Good news for Cromwell golfers - plans to upgrade facilities at the town’s golf course have taken a step forward.

The Cromwell Community Board has recommended the Central Otago District Council approve improvements at the Cromwell Golf Club clubhouse, including an extension, a new outdoor deck and a larger pro shop.

If approved by the council, the work would extend the clubhouse to expand the kitchen and relocate the bar and chiller closer to it, and add a new accessible toilet on the same level.

“This reconfiguration will create a more functional and efficient operating layout for the provision of catering and beverage services to clubhouse users,” a report to the community board said.

Also in the plans, a new outdoor deck beside the clubhouse, to provide “an attractive and functional space for club users to enjoy the outdoor environment following their game”.

The final component of the proposed revamp of facilities is a larger pro shop, which the report said would allow the club to increase its retail offering and enable professional services such as coaching and club fitting.

Staff said golf has “a long-standing history” in the district, and the upgrades would help the club cater for growing membership and visitor numbers.

The club required council permission because the course sits on recreation reserve land on Neplusultra Street managed by the council, and any new buildings or alterations on such land require approval under the Reserves Act 1977.

The board considered the request at its meeting on March 3.

During discussion, a board member asked about the status of the golf club’s lease with the council.

Staff said the lease, which dates back to 1981 and includes 22 hectares of land, still had a long time to run.

As part of the approval process, the lease will be updated to include a standard clause requiring improvements on council-leased land to be removed at the end of a tenancy, or transferred to the council by agreement - a detail missing from the 1981 agreement.

All costs for design, consenting, construction and ongoing maintenance of the upgrades would be met by the Cromwell Golf Club.

If the council approves the recommendation, the club will be able to proceed once building consent is issued.

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