News Archive

20th July 2021

State lockdown extended

Dear Members,
The State Government has today announced a 7 day extension to the current lockdown settings in Victoria.
The lockdown will until 27 July 2021 at 11:59pm. The lockdown will still apply Victoria-wide.

All Clubhouse operations will remain closed, this includes bar, dining-in facilities such as the café and bistro, gaming, golf course, pro shop and functions.

The golf course is also closed, including practice facilities, with the exception of exercise in accordance with the lockdown rules.

At this stage, the Club will resume operations on Wednesday 28 from 9am and golf course bookings from 7:30am. We will continue to communicate with Members and provide updates where we can.

We would like to thank you all for your support and patience during this time. We look forward to seeing you back at the club shortly.

19th July 2021

Warragul Country Club Gaming Room Renovations

Warragul Country Club Gaming Room Renovations
The Board wishes to advise Members that it recently approved funding for a Gaming Room renovation.
The key features are as follows:

A building extension to the current gaming room footprint.
A significant change to the gaming machine floorplan, introducing a gaming machine carousel type arrangement, which will reduce the current linear banks arrangement.
Construction of a new, larger and more functional outdoor smokers’ room, which will have mini sport bar features and serve as a much more pleasant break out area for Members & guests.
Stage 1 will see the introduction of Ticket In, Ticket Out (T.I.T.O.) functionality for the gaming machines.
There is NO increase to the number of gaming machines.

The objectives of the renovation are as follows:

This floorplan change is about making the room more spacious, improving social distancing, the ability to better utilise the room amenity, and ultimately improve player experience.
Commercially, it is prudent to provide a better offering and member experience so as the Club grows its competitive advantage and all-important market share, over other competing venues.
The increased size of the gaming room and new gaming machine layout will make the room more COVID compliant and result in NOT having to shut down every second gaming machine when/if COVID restrictions are reintroduced just as we are experiencing now. This means most gaming machines will be spaced 1.5 meters apart from the next gaming machine.
A new, larger, and more comfortable outdoor smoker’s room, sports bar and break out area, which will transform this area and bring it up to industry best practice and to our own Club standards.

The Board have approved approximately $500k for this project. In terms of timing, the Builders tender was recently issued and we hope to appoint a Builder in early August. It is expected to be an 8 week project. The Board is excited to deliver this project and believes it will significantly enhance the Club’s offer, member experience and ensure that the Club maintains its standing as the number one Golf, Hospitality & Entertainment venue in the Region.
Please find below a copy of the renovation floorplan and indicative renders for the new smoker’s room.

Should any Members wish to further discuss this project with me, please call me on 0418325252 or drop in to discuss.
Michael Hodge
Chief Executive Officer
Warragul Country Club

16th July 2021

Notice regarding Statewide Lockdown

Dear Members,
The State Government has today announced a short-term lockdown as a result of consecutive days of cases of community transmissions.
The lockdown will take effect as and from 15 July 2021 at 11:59pm until 20 July 2021 at 11:59pm. The lockdown will apply Victoria-wide.

All Clubhouse operations will close, this includes bar, dining-in facilities such as the café and bistro, gaming, golf course, pro shop and functions.

The golf course is also closed, including practice facilities, with the exception of exercise in accordance with the lockdown rules.

At this stage, the Club will resume operations on Wednesday 21 from 9am and golf course bookings from 7:30am. We will continue to communicate with Members and provide updates where we can.

We would like to thank you all for your support and patience during this time. We look forward to seeing you back at the club from Wednesday 21st.

13th July 2021

Warragul Country Club Gaming Room Renovations

Warragul Country Club Gaming Room Renovations
The Board wishes to advise Members that it recently approved funding for a Gaming Room renovation.
The key features are as follows:

A building extension to the current gaming room footprint.
A significant change to the gaming machine floorplan, introducing a gaming machine carousel type arrangement, which will reduce the current linear banks arrangement.
Construction of a new, larger and more functional outdoor smokers’ room, which will have mini sport bar features and serve as a much more pleasant break out area for Members & guests.
Stage 1 will see the introduction of Ticket In, Ticket Out (T.I.T.O.) functionality for the gaming machines.
There is NO increase to the number of gaming machines.

