Public golf course to close for major upgrade

The short nine-hole course will be closed for about a year from June 30 while the works are completed.

Claremont Mayor Jock Barker announced the revamp recently after councillors approved the item behind closed doors at a February 2 meeting.

“It’s a different type of golf course, but in this market you need to be different because there are a million courses out there that are standard,” Mr Barker said.

“In a referendum held in 2009, the community made it clear they wanted a golf course to remain open.

“As a minimum, they wanted the par-3 to be retained and today’s council is honouring that.”

Claremont council shut the long-nine course seven years ago due to operating costs.

Mr Barker said the layout of the course would be redesigned and there would be various lengths of fairways to make it more challenging.

“It’s clearly an important facility to our community and I’m happy we’ll be able to fulfil their expectations in this regard,” he said.

Chief executive Stephen Goode said the tender for the works would be advertised in March.

“The upgrade project depends on finding a well-experienced and successful golf course operator to take over the course and run it as a public course,” Mr Goode said.

“For example, they will have ideas about any upgrade of the clubhouse and might want to ensure it can accommodate a virtual driving range which could be provided by the golf course operator without requiring council capital.”

Mr Goode said the closure of the courses during works was unfortunate.

“A temporary closure will be necessary to undertake the works and I know this is not ideal, however I’d like to assure our existing loyal group of users that it will be well worth the wait,” he said.

Cr Karen Wood said she regularly played at Lake Claremont Golf Club in winter.

“The upgrade has been on the books for ages,” Cr Wood said.

“They’re going to start in June but it’s all quite open at the moment.”