- Published:
- Thursday 11 June 2020
The Victorian Government is getting the ball rolling on creating the new home of golf in Australia, with demolition of the old clubhouse at the Sandringham Golf Course under way.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula today welcomed the start of works, which will lead to the construction of the official Australian Golf Centre.
The project has been made possible thanks to a $15.3 million investment by the Government, with project partners Golf Victoria, Golf Australia, PGA Australia and Sandringham Golf Links Management chipping in $3.4 million.
A high performance short-game training zone has already been completed near the clubhouse and has proven a hit with up-and-coming golfers. The works also include the redevelopment of the public course, with a new irrigation system and water storage dam expansion. Nine holes have been upgraded to date and are open to the public.
The new clubhouse will house the administrative headquarters of Golf Australia and PGA Australia. It will feature high performance training facilities including simulators and a gymnasium to help hone the talents of our future champions, along with an extended driving range.
The new centre will be built by local firm 2Construct, generating 24 jobs during construction, and combined with the upgraded course will be a magnet for everyday players and professionals, cementing Victoria’s standing as the nation’s home of golf. The project is scheduled to be completed in mid-2021.
Victoria boasts some of the finest courses in the world and is known for hosting prestigious tournaments including the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne three times, most recently in December.
The Victorian Open at Barwon Heads is unique in its offering of equal prizemoney for men and women and its incorporation of an all-abilities tournament.
Victoria has more than 400 golf clubs which boast more than 100,000 members, along with the thousands more players who regularly enjoy a casual round.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula
“Victoria is the home of golf in Australia and this development at Sandringham will only enhance that reputation.”
“Whether it’s green fees players at Sandy or Marc Leishman facing off against Tiger Woods over the road at Royal Melbourne during the Presidents Cup, we’ve got something for everyone.”
“Golf is a great employer at the local and elite levels and investments like this are important in setting up the industry to thrive on the other side of the pandemic.”