The objectives of the renovation are as follows:

This floorplan change is about making the room more spacious, improving social distancing, the ability to better utilise the room amenity, and ultimately improve player experience.
Commercially, it is prudent to provide a better offering and member experience so as the Club grows its competitive advantage and all-important market share, over other competing venues.
The increased size of the gaming room and new gaming machine layout will make the room more COVID compliant and result in NOT having to shut down every second gaming machine when/if COVID restrictions are reintroduced just as we are experiencing now. This means most gaming machines will be spaced 1.5 meters apart from the next gaming machine.
A new, larger, and more comfortable outdoor smoker’s room, sports bar and break out area, which will transform this area and bring it up to industry best practice and to our own Club standards.

The Board have approved approximately $500k for this project. In terms of timing, the Builders tender was recently issued and we hope to appoint a Builder in early August. It is expected to be an 8 week project. The Board is excited to deliver this project and believes it will significantly enhance the Club’s offer, member experience and ensure that the Club maintains its standing as the number one Golf, Hospitality & Entertainment venue in the Region.
Please find below a copy of the renovation floorplan and indicative renders for the new smoker’s room.

Should any Members wish to further discuss this project with me, please call me on 0418325252 or drop in to discuss.
Michael Hodge
Chief Executive Officer
Warragul Country Club

6th July 2021

Super News for Warragul Country Club

Something BIG is coming to the Warragul Country Club…

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On behalf of the Board, the Men’s & Women’s Golf Committees, and Management – I am enthused to announce that the PGA Tour of Australasia Gippsland Super 6 Tournament will be held at The Warragul Country Club in November this year!
The PGA recently approached the Club with a proposal for this year’s PGA Gippsland Super 6 event to be hosted at the Warragul Country Club. The PGA are of the view that the development, marketing and event activation can be better maximised if the event is conducted at, and with, the support of the Warragul Country Club. This event has previously been conducted at Yallourn and the PGA proposal is that the 2021 event be moved to the Warragul Country Club.
Given the status of the PGA Tour of Australasia event and given that this Gippsland Super 6 event is one of only 16 PGA sanctioned tour events held across Australia and New Zealand, the Board’s view was that this opportunity deserved some serious consideration by the Club. With that in mind a meeting of the Board, the Men’s & Women’s Golf Committees, and the PGA was held early June 2021, where the PGA articulated the opportunity and the benefits to the Warragul Country Club. These were predominantly opportunities around the development of golf and golf participation, particularly in the local Warragul and Baw Baw Shire / Gippsland community. The PGA also see Warragul as a better option to drive spectator activation and general event participation. One of the other key benefits is that events of this status drive considerable economic benefit for the regions that host these events, and these are important matters that are currently being discussed with Baw Baw Shire in relation to their support for a major & high profile sporting event in the Baw Baw Shire.
It was the view of the Board and the Men’s & Women’s Golf committees that the Club agree to accept the offer to be host venue for the PGA Tour of Australasia Gippsland Super 6 event subject to satisfactory resolution of the commercial agreement to be entered into by both parties. That commercial agreement has now been resolved to the satisfaction of the Board.
With that in mind, the purpose of this Notice is to advise Members that the Club is proud to announce that it will host the 2021 PGA Gippsland Super 6 event at Warragul. The Gippsland Super 6 tournament will be played over 4 rounds from Thursday 11 November through to Sunday 14 November 2021. Lead up, qualifying rounds and a Wednesday Pro-Am event make up what will be a weekly showcase of high quality professional tour golf, right here on our doorstep.
As part of the host venue agreement the Club effectively provides exclusive use of our golf course to the PGA for the conduct of this PGA tour event, from Monday 8th November to Sunday 14th November 2021. The Club is currently in discussions with local golf clubs to provide alternative golfing access to WCC members and alternative competition day venues for the Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday competitions. More details will be provided on these important alternatives over the coming months.
The Board and the Men’s and Women’s Golf Committees’ are excited for the Club to be a part of a PGA tour sanctioned event and are committed to maximising the opportunities that the Event presents for our Club, the growth of our game and what this can do for our own brand development within our local community.
Over the coming weeks Members will see further announcements by the PGA and other Partners & Stakeholders in this event as we collectively commence the roll out of the marketing and promotion opportunities that are associated with the Event. Information about the event format, how it works, and more will be provided.
Sincerely,
Michael Hodge
Chief Executive Officer
Warragul Country Club

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