Local kaumātua Ken Kennedy snr (left), Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick and club president Alan Deverson during the site blessing ceremony. Photo / Supplied
Local kaumātua Ken Kennedy snr (left), Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick and club president Alan Deverson during the site blessing ceremony. Photo / Supplied
It's been more than 18 months since a Rotorua golf club's clubhouse was destroyed in a fire.
Now it has broken ground on the construction of a new clubhouse and revealed plans for a better facility.
In February last year the Lakeview Golf Club Clubhouse was destroyed in a fire,taking 50 years of history with it.
A blessing ceremony of the new clubhouse site was held on Tuesday.
President Alan Deverson said it was very exciting to have the new site blessed.
"This is the first step in a long process, and Covid lockdowns haven't helped."
He said they made sure to have a limited number of people at the event to follow restrictions, and they had a turnout of 25 people.
Lakeview Golf Club president Alan Deverson after the fire that destroyed the club's clubhouse. Photo / NZME
Local kaumātua Ken Kennedy snr blessed the site, and Deverson said this was also special due to the fact three generations of the Kennedy family were involved with the club at the moment.
The site blessing was also attended by Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick, councillor Trevor Maxwell and two of the club's life members, Milton Howes and John Reid.
Deverson said that site had been chosen for the new clubhouse because of the magnificent views of the golf course and lake it would have.
He said the old clubhouse had been lower down and didn't get those views, and they would be adding deck space on the northern and eastern sides of the new building.
The next steps towards the new clubhouse was to lodge plans with the council and get building consent, as well as determine the final price for the build and when construction could start.
In the meantime, he encouraged people to visit and have a look at the plans, and to learn more about the golf programmes they had on offer, such as the women's and junior programmes.
Once it has its new clubhouse, the golf club's temporary one and two toilet blocks will go on the market.
A number of people gathered for the event. Photo / Supplied
Mayor Steve Chadwick said it was fantastic to be there and see great people doing great things for their local community.
"I was impressed with the plans for the new clubhouse and especially with the vision to create a whānau-based community hub.
"That really speaks to council's objectives around creating thriving communities, ensuring people are connected, and having facilities and services that enable that to happen so they can thrive together."
She said the club had some wonderful initiatives to involve locals in their organisation, to work with schools to promote golf to tamariki and to support community charities.
"I also congratulate them on their contribution to Predator Free 2050 through their trapping programme, and especially engaging with young people to look after their environment."
Firefighters battling the blaze at Lakeview Golf Club in February last year. Photo / NZME
