Commonwealth’s Restoration

Following is an insight into the reasoning and planning for our recently completed course restoration. 

Our Challenge. In 2000 the Commonwealth course was ranked number 3 in Melbourne and within the top 17 courses in Australia. In 2020, the course was ranked number 5 in Melbourne and 28 in Australia. Associated with this loss of course status is a relative decline in interest in membership of CGC. The consequence for the Club of the decline in status and membership interest was fully explained in the VISION presentation in July 2021.

Over the next few years, the goal is to improve our course, ancillary facilities and Clubhouse to such a standard that will enable Commonwealth to restore its reputation to that previously enjoyed by members.

Our Responsibility.  “Commonwealth Golf Club, The First 100 Years” published last year describes our past and the membership that delivered the Club and the course to us today. It is a remarkable story and testament to the dedication and hard work of our forebears who gave to us our traditions and Club culture. The current Commonwealth membership has a responsibility to leave behind the Club in a better shape, in all aspects, than what it was when we joined.

Renaissance Golf Design and its plan for Commonwealth. As members will be well aware, the Club commissioned world leading architect, Renaissance Golf Design (RGD) to prepare the Course Master Plan (CMP). We have been working with Brian Slawnik and Tom Doak to produce an illustrative concept plan for Commonwealth, that restores the golf course to the original architectural intent. The plan is on display in the Clubhouse and can be downloaded here. Tom Doak has long held great admiration for Commonwealth, remarking in his highly regarded 1994 publication “The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses”, that CGC was a course which any golf architect should study and one of 31 worldwide courses that would be among the first he would take a good friend to play.

Our Solution. Invest in our assets with the intention of enhancing their quality. The Committee has resolved to undertake the following investment. Indicative project costs are as follows:-

*Due to the early stage in the projects evolution a 10% contingency has been included in all course works costs.

The Committee has determined that priority of investment and implementation should be given to the course quickly followed by the carpark and practice facilities.

Timing. RGD started work in August 2022 and focus upon that area of the course where nine greens are to be replaced and the green and green surrounds regrassed (Pure Distinction bent greens and collars and Santa Ana surrounds). This first tranche of work is expected to be completed and open for play by February 2023. Work by RGD and the Club on the second tranche of nine holes will start in August 2023 for completion by February 2024. 

Vegetation. The Committee is committed to the reinstatement of native vegetation areas across the course consistent with the CMP and our Landscape Principles. The Club will commission the production of a Landscape Master Plan and upon its adoption commence its implementation. This vegetation program will be funded as operational expenses of the Club. 

Risk. The Committee acknowledges that the investment might not alone solve the challenge outlined. Other work will need to be undertaken to manage this risk – for example a reasonable marketing and PR plan to support the investment. It is also mindful that any delay to investment in the Clubhouse and precinct will leave a gap in the Committee’s overall Vision for the Club’s restoration. However, the Committee considers that without the approved investment the Club has very little prospect of dealing with the challenge.

Read the hole by hole notes from Brian Slawnik of RGD.