It has been a turbulent few months for the club, they have been savaged by the recent flooding, with most of the course being completely underwater.

A golf course running along the river constantly runs the risk of some form of water damage, or flooding if the area suffers a prolonged period of wet weather, as Riverside suffered in November of last year. But last time the club suffered damage like this was 1975.

With virtually the entire course underwater for nine weeks, completely destroying all 18 greens, four of which were brand new and had never been played on.

The struggle has been immense for the course and its members. It’s been hard to get the club back up and running to a significant degree until golf commences. But in an inspiring display, the club has come together and all wanting to put their best foot forward to help out the club.

“There have been great efforts from the community,” Riverside Golf Club President Michael Holcroft told Golf Australia magazine.

Holcroft says that members are grieving for the course, and just want to get back out on their home track.

RIGHT: The water levels at Riverside had to be seen to be believed. PHOTO: Supplied.

“Local clubs have been great in giving our members discounted rates, but our members are desperate to get back out to their course, with their mates.”

Along with losing trees and the unrepairable damage to the greens, the kangaroos that frequent the course sought refuge on higher ground up by the clubhouse, so there was plenty to clean up around the building as well.

With the all the water off the course now, maintenance staff can start irrigating and put full focus on getting the course back to normal, but like all things it will take some time.

“The fairways are coming along well, expecting a quick turnaround with them, it’s just the greens that are going to take some time,” Holcroft said.

The course is trending in the right direction, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Riverside are hoping to be back up and running with 18 new and functional greens and full operations by the end of May 2023.

Something the members and the community deserve, to get back on their golf course.