By Peter Douglas
DANDENONG Ranges golf enthusiasts are in shock this week after news the Emerald Golf Course will close from January next year.
The highly popular course is home to the Emerald and Olinda golf clubs and is a drawcard for many golfers in the region, with its appeal as a scenic, challenging and socially enjoyable option.
The cause for the closure is believed to be the failure of the owner and course management to reach a workable agreement for next year.
Malaysian businessman Alex Wee is the present owner of the course, with the Bayswater-based BSF Golf Management entrusted with its upkeep.
The 18-hole, par 70 Emerald course is noted for its picturesque setting, with numerous sand traps and sloping greens offering challenges for golfers.
Long-time member Dennis Fuller said many members were in disbelief and that it would change his life substantially.
“I’ve lived on the doorstep of the 14th green for 35 years and been a member for 15 years,” he said.
“There is a close bunch of members, mostly retirees, who play every week … it’s important for us to get together because it’s a great release.
“We’ll try our best to stick together, but we’ll need to wait and see.”
Mr Fuller, who also regularly contributes golf reports to the ‘Mail’, said he was unsure what the future might look like for the course.
He said there had been rumours it would be put up for sale, but any precise plans were unknown.
Mr Fuller is a co-ordinator of the social competition and said they strived to go on, with the Garfield course one possible option for re-location.
“The nearest courses are Beaconhills, Montuna and Kingston Health, but the membership rates aren’t really do-able for some members,” he said.
Meanwhile, the news comes as a huge blow for co-tenant Olinda Golf Course, after they re-located to Emerald after the Olinda course finished up in 2009.
President of Olinda Golf Club, Bruce Williams, said the club would need to find a way to move forward.
“There’s definitely a sense of disappointment within the club, with only one month to find a new location for next year,” he said.
“It’s a double-whammy for us after re-locating from Olinda.”
Mr Williams said the club had approached the Victorian Golf League to inform them they were looking to find a new location.
He said there had been some interest forthcoming, but Garfield was unlikely to be a destination for the club, given the distance for many of the 30-plus loyal members.
Mr Williams said it would hurt many at the club.
“We have one inaugural member from 1968 who has played over 2000 games,” he said.
BSF Golf Management declined an offer from the ‘Mail’ to speak on the issue, while Mr Wee has also been contacted for comment.
