As 2021 nears the end, the team are working hard behind the scenes, planning for the development and launch of our very own driving range.

With so many of our members currently using driving ranges elsewhere and the fact that we are always looking at ways to elevate the standard of our club, the development of the driving range makes a lot of sense.

Think about all the days that you are time pressed and can’t muster up hours to play but still feel like a hit and want to make some headway on your game. With the introduction of this professional practice facility, you will have options to practice on demand (without picking up your own balls).

The driving range will boast 10 artificial grass driving bays, and space for grassed teeing areas, which will be built at a later date. In order to provide a full-service driving range, which is able to cater for our longest hitters, it will need to be 270m. We have considered many options (including consideration of the dams and floating balls) but the only viable space is the existing practice range.  However, in order to deliver the required 270m, we will need to modify the 19^th hole. The bays will be situated where the current 19th green is located, with the direction of play being toward the 14^th Fairway (135m mark).

The 13^th hole will, therefore, need to be modified. It will remain a par 5 and will be of a similar length to the existing hole. The tee will be located next to the driving range bays, i.e., to the edge of the current 19^th fairway (Refer to diagram below).

In due course, a new hole will be constructed. The teeing area will be behind the 11^th green, with the green located where the current 19^th tee is situated. The new green will operate as a premium short game practice area when the 19^th hole is not in use.

The addition of these facilities will elevate your club to another level, not to mention elevate your game. We will proudly be the only driving range in the Macedon Ranges with the vision of being the premiere training facility in the region.

The range will add a much-needed additional revenue stream to the club. Without this, we will have to rely on increased revenue from our existing services (e.g., membership & hospitality) to cover the ever-increasing cost of maintaining and enhancing the club. This facility will also attract more people to the club who in turn will spend money on our existing offerings.

The projected net return for the club is forecast to be between $30k and $60k. The conservative estimate of $31k per annum is based on 4,200 balls per week (6 x large buckets of balls per day). The driving range, and associated automated infrastructure, will be designed to minimise the necessary operating expenditure.

The construction will be split into three phases:

Phase 1 – the establishment of the driving range will cost an estimated $50k. Work will commence in the 3^rd week of January 2022 with the range operational by the 1^st week of March 2022.

Phase 2 – the building of the new tees on 13^th and the 12^th holes will cost an estimated $17k. Work will commence in March 2022 with the new tees in play by January 2023. The 13^th will be played as a par 4 until the new tee is ready.

Phase 3 – the construction of the new 19th hole will cost an estimated $24k. Work on this phase will not commence for another year or two depending upon the level of success of the new range.

It is proposed that phases 1 and 2 will be funded from the existing capital reserve, which will be topped up from the first years’ revenue. Once the reserve is topped up, the revenue will be available to maintain and improve the golf course.  We are considering how members can be rewarded, including discounts on driving range products and services. We hope you all share in the enthusiasm of this project and welcome any thoughts that you have on how the proposed facility can be enhanced.

There will be a number of on-site information sessions for members to discuss the proposed new facility (dates and times to be confirmed). In addition, please send any areas for improvement to manager@gisbornegolf.com.au by Saturday the 18^th of December 2021.

Please follow this link for a larger image – Driving range diagram v1 p2

Regards,

Jacqui Flinn and Team

 

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