YEARS of uncertainty were brushed away when golfers returned to the Kooralbyn Resort golf course for the first time in eight years on Wednesday.
About 50 golfers teed off on day one, with many travelling from as far as the northside of Brisbane to reacquaint themselves with the famous course that has sat dormant since 2008.
First impressions were largely positive from golfers, with most praising the renovation efforts and vowing to return.
But the news was not all positive, with Kooralbyn Resort general manager Peter Buckland announcing the adjoining resort had been delayed once again.
The resort and golf course were scheduled to reopen on Wednesday and a gala opening event was planned for June 5, but the management team agreed to delay the re-opening until the resort was ready for guests.
Mr Buckland said problems with contractors completing work to schedule and the discovery of a major fault in the air-conditioning system had contributed to the decision to delay.
“With a renovation of this size there are always problems that you can’t foresee, and we’re doing our best to overcome those problems,” he said.
“Unfortunately, it is difficult to get tradesman and supplies out here so we’re three weeks behind where we wanted to be. We just have to suck it up and get on with it, but we’re getting there.”
Mr Buckland said he was proud of the newly-opened golf course, which underwent a $2 million upgrade including the installation of a new irrigation system.
The Times spoke to several golfers on the course, with the majority saying they were impressed.
Golfer John Egan first played the course 35 years ago and said he enjoyed coming back.
“It’s just like the old days. It’s a great day to spend with a couple of mates and the challenge is still there,” he said.
Brisbane golfer Michael Kelly was full of praise for the course.
“It was such a great course 30 years ago and once they get a bit of rain it’s going to be an exceptional course in 12 months time,” he said.
“For the prep they’ve done it on it, they’ve done a magnificent job. It will be a real challenge for any golfer.”
Resort development manager Mark Heinrich admitted there would be some cynicism about a further delay of the resort, but he said it was important the job was done right.
“Everyone here is hugely disappointed in the delay, but it will be nothing like the disappointment if we don’t get it perfect for the people who choose to stay here,” he said.
“It’s got to be a magnificent experience. If we have to keep delaying to make the experience amazing for when people get here, we’ll keep delaying.”
Mr Heinrich says he believes the resort will open in late June or early July and the resort now employs over 100 people on site as the project reaches its final stages.
