DUST and heat might have turned the nine-hole Mungindi Golf Course a lighter shade of brown in recent times, but the community spirit that keeps the ‘Royal’ Mungindi on par is flourishing.
Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall recently visited the club to announce a kick-along in the form of a $26,106 grant from the NSW Government to renovate sections of the clubhouse and provide much-needed air conditioning.
“The Mungindi Golf Club is a fabulous community facility and I’m thrilled with this funding to help provide some much-needed upgrades in the clubhouse,” Mr Marshall said.
“Community members and volunteers have done an amazing job at the club and course and I was pleased to learn that they recently secured support from the NSW Golf Foundation to install a watering system at the course entrance and first tee.
“The clubhouse has always been a popular spot for locals, but with the recent closure of the RSL Club, the golf club will be an even more important gathering place and function centre for the Mungindi district.
“Those improvements along with the $26,000 from the NSW Community Building Partnership Finding program will provide a tremendous leg up and encouragement to those community members who work to maintain the facility.”
The club was established in 1973 and hosts numerous events throughout the year including the popular Cotton Growers annual charity golf day which last year raised more than $13,000 to be donated to 11 community groups around Mungindi.
“I commend the community for the hard work they undertake to keep the course going under very trying circumstances and I look forward to revisiting the course again this year to enjoy some of those improved facilities,” Mr Marshall said.
Club Secretary Matthew Luhrs said the current committee and volunteers from the community had maintained a busy schedule to try and keep the course and the clubhouse in working order.
“Since its construction in 1973, the Golf Club have tried to maintain the club house to a good standard, however years and floods have taken their toll and the clubhouse is in need of renovation,” Mr Luhrs said.
“Currently the club is utilising its own funding to replace the ceiling and painting, so this state government funding will bring the clubhouse to a safe standard and allow greater use by other groups including hosting grower information days, drama society rehearsals, and seniors events.
“We have a keen team of helpers including tradesman that will be pitching straight in getting this project off the ground.”