Notice to Members The Wollongong Golf Club is trading with excellent results achieving a net profit of $100,000 year to date. This is $150,000 better than budget entering 2016. These results are driven by the Boards strategic focus and are delivered by Wollongong Golf Club staff through diverse leisure and sporting services. As always, the Board and management are continually investigating new revenue generating opportunities. The Board have approved a feasibility study to upgrade the Wollongong Golf Course and its practice facilities to achieve the best golf facilities in the district, a strategic priority of the club. Modifications to the golf course, if approved, will deliver a Par 70-71 course with improvements to both the northern and southern sections of the course. This would represent the completion of the works initiated in 2005 on course. The upgrade will deliver a modern practice facility with a double story driving range connected to the club house. This project, if approved, would create a major new revenue stream (the driving range) which would pay off the course improvement costs. The club is also investigating the relocation of existing clubhouse assets including the gaming installation to maximise revenue from these valuable club assets. This internal clubhouse masterplan is in concept design stages now and would deliver excellent facilities that allow us to compete.
Course Completion Project including Driving Range (Larger Proposed Course completion project encompassing Driving range available for viewing in the pro shop.) Stage 1 2 nd Hole Par 4, 280m The new 2 nd hole will be played from the existing 18 th tee to a new green complex. It becomes a par 4 approximately 280m. The green will be reachable for long hitters and other players if a southerly breeze is up. The hole will be challenging with an undulating raised putting surface protected by deep bunkers. There are many great short par 4 s around the world and the design will be sure to keep you thinking of the best strategy for various wind directions. 5 th Hole Par 4, 300m The new 5 th hole is played from the existing 9 th tees to a new green complex. It becomes a par 4 approximately 300m. It will play as the ultimate risk reward hole, if you can carry the water for your tee shot it will set up a short pitch to the green. The green will be only reachable for the longest hitters when the N/E breeze is up. Regardless of the direction of the wind, players will be required to strategically place their ball from the tee in order to make par or better. The green design will have many pin positions available to test golfers of all levels. 6 th Hole Par 3, 140m The new 6 th hole will be played from new tees to the existing 9 th green. It will measure approximately 140m from the back tees and 110m from the forward tees. Golfers will be forced to play over the water which
creeps in approximately 20m short of the green. The green is also protected by a severe run off on the right side and a bunker on the left. 15 th Hole Par 4, 330m The new 15 th hole will be played from the existing 2 nd tee to a new green complex a little further on than the existing 2 nd green and closer to the sand dunes to the right. It will play approximately 360m. The design will greatly improve the existing hole with yet another modern large green better utilising the coastline. 16 th Hole Par 3, 165m The new 16 th hole will be played from new tees to a new green complex. The new green will be located in the furthest N/E point of the course. This challenging hole will have tee areas raised to improve the visual from the tee looking towards the green. The vast majority of the hole will play over the sand dunes, the green will be protected by bunkers and have numerous run off areas. Another stunning location for a green designed similarly to our current 1 st, 7 th & 17 th. It is anticipated this hole will become one of the most renowned and picturesque modern par 3 s in Australia. 17 th Hole Par 4, 310m The new 17 th hole will be played (in place of the existing 4 th ) from new tees constructed further N/E of the existing 4 th tee. It will play to a new green complex slightly left of the existing 4 th green location. This will allow space for the existing 5 th hole to become our par 4 18 th hole. The 17 th hole will be approximately 310m. The tee and green location will create a dogleg hole from right to left. Mounding to the right of the fairway and strategically placed trees will define the hole and help to differentiate from the 18 th hole fairway to the right and 16 th to the left. A larger modern green design will be constructed similar to the existing 1 st, 7 th & 7 th greens. 18 th Hole Par 4, 315m The new 18 th hole will be played from new tees constructed behind the existing 4 th green. The hole will be played to the current 5 th green and will become our 18 th hole approximately 315m. It will be challenging with the riparian corridor to the left and bunkers approaching the green on the right. A well placed drive
