By Jolene Ogle
THE Peregian Springs community can now look forward to teeing off following news the golf course is due to reopen mid-December.
A statement from Aveo announced Victorian company Golf Services Management Pty Ltd (GSM) had been granted a five-year lease to operate the Peregian Springs golf course with an option for a further five-year lease.
Aveo said the announcement follows an “urgent but thorough process” by the Board of Holdings to identify an experienced golf course operator and manager for the site.
The former Peregian Springs Golf Course was closed earlier this year after the club was forced into administration and liquidation.
The closure left residents outraged and hundreds gathered at a community meeting to voice their anger and form the Peregian Springs Residents Association (PSRA).
PSRA president Bob Joubert said the association was delighted to hear the club would re-open.
“This is fantastic news,” he said. “We are very excited by the news, which is pleasing to the whole community, whether golfers, home owners or residents, keen on seeing this wonderful facility being properly used again.”
Mr Joubert said the PSRA couldn’t take credit for the re-opening of the course but said it was great a great example of “people power”.
“The community made it very obvious to the owner of the site and the Aveo group that residents feel very strongly for the green heart of the Peregian Springs development and are very anxious that the nature of the suburb should be preserved,” he said.
“Aveo saw that a lot of people feel protective of this (suburb) and won’t be happy if it is not preserved.
“The PSRA was formed because of this issue, but it’s not the sole issue and we will address other issues. But, this very clearly demonstrates that people do take where they live very seriously and will protect it. And, if they try to step out of line again, they know there will be hundreds of unhappy residents.”
Holdings chairman Geoff Grady said he was pleased to have secured GSM as the new manager and operator of Peregian Springs golf course.
“GSM is a first-class operator who we are confident will return Peregian Springs golf course and clubhouse to the high standard that they demand,” he said.
Mr Grady thanked the community for their patience during this “very upsetting time” and said he is confident residents and the public will again enjoy the golf course.
GSM company director Ian Denny said he was excited by the prospect of re-establishing the “wonderful” golf course and facility.
“GSM has been through a similar experience at St Andrews Beach, where it re-opened after a period of closure in 2009 and the course has been profitable and highly-ranked ever since,” he said.
“The maintenance team from Solid Ground have done a fantastic job in keeping the course up to a standard that will see plenty of smiling golfers hitting the fairways again very shortly.”
Details of the golfing options that will be available will be released soon along with a website www.peregiangolf.com.au, which is currently under construction.
