What LIV Golf deal might mean: Greg Norman says North Adelaide Golf Course re-vamp a rare chance
Tens of millions of dollars will be spent and parklands laws may need to change, but the “world’s greatest golf course” designer says North Adelaide is a rare chance.
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Australia’s greatest golfer will head a multimillion-dollar taxpayer revamp of the city’s “diamond in the rough” golf course, as the LIV event’s future is secured into the next decade.
After days of feverish backroom negotiations amid interstate bids to snatch the global event, a jubilant Premier Peter Malinauskas announced Adelaide would continue hosting a LIV round until at least 2031.
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The event, which is expected to break crowd records, will move from The Grange Golf Club, in the western suburbs, to North Adelaide from 2028.
Taxpayers will spend tens of millions of dollars for “Great White Shark” Greg Norman to revamp the northern parklands course, known as Australia’s most centrally located golf club. Senior government sources said parklands law changes may be needed to secure the upgrade.
Two Upper House crossbench MPs, SA Best’s Connie Bonaros and One Nation’s Sarah Game, support the move.
Norman, a LIV Golf board member who won 88 professional tournaments, said he hoped to revamp it into one of the world’s best public golf courses.
“As a golf course designer, you very seldom get the opportunity to be involved with a project downtown – (there are) very few opportunities in the world for that,” said Norman, whose design firm has built more than 100 courses in 34 countries.
“So, our job is not taken lightly. It’s basically a diamond in the rough. And we’re going to unpick it for you.”
Mr Malinauskas declined to reveal a total cost but it is understood to be less than $50m. The proposed world-standard venue will include a new 18-hole championship course, driving range and practice facilities.
He said the city course, adjacent Adelaide Oval and the Riverbank precinct, was a “stunning platform” to showcase Adelaide and make it easier for fans to attend.
“I’m thrilled we will be delivering something truly unique – world golf on the doorstep of one of the world’s most beautiful cities,” he said.
“If a kid grows up today in SA and says I want to play on the same course as my hero, they can’t. In 2028, they will be able to.”
A LIV spokeswoman could not provide 2025 crowds on Sunday night but they were expected to break last year’s 90,000 attendance and 79,000 visitor nights.
Over the past two years, it has generated more than $136m for the state’s economy.
Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia called for transparency, over the cost of the course, adding: “LIV Golf has our bipartisan support as a tourism drawcard for our state.”
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Originally published as What LIV Golf deal might mean: Greg Norman says North Adelaide Golf Course re-vamp a rare chance
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