Shut by, accessible, a super choice on the NSW south coast
UNDER an hour from Sydney’s southern suburbs and simply quarter-hour from the center of Wollongong, is The Grange Golf Membership.
After a visitors gentle at Heathcote, when heading south the following cease doesn’t come till on the doorstep of The Grange, after a leisurely 40-minute drive down the M1, making the course shut, accessible and a super choice for Sydney golfers, as a lot as it’s a fascinating {golfing} vacation spot for Dapto, Wollongong and south coast locals.
A difficult course, treelined, that includes lush kikuyu fairways and bent greens, protected by Mullet creek, The Grange has a robust membership base, a dedicated and enthusiastic workers, whereas utilising the mixed expertise and assets of a world golf administration heavyweight, a flourishing licensed native sporting membership and a Golf Operations supervisor with in depth information of the membership and the native Dapto and Kembla Grange space.
Whereas the golf course stands out as the showcase merchandise, with a refurbished clubhouse, The Grange additionally doubles as a singular weddings and capabilities location, able to roll out the crimson carpet in catering for a wide range of occasions.
Now 60 years outdated after opening with the backing of the native iron and coal colliery, The Grange Golf Membership is getting into into an thrilling new period, with its doorways, and the primary tee, open to guests and golfers from close to and much.
The course – Beware Mullet creek
A structure which presents two contrasting nines, golfers finest watch out for Mullet Creek, which comes into play on eight holes in winding its approach all through the course.
Many a promising spherical has come unstuck on the par three 18th, thought to be the signature gap at The Grange, the place any tee shot from the again markers struck quick or proper finishes within the deep ravine and within the flowing waters of the creek, the one factor sitting between the golfer and the entrance fringe of the inexperienced.
It’s a course that includes refined difficulties and a wide range of challenges, which could be loved by elite stage gamers and social golfers alike, maybe much more so in current instances following the acquisition of Hayden Westwood, a gifted and devoted course superintendent recruited from The Australian Golf Membership in Sydney.
Matt Carter, Grange Golf Operations Supervisor, has little doubt the experience of Westwood and his senior 2IC have significantly enhanced the situation of the course over the previous 12 to 18 months.
“These two guys have introduced in a distinct tradition. They’re at a senior stage and have are available with an ideal work ethic,” Carter mentioned. “And it’s rubbed off on the opposite guys.
“They’ve obtained the golf course in a extremely great place.”
Kicking off with a par 5, the outward half at The Grange is comparatively flat, and straightforward to stroll, highlighted by two extra testing par threes on the fourth and seventh holes.
The again 9 then begins with anotherpar three, mid-length to a smallish inexperienced, earlier than the final eight holes supply refined undulation and maybe extra selection than the entrance 9, culminating within the daunting ending gap.
“The tough could be thick and lengthy, and the timber are tall, if you happen to’re not within the fairway, it’s arduous to attain,” Carter warned.
That being mentioned, The Grange is definitely playable and to be loved by all ranges of golfer, following current renovations the course performs to a par of 70, with a slope ranking of 125, and a par of 70, slope 128, for girls.
Administration – In good fingers
In 2016 Dapto Leagues Membership signed an unique cope with Troon®, a world big in upscale golf facility administration, improvement and advertising and marketing, the Troon partnership with The Grange going down after the membership had undergone a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of the clubhouse, perform amenities and the golf course.
After beginning with one facility in 1990, Troon is now the world’s largest skilled membership administration firm, offering companies to some 875 or extra areas worldwide.
Troon positioned the skilled Scott McCaw into the position of Golf Operations Supervisor, his transfer to The Grange coming after a earlier posting within the center east.
Whereas McCaw has just lately moved on, his appointment was a transparent indication of Troon’s want to assist drive the expansion and improvement of The Grange.
Carter, now having stepped up into the senior golf operations position, has been part of the proverbial furnishings at The Grange since his junior days, having gained the Membership Championship in 2004 earlier than turning into the trainee skilled underneath Wayne Parlato, then head professional, is armed with years of native information, in addition to classes discovered from McCaw, whereas having fun with the assist of Troon and the Dapto Leagues Membership.
“You would say Troon are my ‘instrument field’.They provide nice assist,” Carter started. “If there may be something of concern, we’ve obtained folks to bounce off. If there is a matter, we will go to them to see if any of their different amenities have confronted comparable.
“They got here on board in 2016, tied in with the clubhouse construct and when the bunkers had been redone. I used to be right here all through the entire transition.
“And with Scott’s steering, I’ve additionally grown loads myself,” Carter added.
As a part of his position, Carter has a robust relationship with the administration at Dapto Leagues, an especially financially viable membership working close by, The Grange on providing their amenities doubling as a premium occasions and capabilities venue.
