Federal Golf Club, just a few minutes drive from Parliament House, is currently in stunning condition. The course is thriving under the wetter conditions of recent times. The change in weather has been greatly welcomed, and the turf is thriving. The drought and bushfires of 2019-2020 presented the club with a desperate situation, especially considering the lack of water infrastructure available. The course was suffering and the surrounding Red Hill Nature Reserve was virtually a tinderbox.
However, to tell the story of improved rainfall fixing all the problems would be remiss. The club has undergone a thorough evaluation of its operational efficiencies and the results are bearing fruit. Anthony Sinclair, the club’s general manager discussed the situation: “With the water infrastructure challenges that are well documented, we really needed to dig deep to find the best way to survive in the short term by being as efficient as possible in everything we can control. That started with the board and management being very clearly aligned in strategy – something I believe a lot of clubs still struggle with. As a management team, we’ve been given plenty of leeway to grow the business and the club’s status and role in the community. We are the custodians of an amazing and important piece of land; that is a responsibility we take seriously. We wanted to get back to investing in the course, our no.1 product and a huge environmental asset. We knew this would also drive demand for the facilities. We have a top-class superintendent in Peter Dunn who, along with a strong team, has driven the improvements in turf condition and cultural practices that we needed with incredible passion. The membership and general foot traffic of public and guest play has since seen incredible growth. We have developed a great overall team here, but it’s really important to recognise the role the board has played in allowing that team to manage with a clear direction and priorities.”
“We want golfers walking away after a game feeling like they have spent a good chunk of their day in a very beautiful part of the world, feeling good about their commitment to come here in their free time,” Dunn adds.
The dedication of the club’s team and that ounce of luck with the rain is paying off, for now. The club’s water vulnerability remains a critical issue, but they are now hopeful its over-55s development proposal will soon be green-lighted by the government, securing a future that will benefit the golf-playing and wider community. The club has actively consulted with key local environmental and community groups to progress the proposal.
One thing is for sure: when you visit Federal you will receive a warm welcome and find the fairways and greens in superb condition, while enjoying this great game in a superb and unique bushland setting that belies its location right in the heart of our capital city. We think you should put Federal Golf Club on your golf bucket list!
THE DETAILS
Federal Golf Club
Where: Gowrie Drive, Red Hill ACT 2603
Phone: (02) 6281 1888
Web: federalgolf.com.au
