Rush of ‘young blood’ to golf courses at Sandringham, Mordialloc, Mornington, Rosebud and Boneo
A new generation of Happy Gilmores is taking on the plaid sets at golf courses across south east Melbourne. Here’s why demand for tee times is soaring.
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Golf courses are booked solid and demand for membership is soaring as suburban footy players look for new ways to fill their weekends.
Sandringham Golf Links has enjoyed “full cards” for the past month as men aged 20-35 years old flocked to the sport.
Golf services co-ordinator Stuart Tennison said the club had seen a lot more “young blood” since winter sport was wiped out by the second wave of the coronavirus.
“We’ve had plenty of guys playing who would normally be playing footy and there has also been interest from soccer players and basketballers,” he said.
“Golf seems to be filling that void for them and giving them a competitive outlet.”
Rosebud Country Club has signed up about 90 new members since the start of lockdown 2.0.
Monica Marchesani, who works in the club’s pro shop, said most of the new members were young footy players.
“It’s nice to see so many young people signing up,” she said.
“I guess there’s really no other sport they can safely play at the moment.”
Woodlands Golf Club general manager Richard Tulleberg said the Mordialloc course had also experienced “higher than normal levels of interest for new memberships during the restriction period, with many groups of younger people looking to join”.
“The Club is taking applications for new memberships that will be placed onto a waiting list for when restrictions are eased and will allow greater course usage,” Mr Tulleberg said.
“All golf clubs are having difficulty administering their timesheets as restrictions allow only about 50 per cent of regular play.”
Mornington Golf Club also reported a surge in memberships in the 20-35 age group.
General manager Craig Murdoch said 33 new players had signed up since March 1.
“While this is fantastic numbers we do have concerns over the longevity of these members who may not stick around when the crisis is over and they have more options,” Mr Murdoch said.
“Hopefully the culture and social environment that we have here at MGC will encourage them to stay.”
Under the second round of Stage 3 golf is allowed as long as strict rules are followed.
No more than two players can tee off together, rounds must be pre-booked online and masks must be worn at all times.
Some clubs have stopped hiring out golf carts while others will only provide them for players aged over 65 with a medical certificate.
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