“Our relationship with Dapto Leagues David Hiscox the CEO, who’s our direct contact there, may be very optimistic. Chloe Dawson is the capabilities coordinator, and he or she has a robust crew underneath her.
The Grange clubhouse, outfitted with a business kitchen, is a spectacular wedding ceremony venue, whereas additionally working as a coaching capabilities and various occasions choice, in delivering a premium {golfing} and occasions expertise to golfers and residents of the NSW Illawarra area and to guests from additional afield.
The Member expertise – juniors and social golf welcomed
The Grange Golf Membership members, who at the moment quantity in extra of 600, can play the course any and all days of the week, for a aggressive yearly charge.
Grange members acquire entry to not solely the golf membership advantages but additionally to the in depth amenities of Dapto Leagues Membership together with cafe’s, eating places, bars, leisure, and promotions, whereas with the membership being part of the Troon community, they take pleasure in Troon Benefit charges at different Troon amenities around the globe.
Aggressive inexperienced price charges additionally make The Grange a pretty choice for social play, which is accessible seven-days, with golf carts out there for rent.
Membership is open in all classes, together with 7-Day, 5-Day, Youth (18-30 years) and Juniors, with no becoming a member of price, at charges aggressive if not higher than different golf equipment within the neighborhood.
Equally, social golfers shall be accommodated seven days, outdoors of member competitors instances, at extremely aggressive inexperienced price charges, and with the course a brief drive from Sydney’s south, Sundays are fashionable for social golf golf equipment.
“Sunday social membership play is certainly not booked out, however we at the moment do about 40 Sunday’s a 12 months,” Carter mentioned, in a transparent message encouraging these golf equipment to e-book early to keep away from disappointment.
Carter additionally expressed that getting extra 18-to-30-year outdated’s on the course, along with encouraging extra juniors to play the sport, was a possible space for development within the years to return.
“There was an enormous inflow of younger guys taking part in golf. We used to have 30-40 in our youth membership class, now we now have 120.”
The longer term – welcoming golfers, younger and outdated
With the course situated in an space which is a brief drive from Wollongong and the south coast beachside way of life, younger households are being interested in the area, with inhabitants rising significantly in and round Dapto and The Grange membership.
That being the case, with extra households prone to arrange residence close by, one of many plans for the way forward for The Grange centres round encouraging extra junior participation.
Golf Operations Supervisor / Educating Skilled Derek Cole, who grew up in Michigan within the US, did his coaching in Southern California, then moved to Australia in 2017 earlier than working at golf golf equipment in Sydney, got here to The Grange from his most up-to-date appointment at The Highlands GC in Mittagong.
His objective is to construct teaching and junior applications at The Grange and to draw extra kids to the course and to the sport of golf.
“I’ve already began doing a little teaching and I’m going to drive that ahead, particularly with the junior side,” Cole mentioned.
“The world is rising and lots of households want to become involved in golf, so I’ll be making an attempt to construct a robust junior program.”
“There’s a clear slate to re-build our teaching and junior applications,” Carter agreed. “I’m more than pleased if Derek has the time.
“It’s urged that in extra of 30,000 houses shall be added sooner or later to the West Dapto space and surrounds, the housing demand and development clearly which means extra folks within the space,” Carter reasoned.
Which provides as much as a optimistic future for The Grange Golf Membership.
Nonetheless, in specializing in the current, The Grange affords a first-class {golfing} expertise, with moderately priced greens charges and aggressive member charges, a premium occasion house, and a welcoming ambiance for all who go to.
For individuals who stay shut by, make the most of what you have got in your doorstep, for golfers pissed off by costly charges and crowded programs in Sydney, The Grange isn’t far, just one visitors gentle to cease you from Heathcote to Dapto, and likelihood is you’ll be pleasantly stunned when you arrive.
The Historical past
Initially named the AIS Collieries Golf Membership – The Grange, the course opened on the present web site in 1964, with 2024 representing the membership’s sixtieth anniversary.
The course started working underneath the management of the native Port Kembla iron and coal colliery, with Sir Ian McClelland the primary Membership President.
Worldwide golf and amenities administration firm Troon, partnering with the Dapto Leagues Membership, at the moment are working collectively to make The Grange course difficult, satisfying and accessible, and the refurbished clubhouse a welcoming setting for that particular wedding ceremony, occasion or capabilities.
The Grange Golf Membership
Course open 7-days per week – competitors and social play
Memberships, inexperienced charges, weddings, capabilities
www.thegrangegolfclub.com.au
Princes Hwy, 10 Kembla Grange, NSW 2526
Cellphone for all enquiries: (02) 4261 1647
data@thegrangegolfclub.com.au
