A group of Cheltenham locals, armed with a petition of 574 names representative of football, netball, soccer and cricket clubs – and which includes among its signatories said near-neighbour, Victoria GC - will petition council to “undertake a transparent and community-first process to determine the future use of the public land currently leased to Cheltenham Golf Club”.

Agenda Item 7.2 declares: “This land represents one of the few remaining open green spaces in our growing suburb. With increasing housing density and smaller private backyards, our community will rely more than ever on Council to protect and enhance these spaces for sport, recreation, and community connection.”

An issue for Cheltenham is the proximity to neighbours of its small parcel of land. Errant golf balls have damaged the football club’s solar panels. The netball club reports “multiple near misses”. From the eighth and ninth holes, balls fly into Victoria GC's driveway and car park. Adam King, President of Cheltenham Football Club, writes that “it is not a question of if, but when” someone is injured.

General Manager of Victoria Golf Club, Warwick Hill-Rennie, says “the surrounding clubs — football, netball, cricket, and soccer — all share the precinct and have consistently raised serious safety concerns".

"Our proposal addresses those issues, particularly around Cheltenham’s 5th and 6th holes, which occupy a narrow strip of land down to Weatherall Road. Those clubs deserve the opportunity to be properly heard,” Hill-Rennie says. 

Cheltenham GC’s 21-year lease on the site will expire in November of 2030. Yet not only is the club not giving up, it is looking to extend its lease, and has put forth a recommendation that council “commences the statutory procedures under Section 115 of the Local Government Act 2020, to enter into a 21-year new Lease with Cheltenham Golf Club”.

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CGC wants to undertake works – new vegetation, new fences, re-routing of troublesome border holes – to mitigate risks. In its submission, CGC writes that “the Club has progressed redesign plans to the 8th and 9th tees, due to errant golf balls entering the Victoria Golf Club's driveway and parking area, potentially causing personal injury and/or property damage to VGC."

They have shortened the ninth hole.  During football finals, the fifth hole is played as a par-3. They undertook a trajectory study which recommended lowering the fifth tee and erecting net fencing on the fifth to protect a recently-developed netball court. 

Hill-Rennie would have Council consider alternatives. He says that in VGC’s submission to Council, those alternatives potentially include a short course, driving range, and mini-course “to demonstrate there are viable solutions worth considering”.

Geoff Ogilvy says one of his favourite holes in the world is No.15 at Victoria GC, where he is a member. The 2006 U.S Open winner was also a Cheltenham member. Victoria GC has commissioned Ogivly's company, OCM, for a potential redesign of Cheltenham. PHOTO: Brendan James / Snaphook Media

VGC's submission also suggests the return of some land to Council for "alternative uses, provide for a commercial income and seek to support the continued operation of the Club at the site noting CGC do not support the proposal at this time.”

VGC went so far as to commission OCM, the golf design company of former Cheltenham member and current Victoria member, Geoff Ogilvy, to design a new nine holes on the site.

As to the balls flying into their property from the eighth and ninth holes at CGC, Hill-Rennie says the club "requested Cheltenham Golf Club provide a trajectory report to demonstrate the safety of their proposed reversal of holes eight and nine, but they refused. That raises serious questions about whether the risks will be resolved for VGC.”

CGC General Manager, Shane Tate says that it was VGC's suggestion to reverse the flow of play on the 8th and 9th holes, adding that “we are committed to resolving any issues relating to our boundaries with the involvement of our neighbours”.

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VGC's request, at its core, is simple, according to Hill-Rennie, and "Bayside City Council should run a transparent process".

"Before locking away such a valuable parcel of public land for another 21 years, all options should be explored — whether that’s continuing golf in its current form, re-imagining golf use, or returning part of the land for broader sport and recreation,” Hill-Rennie says.

"This is not about removing Cheltenham from the site but rather about fairness and ensuring that Bayside residents receive the greatest possible community benefit from public land.

“The decision the Council makes [on Tuesday] will shape this precinct for decades to come — it should be based on consultation, safety, and the long-term needs of the entire community.

Tate contends that CGC’s “non-golfing facilities are enjoyed by thousands of others throughout each year - walkers, cyclists, dog walkers, social groups, etcetera”.

“We are incredibly proud of the condition of our course – it compares favourably with our neighbouring course. We had nearly 59,000 rounds played in the past financial year, up five percent on the previous year. The Sandbelt average is 46,000 rounds,” Tate says.

“Cheltenham Golf Club has a very proud, 95-year history providing an accessible and affordable golf course for people of all ages and abilities.

“We are quietly confident that our new lease will be granted, allowing us to continue to provide affordable and accessible open space for the Bayside community for many decades to come.”

Click here to read Bayside City Council’s 19-August Council Meeting Agenda.