Palmerston North GC focused on adding value for members

The Palmerston North Golf Club is ringing the changes as it takes ownership of a golf shop, hires a new club professional and is set to reopen its driving range to the public.

General manager Norm Rapson said with a long-term lease secured with the Palmerston North City Council, they were charging ahead with plans to add value to the club.

“The biggest problem that a lot of golf clubs have around the country have at the moment is that it is a bit of race to the bottom. Every one is cutting their fees. We were probably guilty of that at some stages over the past few years as well, but that has now finished. Essentially what we are trying to do is add some value and make it attractive for people to come and pay what we think it is worth,” Rapson said.

He said the club was in good stead.

“The course has always been in reasonably good condition,” he said. “The membership has remained relatively stable over the last couple of years. It has actually grown three percent which is different to a lot of clubs around the country.”

The first major change is the club taking over management of the on-site golf shop which had been owned and operated by Dan Learmonth.

PGA-qualified professional Hamish Campbell has been hired to run the pro shop. Campbell trained under Glyn Delany at Total Golf in Nelson.

The club is also continuing to improve their amenities inside the clubhouse as they look to maximise its usage.

And they have order four new golf carts and is building storage facilities for personal carts, while there are plans to repair the road to the clubrooms.