News this week, that around two months after being passed in at auction the Tom Doak designed St Andrews Beach Golf Course has been sold to owners that will take over the course in September. At this stage little is known of the purchasers, with the consortium apparently made up of a passionate golf businessman together with a local accounting firm, the current golf operations team and an unnamed golf course architect.

A media release last week from Golf Services Management reported that the;

“New ownership will see an immediate boost to the course maintenance infrastructure to ensure the course matches its Australian top 10 ranking.”

Golf Services Management spokesman Ian Denny said the new owners are committed to an ambitious development plan for the facility.

The sale will see an immediate injection of funds to develop first class facilities, including a new clubhouse to complement the course.

The Gunnamatta course will remain open to the public 7 days a week, and has permits for a hotel, day spa, condominiums and another championship golf course.

Whether St Andrews Beach can prove a success under new ownership remains to be seen, but the uncertainty over its very existence appears to have at least temporarily subsided and that can only be a good thing. For public course golfers on the Mornington Peninsula this is terrific news, as quality golf at less than $50 a round is a rarity in this day and age.