RED Cliffs Golf Club is hoping to boost membership numbers, particularly juniors, with free golf clinics.
The club started adult and juniors clinic on Sunday with club member and former professional Ben Hogan keen to see more take part.
Hogan joined the club last year – along with Chris Thomas from Riverside – and is part of a concerted effort to grow the club.
“At the moment we are looking for some juniors to get involved with the club, numbers are really low across the district,” he said.
“Just to try and boost the club at the moment, a few months ago things weren’t looking fantastic here but as we’ve seen in the past couple of months there’s been a great amount of progress that has happened.”
The return of Daryl Morgan from South Australia after about two decades has been instrumental – with Morgan seeing the clinics as a chance to give back to his home club.
“I was involved in the junior programs down in Mount Gambier, and successful clubs,” Morgan said. “We had a couple come through the program and become professionals.”
Clinics run on Sunday mornings from 9-10am for adults and 10-11am for juniors for the next 5-6 weeks.
“It’s just to get people back to the club and give them another sporting opportunity,” Morgan said.
Participants just need to turn up on the day, with golf easily able to account for COVID-19 hygiene restrictions.
Hogan said there was an air of positivity at the club.
“At the moment it feels fantastic, it was fantastic news when we heard Daryl was coming home. We feel there’s going to be a lot of positive things that happen at the club in the next 6-12 months,” he said.
“I can’t speak highly enough about the course, considering what it was like in February. It’s made a massive improvement … not to mention the dam works as well.”
Course upgrades on target
WORK is continuing at the Red Cliffs Golf Club as it undergoes the biggest facelift in its 95- year history.
An estimated $250,000 will be spent when all works are completed.
Some of the upgrades which have taken place include improvements to the dam in the middle of the course, affectionately known as “Stinky”.
The dam has been replaced by a lake with a holding capacity of 27 megalitres. This has opened up the whole course with views of the lake, the clubhouse and other fairways available from most holes.
Excess soil from the construction works were placed on an area bordering the 11th and 12th fairways, creating a new golfing hazard.
Club president Mick Hogan said while it will take time for the grass to regrow, he couldn’t be happier with the upgrades which have taken place.
“It will take some time to replant grass and trees on the renovated area but the end result will be fantastic, especially with the extra water to keep it green and growing,” Hogan said.
“The lake will be filled from access to drainage water from the Red Cliffs irrigation district, which will in turn drought proof the golf club.”
The club also plans additional irrigation work on some fairways, the pump shed to be relocated and solar panels installed to assist with power costs.
Hogan said the upgrades had created a lot of interest among the local golfing community with member numbers increasing in recent months.
“The feeling among the members is one of excitement and enthusiasm with many of our retired members coming out to check the new works,” Hogan said.
“Fields since our reopening after the enforced virus lock down have been excellent, the fairways are in good nick following the drought and the greens are in super condition.”
