Call to shrink golf courses to three or six holes

GOLF courses throughout Victoria may be shrunk as a State Government report suggests clubs cater for time-poor players too busy to shoot a traditional round.

Strathallan Golf Club members Oscar Brazzale, 14, and his father Danny fear the course will be sold to developers. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

VICTORIAN golf clubs have been urged to consider shrinking the size of courses to suit time-poor players too busy to shoot a traditional round.

The Andrews Government has raised the prospect of clubs changing from 18-hole courses of six or even three holes to help stop sliding memberships and ease financial pressures.

The government has asked struggling clubs to consider merging, selling land and moving elsewhere or turning courses into sporting hubs to share space with other codes.

It comes as members of Strathallan Golf Course at Bundoora fight for its future, fearing the 50-year-old facility will be sold to developers.

Oscar Brazzale, 14, and his father Danny are regulars at Strathallan Golf Club. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A report on the future of golf has called for a plan “given the increasing pressures of some golf courses to be rezoned residential’’.

It identified “increasing time pressures and space shortages in cities’’ as a trend shaping demand and supply.

“This demands a shorter format golf game that can be played more quickly,’’ it said.

The Planning for golf in Victoria report said: “A focus on different types of golf facilities ... may be required to drive participation and club membership. Transformation of these facilities into shorter forms and different types of golf facilities including three and six-hole circuits.’’

It also encouraged clubs and councils to consider “Big hole and Footgolf courses’’, driving ranges, mini golf, virtual golf, more hospitality and “fun-play environments’’.

Strathallan secretary Geoff Blackwood said shorter courses “presented an interesting concept’’.

“I believe there will be a trend from 18 to 9-hole courses as clubs downsize to capitalise on their land and ease the financial burden ... and the lack of leisure time people have to devote to playing 18 holes,’’ he said.

GROWLING FROG GOLF COURSE COSTS WHITTLESEA COUNCIL $1.5M A YEAR

Oscar Brazzale, 14, and his father Danny at Strathallan Golf Club. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Despite being on public park and recreation zoned land, members fear their 9-hole course will be torn up by developers as owner La Trobe University eyes selling it once its lease expires.

“The worse case scenario is its carved up and developed,’’ he said.

La Trobe spokesman Tim Mitchell said the club had been given “plenty of notice’’ and the university was “prepared to negotiate a short-term lease extension’’ while it explored planning processes.

The report said: “Developers are now directing their interest to golf course land across metropolitan Melbourne, on its urban fringes and in regional cities.’’

Victoria had the highest ratio of golf courses per capita in Australia, with almost half in financial stress.

About 290ha of golf land has been sold to developers recently with eight Melbourne courses currently being redeveloped. More than 50 have been identified in areas short of open space.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne said golf remained popular but clubs faced “challenges’’.

“They also have a role to play in innovating, adapting and attracting new members,’’ he said.

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