Northcote Golf Course members set to leave after council changes

Darebin Council has been slammed over changes to Northcote Golf Course, which angry members say have left parts unplayable.

Michael Dymott, Peter Kann and Dale Spriggs say Darebin Council is wrecking the Northcote Public Golf Course. Picture: Josie Hayden

Golfers have accused Darebin Council of wrecking the Northcote public course with a newly created fifth green, which has been branded a “brown”.

The hole has also been shortened to just 90m and is now described as unplayable with some members threatening to leave.

The course was being changed as part of a compromise deal with a lobby group which wanted to “unlock” the nine-hole public course for use as parkland.

But golfers say they have been short-changed and Darebin has bungled the changes amid fears of driving the course out of business.

The new “temporary” green on the fifth hole is bare in patches and badly mown. Northcote club president Jim Chahoud described as a “disgrace’’.

“They just put a circle in the middle of a fairway,’’ he said.

The seventh green at Northcote Golf Course. Picture: Josie Hayden

Michael Dymott, Dale Spriggs and Peter Kann on the ‘brown’ fifth green. Picture: Josie Hayden

Darebin mayor Cr Julie Williams said the course redesign was still a work in progress.

“The hole that has been decommissioned will be redesigned and will be properly done,’’ Cr Williams said.

“I would be gutted if it was to stay the way it was. It’s not a proper, working handicap nine-hole golf course as it stands.

“But whether people are discouraged (to use the course), that’s their choice not mine.’’

Last month the Herald Sun reported problems with the course changes, including a chicken wire fence which would have to be removed whenever the sixth tee grass was to be cut.

It led to a meeting with club officials, Cr Williams and chief executive Peter Smith.

But Mr Chahoud said the talks came to nothing.

“It’s not just about golfers, it’s a concern for the community because it’s about the council looking after a sustainable asset.’’

The future of the 60-year-old course came under scrutiny when play stopped during the 2020 lockdowns and the course was used by picnickers and dog walkers.

It led to the creation of a local lobby group, which wanted to close the course and turn it into parkland and other community space.

Council last year voted to keep the course, slicing off 5.7ha for new parkland, and a new operator was appointed on January 1.

The council is still in discussions with the state government over a $200,000 offer to redesign the course layout.