Marrickville Golf Club: Future saved with 21-year lease signed

The future of the beloved Marrickville Golf Club has been secured with a mammoth lease signed to benefit both golfers and locals.

It’s a hole in one for golfers and Inner Westies alike with the future of Marrickville Golf, Sporting and Community Club secured for at least the next 21 years.

The recently-signed lease with Inner West Council has cemented the future of the club, allowing the sporting body to plan for the future.

“Before we didn’t have any sort of long-length lease, we had no ability to actually plan anything beyond the very basic stuff,” club president Andrew Tighe said.

“We are now able to confidently go ahead, build up our club, and make sure all our events are bigger and better.”

Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne (left), deputy mayor Jessica D‘Arienzo (centre-left), Summer Hill state MP Jo Haylen (centre) and Marrickville ward councillor Mat Howard (right) at the lease signing. President Andrew Tighe sits bottom right Picture: Nick Langley

The golf club is popular with both players and the general public – the latter allowed to walk through the club’s picturesque grounds with dogs and the facilities available for community groups. Last month, for example, the Cooks River Alliance’s Wurridjal Weekend Festival was part-hosted at the course.

Summer Hill MP Jo Haylen welcomed the news, describing the golf course as “a local institution”.

“A 21-year lease gives the club certainty and means they can make much needed improvements to Sydney’s most accessible community golf course,” she said.

Around 20,000 rounds a year are played on the course, with the decision to enter into the 21-year lease taken by council late last year.

“We consider ourselves more than just a golf course, we’re also a community club,” Mr Tighe said.

The signing of the 21-year-lease between Inner West Council and Marrickville Golf Club. Picture: Nick Langley

“It’s been a very long saga,” Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne said.

“The members of the club have been put through the wringer, so it’s a great relief to give all of the users of the course security for the future.”

Without previously a long-term lease, rumours about the future of the club whirled, with members of the previous council unable to agree on its future. Debate also raged about whether to halve the course to only nine holes.

“There was a very longstanding negative against the club,” Mr Byrne said.

“The issue is now closed, and there’s an opportunity for us all to work together on improving the public space for the future.”

Federal Labor MPs Anthony Albanese and Linda Burney speak to members last year in a bid to save the course from being halved in size. Picture: Toby Zerna

The campaign by members in 2021 to save the club from being halved has paid dividends. Picture: Toby Zerna

The club has long-opened its doors to the community, something the current president wants to focus on even more.

“I’ve always been an admirer of the new Marrickville Library and the success that it’s been for the community,” Mr Tighe said.

“I‘d like to see the golf course become the equivalent of that down the southern end of Marrickville.

“We’d like to be able to emulate the success of the library and provide a community asset of equal value.”

As well as providing certainty, the lease will allow the club to apply for state and federal government funding on more sure-footing.

“It’s very difficult for a not-for-profit community organisation to get state or federal funding for infrastructure or facilities,” Mayor Byrne said

“But that’s made easier if they can demonstrate they’re going to be there in five or 10 years’ time, and that was one of the main motivations for getting the long-term lease in place.”

A Marrickville parkland and golf course master plan has also been adopted by council, which will help manage the biodiversity habitat around the area.

Marrickville Golf Club personnel, Inner West Council staff and councillors outside the club after the lease signing on April 5. Picture: Nick Langley

Mr Byrne said the future for the club was bright.

“The club has very detailed plans for renovation and expansion,” he said.

“I want us to work over the next five or 10 years to make the clubhouse itself a really beautiful venue that’s even more well used by the whole community.”

Mr Tighe said it’s now all hands on deck to make use of the security the club’s been given.

“We‘ve got a very progressive membership and leadership group,” he said.

“The club’s in a really good spot at the moment, we’re feeling really optimistic about the future for the course and the whole community.”