Leaked correspondence reveals demands from Grange Golf Club to keep tournament at the course beyond 2026

Leaked correspondence has revealed the future of the LIV Golf 2027 tournament in SA could hang in the balance. Read it here.

The future of LIV Golf Adelaide 2027 is in doubt, with leaked correspondence revealing Grange Golf Club members have been asked to vote to extend the tournament’s contract for that year.

Internal member communications, seen by The Advertiser, reveal LIV Golf approached the club, indicating they wanted to discuss plans for the 2027 event.

Currently, the tournament is only contracted to tee off on the seaside green until 2026.

The expectation had been that a redeveloped North Adelaide Golf Course, designed by Greg Norman, could be ready for the 2027 tournament.

But the state government has since revealed the proposed 18-hole course, driving range and clubhouse would be ready “no later than 2028”.

Dom Dolla performing after the first round of LIV Golf Adelaide in 2025. Picture: Charles Laberge/LIV Golf

Former golfer Greg Norman, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, and LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil dat LIV Golf Adelaide at the Grange Golf Club in 2025. Photo by Brenton Edwards/AFP

In March, The Advertiser revealed Grange Golf Club members said greater financial benefit was needed to offset the course disruption and damage caused by LIV Golf.

In its correspondence to members, the club said a contract extension would be dependant on two main factors.

“If there is an offer to extend the event it will require a vote of Members (consistent with previous advice to members),” the club said.

“A significant capital contribution and other event-related benefits for members will be required in any offer.”

There has been no further contact between the club and LIV Golf since the conditions were outlined.

“It is now up to LIV Golf to consider this and come back to the Club for further discussion if they wish.

“In the meantime, the (Grange Golf Club) Committee is documenting non-financial contractual items in preparation should any offer to host in 2027 eventuate.”

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A state government spokesman said “negotiations are ongoing regarding the location of the 2027 event”.

“Planning work is underway for the redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course which will host LIV Golf no later than 2028,” he told The Advertiser.

“The 2026 tournament will be held at the Grange Golf Club and as has been stated previously, negotiations are ongoing regarding the location of the 2027 event.”

Speaking on Thursday, Acting Premier Susan Close said the State Government was “utterly committed to LIV Golf, and LIV Golf is committed to us”.

“I haven’t been polling the members, but I feel confident that everyone who cares about golf wants to make this thing work,” she said.

When pressed over where the event would be held if Grange voted against the 2027 event and North Adelaide’s redevelopment wasn’t ready, Dr Close said she wasn’t “going to speculate about what’s going on”.

She said she was “confident that we’re going to make this work”.

In a statement, shadow minister for government accountability Ben Hood said the state government was “caught in a mess of its own making”, putting the future of LIV Golf in SA in jeopardy.

“Not only did the Government rush legislation through parliament to seize control of Adelaide parklands for a new North Adelaide Golf Course, it has now become clear that securing the event in 2027 will likely come at a significant financial cost to taxpayers and that Grange Golf Club expects more than just goodwill to keep the tournament in place.

“The (State) Government says it is negotiating with Grange to extend the hosting deal – if that’s the case, Labor needs to come clean on how much public money is on the table, and what kind of deal is being struck behind closed doors.”

The Grange Golf Club was asked when the message was sent to its members, but did not comment.

Originally published as Leaked correspondence reveals demands from Grange Golf Club to keep tournament at the course beyond 2026