The Melbourne Sandbelt region just got even better, according to Victorian Premier, Hon Daniel Andrews MP, who officially opened Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club this week.
Six years in the making, PK is the most significant sandbelt golf course redevelopment in Australia. The club is a result of a world-first, industry leading merger between Kingswood Golf Club and Peninsula Country Golf Club and sets a benchmark for other golf clubs.
The 144 hectare site, located in Skye Road, Frankston, comprises a new clubhouse designed by Demaine Partnership, and two 18-hole golf courses redesigned by renowed Australian golf architecture firm Ogilvy Clayton Cocking Mead (OCCM).
The striking facility includes the clubhouse and restaurant, a 25-metre heated swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis court, bowling green, and luxury in-house and remote guest accommodation.
Developed to enhance the golf offer for members and as a golf tourism drawcard for the region, the strategic move by PK has ensured the longevity of the club.
“Peninsula Kingswood is a gift to the game of golf – a great test that sits comfortably alongside Melbourne’s other Sandbelt gems like Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath,” said Premier Andrews.
“This development is great for Frankston, for jobs and for everyone who loves golf. All involved should be very proud.” said Andrews.
Rob Dowling, PK Club President, said the club sets a new standard in Australian golf.
“Today is the culmination of the vision of the directors of two prestigious golf clubs, who had the courage to merge, to sell one beloved club, and to invest in the future when other clubs were failing,” Dowling said.
“Peninsula Kingswood sets a new standard. Our courses have been designed to stand alongside the great heathland courses of the world, whilst ensuring playability for golfers of all abilities.
“While we are enriched by the history of both founding clubs, we are forward looking in our attitude to what this golf club can be. We have embraced equal opportunity in golf, we are attracting new members, we have developed a junior pathway program and we encourage partners, families and children to utilise the facilities through our family extension program; we do things differently.”
Course architect OCCM’s Mike Cocking said the aim of the course redevelopment was to realise the potential of the site by creating a true sandbelt experience, both in design and construction.
“I think it is fair to say that we haven’t before seen a renovation of this scale around the Melbourne sandbelt. Every green, bunker and tee has been redesigned or rebuilt, fairways reshaped and re- grassed, creeks and water bodies added, a state of the art irrigation system, cart paths, drainage and vegetation works. What PK has achieved in the past four years is basically what every other sandbelt course has spent the last 20 or 30 years accomplishing,” said Cocking.
Peninsula Kingswood is a private club with approximately 2,000 members.
