Reports indicate Victoria Park Golf Range \u2013 one of Australia\u2019s busiest and most accessible golf facilities \u2013 is likely to close as early as June or July this year to make way for the proposed Olympic stadium precinct ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.<\/p>\n
RELATED: The War on Golf<\/a><\/p>\n The shutdown (at the end of May this year) would mark the effective end of golf operations at Victoria Park. The adjoining 18-hole golf course was closed in 2019 as part of the site\u2019s broader redevelopment, leaving the driving range, mini-golf course and associated hospitality offerings as the last remaining golf assets at the inner-city location.<\/p>\n Industry sources suggest the entire facility attracts more than 700,000 visitors (including weddings and events) annually and is believed to dispense in excess of 20 million golf balls each year, placing it among the most heavily used practice facilities in the country. Beyond golf, the venue is a major events and hospitality site, with weddings and corporate functions reportedly being cancelled due to the shortened closure timeframe.<\/p>\n While redevelopment of Victoria Park has long been flagged, the prospect of conformation of the range closure and the fact that it could be within months has raised some concern across the golf industry.<\/p>\n Golf Australia has acknowledged the significance of Brisbane hosting the Games, while also warning of the longer-term implications for participation and access.<\/p>\n \u201cGolf Australia recognises that Brisbane hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games is a once-in-a-generation moment for the city, and we\u2019re working closely with government and planning authorities to support outcomes that are positive for the community, the games and golf,\u201d said Damien de Bohun, Golf Australia\u2019s general manager \u2013 clubs, facilities and places to play<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the same time, it\u2019s important to recognise that the impact of decisions around Victoria Park is felt not just during the Games, but for many years before and well after, by hundreds of thousands of golfers, social players, families and employees who rely on this venue as a genuine community asset.\u201d<\/p>\n De Bohun said Victoria Park plays a unique role in Brisbane\u2019s golf ecosystem. \u201cVictoria Park is not just a driving range, it\u2019s one of the most heavily used golf facilities in the country. It plays a critical role in making golf accessible to those that live and work in Brisbane.\u201d<\/p>\n The timing is particularly sensitive given the sport\u2019s growth in Queensland. \u201cGolf in Queensland is booming,\u201d de Bohun said. \u201cClub membership in the state grew by 4.2 per cent last year, well above the national average, and junior membership increased by 36.7 per cent \u2013 more than double the national growth rate.<\/p>\n \u201cThose numbers tell a very clear story: demand for golf in Queensland is growing rapidly, particularly among young people and families. From a participation and public-health perspective, we need more golf facilities in Queensland, not fewer.\u201d<\/p>\n