SAVE OAKLEIGH GOLF COURSE

Golf Australia has met with Monash Council and made it clear that the national body would not accept any attempt to close the nine-hole public course. THE GOLF CLEARANCE OUTLET is asking its customers to get behind Oakleigh so that it can be retained for golf long term.

Monash has begun a consultation process with the local community, under which the golf course is guaranteed to remain for five years, but not beyond. The two options under consideration for the public land are to retain and improve the course, or to convert it to a park.

Oakleigh has operated as a golf course since the 1970s and there are more than 30,000 rounds of golf played each year. Oakleigh Golf Club, Oakleigh Veterans, and an acclaimed program for golfers with disability run by Reach and Belong rely on Oakleigh Golf Club for their recreation and golfing experiences each week. Social play is most of the golf played at the site and costs less than $20.

An extract from the Golf Australia and PGA of Australia press release states:

PGA of Australia Chief Executive Gavin Kirkman said:

“With golf participation climbing everywhere, now is not the time to be closing public facilities that are accessible to everyone at a very reasonable price. 

“We urge the council to consider the fabulous work being done at Oakleigh by PGA Professional Sandy Jamieson in the All-Abilities space, and to consider the thousands of golfers who use the facility on a regular basis with all the health benefits that come along with it, many of them connected with the game through Sandy’s terrific programs for beginners.” 

Reach and Belong director Fiona Memed said the golf program for players with disability, begun in 2021, had been an invaluable source of organic community inclusion.

“If Oakleigh closes it will have a devastating impact on everyone who uses this course,” she said. “We employ four participant-players with disabilities as fully accredited, Golf Australia coaches. They’re on full award employment and they will lose their jobs. We can’t go to Glen Waverley golf course, which is too large. 

“The outcomes we’ve seen with our golf program have been phenomenal. “We have participants who might be very anxious to start. The way it’s set up is very supportive, and they very quickly realise whatever they do, they’ll just be building on their personal skills. It’s an informal social setting. We’re all out, it’s very relaxed, a lot of social outcomes playing golf and keeping safe and getting exercise. Being in the fresh air for your well-being. Going to a park has no purpose. Being out here in the fresh air for golf has a purpose and you’re actually achieving an outcome.” 

Please have your say and join the efforts to keep this golfing experience in Oakleigh. Nine-hole courses such as Oakleigh offer a wonderful place for people of all demographics and standards to be involved in the game and belong in golf. If you started your golf at Oakleigh or have played there, your story needs to be heard, and you can help us in one of three ways.

Make a submission to the City of Monash through their formal consultation process. https://shape.monash.vic.gov.au/oakleigh-gc

Sign the change.org community petition. https://www.change.org/p/save-oakleigh-community-golf

Tell us your public golf story, and help Golf Australia form an industry submission telling the story of public golf. https://GolfAustralia.questionpro.com.au/publicgolfsurvey

The stakeholders of the Oakleigh Golf Course, Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia thank you for your time and effort in making any submission.