UPDATE: Lakelands GC transitions to full public access
*This is an update from a story run in January 2017- COO letters below main story.
Jack Nicklaus’ first signature designed course in Australia, Lakelands Golf Club on the Gold Coast, announced Monday its decision to revert back to becoming a fully public course, leaving 250 members in limbo.
Opened too much fanfare in 1997, the premier 18 hole 72 par international standard championship golf course has been operating more as a private members’ club over the past few years, with limited public access.
The club’s membership options for the next financial year were revealed in a notice to its members on Monday, where the club’s Chief Operating Manager Hideya Fujimaki (who could not be contacted) said that changes were made due to financial issues and that management was changing focus to attract overseas golfers.
The notice further stated that the club would no longer offer any fully unlimited membership categories as of 1st July this year, and playing access options will be offered where vouchers will be issued. It supposedly will not impact on entire the membership as many are on the new voucher system already.
Players who have been paying $4800 per year in annual subscriptions at the prestigious club have been left confused and one member said: “It is the loss of a wonderful facility,”
“The staff is great, the course is always in good nick and the members are such a great bunch of people.
“Everyone is spewing, asking what happens to the real estate values when Lakelands becomes a public course.
“All I can do is look for another course that has good practice facilities.”
The club’s decision has not only affected members, but Lakelands’ teaching professionals David Nable and Ann Wilson who have been told their contracts will not be renewed after June 30.
Mr Nable has been coaching at Lakelands for 11 years and has applied the professional polish to a number of stars, including Amy Yang, Heiji Kang and Andrew Buckle who have all played on the US circuits.
“It is very disappointing but I guess all I can do is find another job,” Mr Nable said.
The premier golf course has been voted ‘Best conditioned Australian public access course’ in four of the last five years by the highly regarded publication, the Australian Golf Course Guide.
The course was also recently voted the Number One Golf Course Wedding Venue on the Gold Coast for 2016.
According to the club, more details regarding memberships will be made in the following months.
(Editor’s note: If they think they have financial challenges now, what till they lose that ongoing customer base to other facilities!)
Update 27/1 from their CEO
As mentioned to members earlier this week Lakelands Golf Club will be transitioning into a Golf Course with full access to the Public. For many years Lakelands has welcomed public access players and now there will only be more opportunities for everyone to enjoy Lakelands Golf Club and the facilities we have on offer.
Although we are opening all tee times to Public, the overall operating times and daily player numbers will be controlled so that the course condition and impact felt by residents on Lakelands Golf Club will be minimal.
In the keeping with Jack Nicklaus Design philosophy, the course will continue to be maintained at a at a high level with the environment in mind by creating wildlife habitats, using organic fertilisers over synthetic, while minimising use of water, chemicals and electricity.
With the above mentioned change we aim to further contribute to the local economy and employment opportunities for those on the Gold Coast.
Lakelands will continue to be involved with local events and competitions, with the aim of hosting an internationally recognised Professional tournament by 2021.
Members will continue to be updated over the coming months as we have more information become available.
On behalf of,
Hideya Fujimaki, COO
Chateraise Lakelands Golf Club Pty Ltd
Extract of members update 03/03
Good morning members,
Thank you for your patience in waiting for more information to be released. Hopefully what is mentioned below helps to clear up the majority of questions that members have, as well as the options that will be made available to current members. Unfortunately there has been untrue rumours spread by some members and guests which may have affected your decision you have already made and for that we apologise.
Unfortunately when trying to sit in the middle ground over previous years and 3 different ownerships as to whether we are a ‘member’s’ course’ or a course accessible by the public, where being ‘semi-private’ has not achieved the financial success as hoped. Removing the option for unlimited play was a very tough decision to make, but we feel it is the right path for Lakelands Golf Club going forward and this is why we made sure to give 5 months notice.
More than half the current members are currently on the voucher or country options which would most likely come as a surprise to most. The ability to attract enough full unlimited members has dropped off at all Golf Clubs on the Golf Coast for the past 10 years as we do not have enough big industries to support clubs such as Lakelands, despite what may lead you to believe. This is also why other courses close by have recently closed membership options as well.
All changes that have already been been announced, and what are about to be undertaken are all part of our plan to restructure the way we operate as a business in order to make sure Lakelands Golf Club is sustainable and can live on for many years to come. In order to achieve what our company sets out to achieve with all businesses, we are simplifying and streamlining many of the operational procedures that are currently being undertaken every day in all departments, most of which would not even be noticeable to any customers.
Currently Lakelands sees approximately 42000 rounds per year on course, and we will be targeting 35000 rounds in the next financial year as an Exclusive Public golf course. Our aim is not to fill the course with customers who do not respect the work that has gone into the course conditions that the green staff has been able to prepare each day for the past 20 years. We will be upholding the course quality and enforcing the etiquette required by customers here at Lakelands.
Lakelands Access options 2017-18 Financial Year
AS of 1st July the following options are available here a Lakelands Golf Club:
Limited Access passes issued as vouchers
- 10 games – $950
- 20 gamer – $1800
- 40 games – $3000
- 60 games – $4200
Tee time access
As of 1st of July there will no longer be any reserved member tee times. Over the pas 2 years the amount of tee times reserved for members has utilized minimally.
Tee times available as of 1st July 2017:
- Sunday, Monday, Tuesday – 7am until 1pm
- Wednesday,Thursday,Friday and Saturday – 7am until 2pm
- Public Holidays – 7am until 1pm
The later start to each tee sheet will help with the recent issues with residents as the Golf Club prepares the golf course suitably each day for the early morning golfers.
Thank you for your time and patience once again, as we do appreciate your continued support of Lakelands Golf Club. The team here at Lakelands looks forward to seeing you all out on the course again soon.
Kind Regards
Hideya Fujimaki, COO
Chateraise Lakelands Golf Club Pty Ltd
