Redland Bay Golf Club Completes Major $600,000 Greens Transformation

POSTED ON April 20, 2026 @ 2:27 pm

REDLAND BAY, QLD – Redland Bay Golf Club officially celebrated the reopening of its full 18-hole course on March 20, 2026, marking the successful conclusion of an ambitious TifEagle greens grass conversion project. The event signals the end of a transformative four-and-a-half-year period during which members navigated numerous temporary course configurations while the club modernised its primary playing surfaces.

The project’s origins date back to August 2021, sparked by the declining health of the 15th green due to its heavily shaded location. Following a $55,000 redesign of that hole by Richard Chamberlain Golf Design, the Board made the strategic decision to trial TifEagle as a replacement for the aging Bermuda 328 variety. Once the trial was deemed a success, the club developed a long-term rollout plan utilizing “spare” holes 19 and 20 to maintain a 18-hole playability while two greens were taken out of action at a time.

Strategic Acceleration and Technical Upgrades

Although the project was originally slated for completion in June 2027, the Board of Directors moved to significantly accelerate the timeline in April 2025. This shift was prompted by the operational complexity of the course team having to manage two distinct turf varieties simultaneously. By deciding to complete the final six greens in a single phase, the club successfully finished eight greens in-house—including a total rebuild of the 13th and additional works on the 8th—in just nine months.

The technical scope of the project has resulted in a vastly different course profile:

Surface Expansion: The total greens area increased from approximately 0.9 hectares to 1.3 hectares, representing a growth of over 30%.
Irrigation Overhaul: All greens now feature upgraded irrigation systems, including the installation of over 70 valve-in-head sprinklers.
Financial Investment: The total project cost concluded at slightly over $600,000.

GM Paul Fitzpatrick is giving the opening speech.

A Community Celebration

The reopening ceremony saw a high level of member engagement, reflected in the nearly full tee sheets for both the morning and afternoon shotgun starts. Club Captain Greg McNab and Directors Mark Stanton, Michele Stanley, and Ron Pollock represented the Board, while special guests included former member and Golf Australia State Manager Luke Bates.

The afternoon field was reserved for a “who’s who” of the club community, including sponsors, volunteers, and members with over 40 years of continuous membership. Life Member Len Beck performed the ceremonial duty of hitting the opening tee shot to officially declare the course open.

Recognition of the Project Team

The club’s leadership extended significant gratitude to the personnel who drove the project to completion. Course Superintendent Dion Cope was recognized for his project coordination and passion, while Gavin Beck was thanked for his design input and the complex management of temporary course setups. Additionally, former Director of Grounds Tom Crothers was highlighted for his carriage of the project through the majority of the rollout period.

The Board also acknowledged the critical role of member volunteers, whose assistance with turf laying and daily course maintenance allowed the professional course team to remain focused on the greens conversion.