A partnership between Midlands-Ballarat RSL Sports and Services Club (Midlands) and Villawood Properties has seen the Victorian club significantly grow in membership.
The success of the partnership allowed the club to reinvest $7 million into its facilities, creating renewed interest in both its bowls and golf offerings.
Upgrades include an expansion of the bistro into an al fresco area with 180-degree views of the golf course, an updated pro shop, new bar and outdoor areas, a playground, extra office space, enhanced meeting rooms and an update to the all-weather bowling green.
Club chairman Darren Bandy said the upgrade, which is still in progress, has drawn interest in Midlands from across Ballarat.
As a result, the club now boasts 4,000 social club members, 120 bowling members and 1,200 golf club members.
The partnership has not just invigorated the club but turned around what was previously a grim situation into a roaring success, elevating the institution’s standing in the community.
An 11-Ha site with views of Midlands’ fourteenth fairway was named ‘Drew’s Paddock’ and 113 lots were created for housing development. Only twenty-three lots remain.
“What that’s allowed us to do is expand and improve the club’s facilities, invigorate our membership and provide a really solid community hub,” says Bandy.
Midlands lies less than five kilometres from the Ballarat CBD with access to the Western Freeway and Ballarat train station, offering the best of both country and city life to the club’s growing membership.
