No deal for Horton Park
Wed 01 June 2011
Emma Wilson, Bachelor of Communications
Horton Park Golf Club members no longer have the option to purchase Twin Waters Golf Club, following the announcement the Twin Waters owner has decided not to sell.
In October, 2010, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) announced it would be resuming the land where Horton Park is currently situated, and offered the club $39 million to make alternative arrangements.
Horton Park Golf Club (HPGC) members have been divided over whether to move their club over to the Twin Waters facility, and could not come to an agreement after three separate votes in the past six months.
The vote required two thirds of members in favour of the move, and each time fell short by less than 10 votes.
Yamaji Golf, owners of the alternative facility, had accepted an offer to sell the Twin Waters course for $28 million, which was $20 million more than it was purchased for six years ago in 2005.
Yamaji Golf Australia owner Dr Yamaji has always maintained that selling the Twin Waters course was a difficult decision, and had rejected previous offers from Horton Park to sell.
The negotiation delay may have fuelled the drawn-out vote between members, but the future of Horton Park is now more doubtful than ever, with SCRC refusing to give the club an extension to make other arrangements.
SCRC has maintained that it will begin resumption of the land in October 2011, even if the club has not found another facility.
The latest development has left Horton Park with few options, and the club is now considering possible locations to build a new course, a process that could take years to complete.
Horton Park Golf Club member Graham Alfred voted in favour of the move, and said that it was disappointing that the club would not be relocating to Twin Waters because a small amount of people were opposed.
“The majority of us just want to be able to play Golf. Twin Waters is a great course, I would have been happy to go," Mr Alfred said.
“Now the offer is gone because of a few whingers and we will have to wait for a new one to be built. It could take years.”
Not everyone is unhappy that the sale is no longer an option.
Since first hearing about the possible takeover, Twin Waters residents, as well as the staff and members of the golf club, have been waiting anxiously to hear the results.
Members of the Twin Waters Residents Association (TWRA) had voiced concerns to the Sunshine Coast Daily regarding the future of the clubs tennis courts, which are used by Twin Waters residents, and were to be sold separately if Horton Park took over.
The Association was also wary of the increased traffic flow to the area.
Twin Waters Golf Club general manager Steve Hutchinson said there was a sense of relief among the 330 current members, who had voiced concerns over having an additional 1500 members to share the course with if Horton Park was to relocate.
“The membership has been very positive to see the sale process end,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“The most consistent response was that now the sale process is over the (sic) can move on and enjoy their golf.
“The increase in membership would put pressure on competition days...it’s also going to put some adverse stress on the quality of the golf course presentation and condition.”
Mr Hutchinson commended the staff throughout the process of the sale, acknowledging it was difficult for them to go through months of uncertainty about their positions.
“The staff have been very loyal, professional and consistent throughout the whole process,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“Now that things have returned to normal it is back to business as usual.”
The Twin Waters Club will resume its annual club membership this week.
The members had previously been reduced to quarterly membership offers until the sale process was resolved.
Image(s) designed by Emma Wilson
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Submitted Comments
Very impressive article and great images!
Nick Hluchaniuk