Crown’s exclusive Capital Golf Course in the Melbourne suburb of Heatherton, once a playground for celebrities and high-rollers, could soon take on a new identity under a James Packer-backed bid led by former Richmond Football Club president, Clinton Casey.

RELATED: Western Australia’s Links Kennedy Bay course set to re-open in November after 5-year redesign

Casey’s development firm, the Casey Group – known for large-scale residential and retirement projects – has lodged a bid for the 14-hectare property, reportedly valued at more than $100 million. The bid is supported by Packer’s real estate business, NPACT Capital, and could pave the way for Rossdale Golf Club to relocate from its current home in Aspendale.

Capital Golf Course, built to service Crown Casino’s VIP clientele, has hosted global stars including Tiger Woods, but has struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent regulatory crackdowns that curbed high-end gambling. The course, complete with helicopter access and immaculate conditioning, remains one of Australia’s most exclusive layouts, albeit one that’s seen fewer players in recent years.

Sources close to the deal say Casey Group has been in discussions for more than a year. If successful, the development could provide Rossdale with a fresh start, as the club prepares to sell its existing site for residential development. Rossdale, which twice hosted the Australian PGA Championship in the 1960s, has been searching for a new home to secure its long-term future.

Casey, who also chairs the Links Group – owners of Sanctuary Lakes, Sandhurst Club and the Geelong Golf Club Residential Estate – confirmed to The Australian Financial Review that an offer had been made.

However, the Casey Group faces stiff competition from the Fox family, led by logistics magnate Lindsay Fox, whose Linfox Group controls major assets such as the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and Avalon Airport.

Crown, now owned by US private equity firm Blackstone, is offloading non-core assets as part of a broader financial restructure. A sale of Capital Golf Course would help fund refurbishments of its casino and hotel precincts nationwide.

Whichever way the deal swings, one of Australia’s most exclusive golf venues may soon have a new chapter – and possibly, a new membership.