will hopefully leave you a mid to short iron approach which will be much easier than the existing par 3, 5 th tee shot. This green was originally designed for a par 4 and to accept shorter shots for your approach. Stage 2 4 th Hole Par 3, 135m The new 4 th hole will be played from new tees to the existing 8 th green. The hole will play approximately 135m. It will be shortened as it is currently but still challenging for players in varying N/E, S/E and W wind directions with a green protected by bunkers left and right. The new position of the tee improves safety and decreases the likelihood of a ball entering Ross Street as players will be using shorter irons rather than long irons or woods. 9 th Hole Par 4, 350m The new 9 th hole will play from a new tee further back from the existing 12 th tee to a new green complex in the furthest point of the southern paddock (approx. 120m past the existing 12 th green). The hole will play approximately 350m. The fairway will be very undulating to the top of a hill where you will play your approach down to a green nestled close to the beach, the view from the fairway looking down to the green and the ocean beyond will be spectacular! 10 th Hole Par 4, 400m OR Par 5, 440m There is potential for this hole to remain as is a strong par 4 from the existing 13 th blue or black tee. If the hole remains a par 4 the course par will be maintained as par 70. The other option is to move the existing 13 th black tee 10-20m further on, making it a par 5 and the course a par 71. 13 th Hole Par 5, 460m The new 13 th hole will be played from the existing 16 th black tee to a new green complex on top of the hill close to the existing 8 th tee location. This will be a truly fantastic par 5 with amazing views created after the large sand dune and bitou bushes are removed to the right of the existing 16 th green. This will leave a spectacular visual from the tee looking down the fairway and up to the new green. Clearly the design of this hole will better utilise the coastline and provide a challenging short to mid length par 5.
Subject to design review and approval
Q&A How long will it take to upgrade the course? Will the course be less than 18 holes during the course upgrades? We will be losing the 6 th and 18 th which are great holes. Could the driving range go somewhere else? Which holes will be affected by the changes to the course? The course upgrade is likely to be constructed in 2 to 3 stages. A more accurate time frame will be communicated following the feasibility study. We are studying the impact of the improvement work on the course playability as part of the feasibility study but it is likely to result in some temporary holes or fewer holes for a period of time. We aim to have 18 holes in play. We have studied other locations for the driving range and none of these are feasible due to their restricted length or distance from the clubhouse and pro shop. While we lose the 6 th and 18 th the final course will contain some great replacement holes. Refer to the overview concept plan Driving Range and Practice Facilities What is the configuration of the proposed driving range? What other practice facilities will be established? Will the driving range be open to the public? Will members get discount access to the driving range? What are the intended hours of operation of the driving range? The driving range will be bordered by water. Won t range balls be lost that way? Won t balls from the range go onto the road? The driving range will comprise 36 hitting bays over two levels. There will also be some grass hitting areas. A short game area will be established adjacent to the existing 4 th hole as was promised in the original course master plan Yes. It is intended to establish the driving range as a public access to generate a valuable new revenue stream for Wollongong Golf Club. The revenue from the driving range will be used to pay off loans for the course improvements Final pricing is yet to be established but it is expected that the golfing members will be able to access the driving range at lower prices than the general public It is intended to seek council approval for operation of the driving range between 6am and 10pm. Final hours of operation will depend on approvals and demand for the facility Inevitably, some balls will find the water by several design aspects will minimise this. Bays will be angled to the middle of the range, some mounding will protect water edges, there will be a fence at the end of the range and range balls generally don t fly as far as normal balls. Nevertheless, there will be some ball retrieval from the water. The same design aspects that stop balls going into the water will protect the road. In addition, the existing fence on the 6 th will protect the road. During feasibility work a trajectory study will confirm the measures required.
Funding How will the club pay for the project? Can we afford it? Will members be levied to pay for the course constructions costs? Based on work done to date, it is expected that the driving range will create a significant new revenue stream for Wollongong Golf Club. The construction will be funded by a new loan from the bank and paid off by the driving range revenue The Board and management of Wollongong Golf Club has worked hard over recent years to improve the club s financial health. As a result, the club is now well placed for this investment It is intended to maintain the course construction levy for another two years as identified by the Board. This will complete the obligations committed to in 2013 Leigh Hingston General Manager