Drop in members may force sale

By Sarah Thompson
A DECLINE in membership has led Beaconhills Country Golf Club into financial uncertainty.
With membership dropping from 947 in 1999 to 712 in 2005, and green fees dropping in the same period from $528,000 to $333,000, the club has been forced to put forward a proposal to reduce the number of holes from 36 to 27 holes.
The club’s board has called a meeting of members for 30 May to vote on a motion to reduce the size of the club and create three blocks of land for sale on McArthur Road in Upper Beaconsfield.
The club said the decision to propose the cut had not been taken lightly, but the present 36 holes were supported by inadequate facilities and the board believed it was the only way the club could continue into the future.
“It is a tough climate in the golf industry at the moment and it is not about to change.
“The Beaconhills board of directors have devised a proposal for members’ approval which will certainly improve the quality of the course and the clubhouse whilst ensuring its longevity,” club manager Danie Myers said.
The proposal would reduce the number of holes and the money from the sale to pay off debt, seal the driveway and start upgrading the remaining holes.
Club president Doug Eastick said it was imperative that the motion to reduce the course be moved to ensure that the longterm interest of the club was secure.
“Beaconhills Country Golf Club is one of the most scenic and picturesque golf courses in the state and I am very pleased to see we now have a plan to ensure its preservation for future generations of golfers,” Mr Eastick said.