Seven Mile Beach golf course hits bump ahead of opening

Golfing champion Matt Goggin is behind the new Seven Mile Beach course and has lifted the lid on the delay stopping keen golfers from testing out the greens.

Mathew Goggin cited problematic turf as the reason for the Seven Mile Beach course delay. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Golfing champion and Seven Mile Beach proponent, Mat Goggin, has cited problematic turf-growing conditions for delaying the official opening of the southern Tasmanian course he has poured 15 years of blood, sweat, and tears into.

During a 40-minute update posted to the development’s website recently, the nine-time tournament winner urged eager golf fans “to hang in there”, following fairway damage caused by hot weather and strong winds.

Seven Mile Beach public golf course has hit delays. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Initially on track to take its first paying customers by the end of this year, the course would now not see golfing action for at least another couple of months, Goggin explained.

“So now we are in December, and the question is why aren’t you open yet?” he said.

“Turf quality is probably one of the main reasons because there’s some areas that got a lot of wind shear.

“The last four or five months have been going pretty smoothly, just not as quickly as we would have hoped.”

Goggin said the project’s management team expected to approach Clarence Council for certificates of occupancy for key infrastructure by February.

Once they are signed off, the new facility would be ready to operate as a golf course.

“And then it will just come down to how good the turf is,” he said.

“Once we are comfortable … we’re going to start a preview play period, through until the main facility is completed.

“We will probably do day passes with unlimited golf for the day, and have a little caravan where you can get a coffee or beer.

“But the full 18 holes will be a little bit behind.

“I’ve been on this since 2010, and as much as I’m desperate to go out there and play, I really want it to be perfect for everybody.

“We’re just all going to have to wait a little bit longer.”

Originally published as Seven Mile Beach golf course hits bump ahead of opening