108 | RECREATION Belleknowes Golf & Brent Lucas Builders T T Russell Fredric New clubhouse rises from the ashes The new clubhouse design is based on a traditional pavilion style building, Belleknowes Golf Club will celebrate its centenary this October, two years after a fire completely destroyed its clubhouse in June 2021. Club recovery manager Gordon Wilson says although the total loss of the split level clubhouse and its contents was a great shock, losing the heritage items hit the hardest. “All the honours boards, nearly all the club’s memorabilia was within the building so that was a really big loss because we’ve been unable to replace a lot of that. “That part was really devastating for the members and probably more so for a lot of the ex-members whose names were on the board, and the memories particularly of their parents and grandparents who were members of the club.” As well as honours boards, the memorabilia destroyed included photographs and trophies. The Dunedin club was established in 1923, soon after World War 1. “It certainly became the golf club that a lot of the people that had fought in that war saw as their golf club.” The club has 60 members and shares Dunedin City Council-owned land beside the Punga Croquet Club. The land is part of the Town Belt that overlooks the inner city, Flagstaff, the harbour, St Clair, Taieri Mouth and to the open sea. While it is a nine hole course, it is hilly and golfers get some good exercise traversing its verdant fairways as well as admiring the wonderful views, an outlook that will be a feature of the hilltop clubhouse when it is completed. Golfers enjoy being serenaded by native birdsong as they chase that little white ball around the course. “The setting is unique. It’s small but its views are outstanding. It’s a country [style] course in the middle of a city.” “Recreational golf is an excellent way of keeping fit and mixing with other people with a similar outlook.” The course appeals to people who are not the big hitters who need long, wide fairways. The club is well represented by seniors, but the course also attracts green fee paying students who see it as a fun course, Gordon says. “It can be demanding, the fairways are quite tight, but the holes are not long. I find it quite challenging.” “We are very fortunate it’s close to the university and the students like the vibe of the course and they play it regularly as green fee players. We are looking at people that want to play golf on a more regular basis on a Saturday or a Friday for nine holes only.” The single level clubhouse is being built by local company Brent Lucas Builders which won the tender for the project. Construction started mid-January and is on schedule, with completion expected at the end of June, well in time for the centenary. It is fortunate the club has been able to lease the croquet club rooms, but it has still been difficult to be without a clubhouse for two years and members are looking forward immensely to having a new home, Gordon says. The initial design concept of the new clubhouse, which is based on a traditional pavilion style building, was the vision of Francis Whitaker and this was taken through to the consent stage by architectural designer Sean Marr. Joinery is our passion. For Dunedin joiners with decades in the industry, who bring a passion for quality craftsmanship and attention to detail to every project, choose Ron Kirk Joinery. Designer Kitchens •WoodenWindows &Doors • Staircases • Laundries Vanities •Wardrobes • Office Fitouts • Pre-Hung Doors • Commercial Joinery 034535718 hayden@ronkirkjoinery.co.nz www.ronkirkjoinery.co.nz Need a boundary surveyed, property subdivided, consent or land development advice? Dunedin (03) 477 4783 Chris Milburn Mosgiel (03) 489 7107 Tyler Hager Balclutha (03) 418 0470 Haydon McLeary Oamaru (021) 199 8671 Doug Barton terramark.co.nz
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