Kooringal Golf Club at Altona has been named Golf Club of the Year in the Community Clubs Victoria awards.
The club was recognised for improving facilities on and off the course “tremendously” in recent years.
The judges said the course changes undertaken a decade ago had bedded down and were in perfect tune with the older part of the course.
The club was also recognised for its community outreach and promotion of golf.
General manager Anthony White said it was a great result for the western suburbs considering only 20 per cent of Melbourne’s golfing facilities were in the west.
“Even though we were a finalist, and as I thought an outside chance, the board and staff were so excited with the win,” he said.
“It reinforces all the hard work the club has been putting in over the last three years.
“The line ‘more than just a golf club’ is a mantra we have been using to connect with the wider Altona and Hobsons Bay community –this win is a vindication of that belief.
“The members have been beaming and have an extra skip in their step since the win has been announced.”
The club has been an Altona and western suburbs institution since 1946, and features a traditional-style golf course in excellent year-round condition.
It has a loyal membership base with some clocking up 50 years’ service and it has moved to boost the number of junior golfers, which the club sees as key to its long-term future.
Two years ago, the Kooringal Golf Club Foundation was created to establish a permanent fund, independent of club administration, in support of juniors.
Mr White said the foundation aimed to encourage young people from diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds to play golf.
“We have about 30-35 juniors and we’re hoping to double that in the next 12-18 months via the use of this foundation.”
For information on the foundation, visit kooringalgolf.com.au
