Courses set for houses, not golf

Both courses are zoned residential in an area where such land is now at a premium. Photo / Thinkstock

Two of Auckland's best-known golf courses could become covered by hundreds of houses in business offers made to financially struggling clubs.

Furthest advanced is an estimated $32 million deal proposed by Fletcher Residential and Ross Reid Contractors for the Manukau Golf Club, under which the club would move to make way for more than 500 houses. Members of the Takanini-based club will vote on the offer before March.

The Grange Club in Papatoetoe, host to five New Zealand Opens, has received a similar offer, which is not as far advanced.

Both courses are zoned residential in an area where such land is now at a premium.

The offers come at a time when club memberships are under pressure, while expenses continue to rise.

The average age of members is more than 60 and there is a limit to what they are prepared to pay.

At weekends, tee times are in demand; for much of the week some very valuable real estate is sparsely populated.

Stewart Halligan, general manager at Manukau, said the club had a large bank debt to service and lost money last year.

"We've made a decision that we have to do something," Mr Halligan said.

"We've either got to relocate or sell some of the property."

The club would receive $2 million upfront, $10 million later and a new $20 million golf course.

Many members had been loath to lose the current course, Mr Halligan said, but they saw that the deal was necessary to keep the club going for future generations, and he was optimistic they would vote the proposal through.

The course has been estimated to be worth $40 million - which, divided into 500 houses, makes $80,000 a section.

A survey of several nearby houses revealed land values per section between $215,000 and $270,000 and house values between $550,000 and $680,000 - values inflated by being near the golf course.

Manurewa MP George Hawkins, who also sits on the Manurewa Local Board, said putting houses on the golf course would be a serious loss.

"It's got a good reputation, and it's easy to lose this sort of facility," Mr Hawkins said.

"Once it's covered in houses, it's certainly not coming back."

There were plenty of other places to put residential developments, said Mr Hawkins, who's also a former Papakura mayor.

"It would be a pity to have a nice area swallowed up with housing."

Local resident Kaye Mumby said she had not been kept well informed about the proposal, even though her house was likely to drop $10,000 in value if the golf course was turned into a housing development.

"It's a very pleasant place. We hope it doesn't change."

Fletcher Residential general manager David Halsey said the proposal was still in its early stages for the company.

"If we buy it, we will most certainly be doing houses on all of it."

The time frame calls for a decision by club members in March and a target date for opening the new layout in December 2013. Three-quarters of club members must approve the deal before the land is sold.

The club, which has 735 men and 235 women members with a median age of 62, would move to a new site bounded by Alfriston-Ardmore Rd, Alfriston Rd and Brookby Rd.

The present course beside Great South Rd would not be closed until the new layout and buildings were ready.

The deal, if approved, would see a new international-standard club course developed with a par of 72, sand-based greens and sand-capped playing areas. There would be comprehensive practice facilities, including undercover driving bays and target greens.

The clubhouse would have a lounge and restaurant overlooking the course, a sprig bar overlooking the 18th green and a pro shop.

The course designer would be Brett Thomson of RBT Design, who was responsible for The Hills and Clearwater courses in the South Island. Consultant to the designers would be leading New Zealand professional Phil Tataurangi.

Course relocations are nothing new in Auckland. The Auckland, Titirangi and North Shore clubs began life much closer to the city centre.

Manukau considered an offer for their course a few years ago but opted in the end for a reconstruction designed by former professional golfer Greg Turner.

Wellingtonian Rodney Barltrop won the New Zealand amateur championship at Manukau in 1974.

And the redoubtable Rotorua player Brenda Ormsby won her seventh national strokeplay title there in 2002.