Golf on the Gold Coast: the greatest comeback story ever as Helensvale drives a winner

The family team poised to take over Helensvale Golf Club have told the Bulletin how they plan to return the course to its former glory. But there’s one thing they insist they won’t be doing.

FORE! The Helensvale Golf Club will re-open by Christmas with a focus on the fairways and quality meals, as new management rules out poker machines.

Brett Lawton, 52, his son Christopher, 25, and daughter Danielle, 23, will operate the club after city councillors unanimously backed a lease deal in which the Gold Coast’s only publicly owned golf club is back in business.

Chris Lawton and his father Brett Lawton - family operators of the Helensvale golf club. Picture: Jerad Williams.

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After more than three decades managing successful golf courses in Brisbane and Ipswich, the family believes it has a winning strategy to rebuild the membership base up to 600 players.

Mr Lawton told the Bulletin: “We’re not doing any gaming. There will be no pokies. We are about a family environment.

“I think the reason businesses have struggled before is they focused on gaming. We are going to focus on the core business of golf.

“We will open in December. Our opening specials will be memberships at half price. It’s important for us to get that out there – those players that are renewing memberships at other courses now, only renew until December.”

Helensvale Golf Club. Picture: Jerad Williams.

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Since the appointment of a receiver to Jigsaw Community Services Limited in 2018, the council called for tenders for future operators but it was not until after the conclusion of that process that the Lawton family surfaced, ensuring golf would be the main game.

Once the club closed in March last year, the council had to mow and maintain the 45ha site.

“There’s a lot of work in the greens. Fairways aren’t too bad. The clubhouse is very run down. It has been vandalised,” Mr Lawton said.

“We are going to polish concrete floors, all new furniture. Obviously we are seeking a caterer – for anywhere from two nights up to whatever they require. It may suit someone in our mind who is semi-retired and extremely experienced.

Helensvale-based councillor William Owen-Jones who played a major role in resolving the issue which was costing taxpayers. Picture: Richard Gosling.

“We just want a nice community golf club. We’re not dreaming of a championship course, dreaming of a resort course. It’s simply a club for the locals.”

Recent budget review papers had listed the golf course at the top of “emerging issues” to be resolved because it was costing ratepayers more than $300,000 to be maintained without an operator.

Area councillor William Owen-Jones said he was pleased the recommendation for the new lease arrangement, covering 25 years, were backed unanimously by colleagues this week.

“We are looking forward to supporting the Lawton family to re-establish golf in Helensvale. This has been the best outcome for the city at large as well as the Helensvale community,” Cr Owen-Jones said.