The Loyal Bellingen Golf Club on the NSW Mid North Coast has officially reopened under the ownership of the Mosey On Inn Group following an extensive refurbishment.
It is the first golf club acquisition for the hospitality group, whose portfolio also includes the Eltham Hotel, Ciao Mate, You Beauty, and Attaboy Pizza. The group acquired the venue in November 2025 following the club entering administration.
Matt Rabbidge, co-owner of Mosey On Inn Group, told Club Management the acquisition presented an opportunity to restore the iconic clubhouse, invest in the golf course, and create a more community-focused venue.
“It was a kind of classic case, and an unfortunate case, of a small-town club going into administration,” Rabbidge said.
“It was independently run at the time, and so we picked it up out of administration and purchased the place.
“As operators of the Eltham Hotel and a couple of restaurants already, we had the background in hospitality, which might have been the missing link they’d had in the past. But at the same time, we’re all passionate golfers, and we just felt like this was a beautiful opportunity to do a venue that was an iconic clubhouse and really restore and work hard on the golf course side of things.
“It’s not for everyone, but we’ve made the decision to remove the machines and gaming licences, and we’ve gone with a family-friendly, music-oriented golf course. So far, it’s ticking the boxes for everyone.”
Key refurbishment details
The refurbishment began in November and was only recently completed, with the club now trading six days a week following the opening of its new kitchen. Memberships have also been rolling out since July.
Rabbidge said the group faced significant work to restore both the course and clubhouse when it took over the venue, with the greens requiring extensive repairs.
One of the most distinctive changes to the clubhouse has been the installation of a new tartan carpet, sourced from Brintons in the UK.
“It was a long wait for us to get hold of it,” Rabbidge said.
“We brought a classic tartan carpet from UK producers. It was a big mileage to get it here – made in Poland, distributed through the UK, and brought out here. But it’s an amazing tartan that links back to golf and its heritage as well.”
Rabbidge said the refurbishment focused on opening up the clubhouse and creating a more welcoming space for members, visitors, and the wider community.
“It’s a beautiful big space, with lots of floor-to-ceiling glass on the northern aspect. You come in and sit in the main bistro and club area, and you’re looking straight over the golf course with uninterrupted views,” he said.
A destination dining offer
Joining the team as head chef is Stephen Peak, who spent seven years as head chef at award-winning Tasmanian restaurant Agrarian Kitchen.
Rabbidge said bringing Peak into the group was a significant step as the business continues to develop its food offering.
“It was a big win for us to get him into the group,” Rabbidge said of Peak’s appointment.
“Long term for us, he’s come in as the group development chef, and we’ve said that instead of executive chef because we felt like the language around an exec chef is often just kind of walking in, shaking hands, high fiving, and ticking a few boxes, whereas development I think is a lot more about building culture and also the quality of food.”
Peak’s first challenge was establishing a kitchen and menu at Loyal Bellingen Golf Club, testing and refining dishes with members and guests.
Dishes at Loyal Bellingen Golf Club. Image: Leif Prenzlau
“The last couple of months he’s been down there, road testing with our punters. We feel like we’ve hit a really good mark in that middle ground where we really do need a classic club menu, but we’ve got the ability to exceed expectations when it comes to this style of food, the provenance and the high-quality growers that we’re working with,” Rabbidge said.
“Some standouts on the menu at the moment are a steak sandwich that’s been super popular. We had it as an original item at the Eltham Hotel and have done a reinvented version of it down there. It definitely keeps all the older golfers happy.
“We’ve also got a fish pie, lamb shank and mash – we are keeping it really classic. But at the same time, there’s house-made cheeses and seasonal greens that we’re working with local growers on. Whatever they’ve got on hand each week, we’ll respond to that and change our specials board to reflect it.”
Golf and music round out the appeal
The group has also been working with Australian PGA professional Andrew Campbell, who has been providing coaching as well as consulting on elements of the course architecture. Rabbidge said the group was looking at ways to enhance the course over time, drawing on the skills of its broader team.
“Over time, we want to improve pathways throughout the course and continue to invest in it. It’s a small track, but we’re putting the time and effort into stepping it up and making it a quality destination that people from a wider area would want to visit.
“We’re not just looking at the Grafton to Port Macquarie catchment. We want to create a destination for people travelling between Sydney and Byron or Brisbane, a place where they can stop through and enjoy the region.”
Rabbidge said business partner Luke Sullivan had been leading much of the project on the ground, with the group taking a considered approach to entering Bellingen.
Live music will also play a central role in the club’s future, with the Mosey On Inn Group aiming to build on the success of the Eltham Hotel.
“It’s important because we love it. For one, it’s what we do and do well at the Eltham, and we’ve been lucky to forge a real following with the pub, even though it’s in the middle of nowhere,” Rabbidge said.
“We’ve been lucky enough to attract a lot of nationally recognised and internationally recognised acts as well.”
While the club hosted several performances earlier this year, Rabbidge said its live music calendar would expand significantly over the coming months.
Keep an eye out for more an in-depth look into the re-opening of Loyal Bellingen Golf Club in the Spring issue of Club Management, coming soon.