Maleny Golf Club has successfully applied for a $100,000 Queensland Government “Getting Places and Spaces” grant under its 2016-17 “Get in the Game” funding program designed to support sport and recreation at the grass roots level.

News of the club’s successful grant application follows the Sunshine Coast Council’s (SCC) decision in late July to approve the lease of additional land for construction of Stage 2 of the Council’s 18-hole community golf course.

President Dr Max Whitten (pictured here with Superintendent Mick McCombe in part of the course development area) thanked the Queensland Government for its financial support of golf in Maleny as well as members of the grant application team led by the club’s Secretary Roly Nieper.

“These funds will be used to help finance development of an additional three golf holes to expand the present 9-hole golf course to 12 Holes,” Dr Whitten said.

“The addition of these holes will significantly improve the playing experience for all, thereby enhancing the Maleny Golf Club’s ability to grow its membership at all levels and attract visiting golfers to play this high quality and award-winning course.”

Dr Whitten said the Maleny Golf Club had already established a first class performance track record as Stage 1 of the golf course was completed on time and well under budget for $750,000.

“Significantly, the golf club has a skilled volunteer workforce in place, led by our award-winning Superintendent Mick McCombe and can move quickly to get work underway as soon as these funds are available,” he said.

Progressive development of Maleny Golf Club will significantly boost the estimated $3.5 million value of the SCC’s existing community sports and tourism asset. SCC also agreed at its July 2016 meeting to consider providing additional financial support for expansion of the course to 18 holes.

“Construction of the next three holes in the former Unity Water effluent disposal area will then get underway with the intention of having these holes in play by early 2018,” Dr Whitten said.