Last year will remain a forgettable one to the golfers situated in and around the Peregian area on the Sunshine Coast.

Their much-loved golf course painted a dormant picture with a relatively bleak long term outlook, especially following the demise of another premier course in the area.

Not only did this hinder their aspirations to play the game they loved, but ripped apart the fabric of the community given their reliance on the venue for social activity. With so many houses lining the boundary of the golf course, property values were being diminished as pristine fairways and greens threatened to turn into overgrown bushland.

However to Ian Denny and his team at Golf Services Management, Peregian showed long term promise.

“There was clearly a community that was passionate about its golf facility and they seemed to be struggling with its closure” mentioned Ian. “So we took a long term view to entering into a lease arrangement with Aveo (the land owner) and just decided to get stuck in, implement the change from the previous private club model to a pay to play model and make it happen.”

Within days of committing to manage the troubled facility, GSM had formulated a strategy and got straight to work. The effort to re-open was incredibly elaborate, initially needing to re-hire staff, purchase new course machinery, a full fleet of brand new golf carts, stock for the Pro Shop amongst a host of various stakeholder relationships that required ongoing attention.

Now, five months down the track, the facility is back to being a premier golf destination on the Sunshine Coast. The course is as good as its been according to feedback, the driving range is attracting new people to golf, a new head coach has already commenced successful clinics and programs, the brand new PAR (sports) Bar has been launched, whilst a ‘Lifestyle Pass’ has also been popular, providing locals a more casual option to make Peregian their own.

These milestones certainly haven’t come without their setbacks though, with a number of bumps along the road including a substantial damage bill for the storms that ravaged Sunshine Coast towns in March. Golf participation industry wide is also seemingly declining, another challenge for Ian and his team long term – a challenge that they’ve taken on head first: “We promote no fussy dress standards or us-and-them mentality. We are here to provide a great golf course, lovely bar and a relaxed atmosphere for everyone in the community and tourists alike. Furthermore, I’m pleased to announce that the restaurant will be open again in mid June thus completing the final step in being fully operational again.”

This impending news will please none more than the patient people of Peregian, who now have their golf course and its wonderful facilities back and firing.

For more information on the new Peregian Golf Course & Driving Range, visit

www.peregiangolf.com.au