The Australian Golf Centre 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.
Dean Kinney is the head golf coach at the Victorian Institute of Sport and can’t wait for the development to be finished.
“This will be by far the premium high-performance centre in Australia,” he says. “And it will be on par with the best in the world.”
“The design is outstanding, and the surface here in the famous sandbelt region is absolutely world class.”
“I believe those two things together put this in the top 10 facilities in the world.”
Dean said the centre would run camps for high performance golfers from across Australia including juniors.
“This will give us a real pathway to develop golfers.”
Barbra Gaiotto from Waypoint is Project Manager for the development.
“It’s an exciting multi-faceted project servicing the needs of many stakeholders,” she says. “We’re constructing a high performance training facility, redeveloping the public 18 hole golf course, and building an administration hub for Golf Australia and PGA Australia.”
“The new 350 metre driving range provides opportunities for players of all abilities and complements the high performance short game training area at the eastern end of the driving range"
“There are currently nine new holes open to the public that were completed in January 2020, with the course construction team working on the remaining 9 holes. We aim to have all 18 redeveloped holes open by November 2020.”
“The water storage dam has been significantly expanded and with a new and more efficient irrigation system servicing the course, the reliance on potable water will be significantly reduced.”
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.