Longyard Golf Course on the verge of closing down without resort development
The Greg Norman and Bob Harrison designed Longyard Golf Club in Tamworth, NSW, is doing it tough and is on the brink of closing according to owner John O’Rourke.
O’Rourke is now trying to save the club by asking City Council to “expedite” development application to transform the driving range into an over 50s lifestyle resort, along with 40 residential dwellings on the north west edge.
According to O’Rourke the proposal is the only option to save the club’s future.
“I need it to become viable very quickly or we call it quits and there is no golf course,” he said to the Daily Leader.
“I have subsidised the course for 13 of the 15 years I have owned it.”
But the proposal had been met with some critique from members, including former club president Nick Broadbent, who slammed the scheme, claiming it would “change the length and nature of several holes” of the course, which O’Rourke declares untrue.
The proposal wouldn’t see any changes to the course, apart from the loss of the driving range, according to O’Rourke.
“We have also negotiated 7.5 per cent of profit (from the lifestyle resort) to remain attached to the course in perpetuity – so whether I own the course or not it will remain viable into the future.”
Steve Myers, Longyard’s Course professional is apprahensive about losign the driving range but said it would be “a small sacrifice to keep the course”.
“From a professional point of view we want to do whatever it takes to keep the golf course here for the members to play, and for people to enjoy the venue,” he said.
