sunshine Coast golf clubs have revealed why it’s become so difficult to get on course as waiting lists grow and sales boom in the reinvigorated sport.

Several Sunshine Coast golf clubs are overflowing with demand since the pandemic with annual sales to crack the millions and hundreds of people on waiting lists.

One of them is Maroochy River Golf Club along David Low Way, Bli Bli, offering an 18-hole golf course, driving range, and mini golf under the gaze of Mount Coolum.

Maroochy River Golf Club general manager Charlie McGill said demand for his golf club has shot up with annual revenue doubling since 2015 and about 400 people on a waiting list to become seven-day members.

“Huge waiting list,” he said.

Mr McGill said golfers flocked to his club because of its high-quality course and following the pandemic as people took up the sport given it was classified as a form of exercise during restrictions and lockdowns.

Supplied Editorial SCN220822RiverGolfClub

Maleny Golf Club nestled in the Sunshine Coast hinterland has also experienced a dramatic rise in sales in the past few years.

Maleny Golf Club general manager Stephen Porter said his club had projected $1.25m in annual revenue this year, up nearly 60 per cent from about $800,000 in its 2019 to 2020 financial year.

Mr Porter pinned the surge in demand on his unique course, an overflow from other clubs, a rise in social players and a general increase in the sport’s popularity which had been amplified by the pandemic pushing players to try out the game.

Headland Golf Club along Golf Links Road, Buderim had also experienced a spike in interest.

Headland Golf Club general manager Matt Lang said his club has maxed out its number of members at 1000, with 211 on a waiting list.

“It’s not normal,” he said.

“Back in the day, you’d be screaming for members, but it’s now the reverse.”

Mr Lang agreed demand was partly backed by the pandemic but he said his annual revenue increased mostly because of a rise in bar sales.

He said he had a swarm of function hires this year as many were delayed during Covid-19.

Conversely, he said his bottom line had been impacted by ongoing wet weather this year.