Now deal with golf facilities, urged politicians

Townsville Golf Club destroyed by monsoon weather.

The President of the Australian Golf Industry Council, Gavin Kirkman, today called on all MPs and candidates to go behind the wave during the federal election campaign to support the big places and people in the sport.

The AGIC has made the call as part of its Pitch In: Grow Community Golf Information Campaign – a new golf industry venture designed to improve the capabilities and durability of golf clubs and facilities throughout the nation, making the game easier for more Australians. access, learn and play.

"Golf is gearing up to make sure that our elected representatives do their bit to support the game and facilities at the local level," Kirkman said.

"Golf facilities are more than just places to play golf. They are community hubs with a place for weddings, birthdays, funerals and charity events – they are a place for everyone to use and enjoy.

"The people who benefit from investing in the facilities stretch well and more than those who only use the golf course. They are great places for all Australians to use in so many different ways.

"But they need help. They need our elected representatives at Pitch In."

The Pitch In: Grow Community Golf campaign highlights urgent and shovel-oriented golf facility infrastructure projects in Australia that require financing to improve and improve outdated and damaged golf infrastructure in both metropolitan and regional Australia.

MPs and candidates in marginal seats are directly contacted, with an emphasis on projects that need immediate help from their electorates.

The following projects are some examples of those identified under Pitch In:

Facility

Electorate

Project overview

Investment question

Townsville Golf Club, QLD

Herbert

Upgrade to women's exchange facilities and help with recovery at the clubhouse and of course after the monsoon rains in January

$ 440,000

Echunga Golf Club, SA

Mayo

Upgrade to facilities to improve clubhouse facilities to promote wider community use and encourage greater participation of women and children in the game

$ 58,000

Queenscliff Golf Club, Vic

Corangamite

Installation of an automatic watering system that provides environmental benefits through more efficient water use

$ 96,000

Gosford Golf Club, NSW

Robertson

Installation of updated air conditioning units by the clubhouse to monitor club growth and encourage further community use

$ 50,000

"Our golf courses are not just sports facilities, they are really social hubs and useful event spaces," said Kirkman.

"By drawing attention to these facilities, we want to develop partnerships with local representatives so that we can work together to support this great game and its facilities at the local level."

There are 1497 golf courses in Australia and 70% of them are in regional areas. According to the latest AGIC survey conducted by Golf Australia, an increasing number of golf clubs in Australia operate under financial need and many courses remain open only because of the hard work of dedicated volunteers.

"Community golf projects such as those in Townsville, Echunga, Queenscliff and Gosford are great places for Australians to use in so many ways," Kirkman said.

"But they need help and that's why we call on all sides of politics at Pitch In and help make our community golf clubs great again."