Jewel of Sydney’s northern beaches, the Long Reef Golf Club, is gearing up for a major overhaul, demolishing it’s 60-year-old clubhouse in favour of a new development costing around $22 million.
Long Reef Golf Club was established in 1921, originally as a nine-hole course but soon expanding to a complete 18 holes.
In 1965 the first clubhouse was built, since undergoing multiple minor additions. The single-storey structure provides a bar, event space, a meeting room, and a lounge area and members’ space that includes outdoor seating.
These days LRGC is one of busiest golf courses in NSW, recording around 70,000 rounds annually, drawing on a strong customer base who primarily live locally. The well-worn clubhouse does not meet operational needs, nor does it provide the space or level of facilities expected by members and guests, who are forced to sign in through a small, unwelcoming window.
Desiring to create a venue that embraces the presence of golf members, while providing guests and community separate provision, the club has submitted a development application to Council.
“By redeveloping the Clubhouse, we can create flexible, purpose-built spaces that maximise our spectacular coastal setting, enhance the member and guest experience across golf, dining and events, and continue to maintain revenue streams from community and public engagement,” explains LRGC general manager Ben Russell.
The new clubhouse is proposed to be two-storeys, on roughly the same footprint, in a design that aims to both maintain the feel of the existing clubhouse and blend with its surroundings.
On the lower level will be a members lounge and terrace accommodating 30-pax, a covered outdoor terrace for 50-pax, a garden terrace for 96-pax, restaurants, and three multi-purpose rooms for hire.
Upstairs there is to be another members’ terrace, accommodating 30, two more terraces for another 170 patrons, and additional multi-use rooms available for member and community to hire.
Management would also like to install a coffee kiosk for passers-by, but the 11 poker machines were not wanted in the new digs and space for them is not included in the new plans.
Parking has long been an issue for the club, which shares the immediate area with other entities, such as the rugby club, tennis courts, surf club and dog park. The current 43 parking spaces will be reconfigured, to include a new access driveway and accessible spaces, overflow parking for 24 cars at the former maintenance site, and designated staff parking, for a revised total of 92 vehicles.
Russell says the cost of maintaining the course itself has continued to increase, coming to incorporate environmental considerations and best-practice maintenance, and while some golf clubs operate their clubhouse at a loss, subsidised by member fees, LRGC is aiming to do the opposite, generating revenue to offset member fees, improve the course and keep both member and public green fees affordable.
In recent years Collaroy and Narrabeen beaches, immediately north, have developed the need for seawalls to protect from storm surges and erosion, but located at the southern end of Fishermans Beach the golf club is somewhat more sheltered.
However, plans did include recommendations out of a Coastal Engineering Report to invest in a design “resistant to inundation”, with elevated or waterproofed power access, toughened and laminated glass and construction components to withstand a ‘hundred-year storm’.
Once plans are approved, the club’s Board will determine how best to minimise disruption, and consider staging options if necessary. One option is to temporarily convert the Pro Shop. Management will then be able to evaluate the best financing structure, having assessed the level of retained earnings, corporate and individual sponsorships, and financial instruments including the availability of bank debt.
“The project will be primarily funded by the Club’s cash reserves and responsible financing from a banking institution,” offers Russell.
“Recent discussions with lenders have provided positive feedback on borrowing capacity based on the club’s revenue streams and cashflow from operations.”
The popularity of the food and beverage operations, which Russell reports generates “significant earnings”, will enable it to manage the financial investment. The expansion of its hospitality potential has prompted request to extend trading hours to 8pm Monday to Wednesdays and 10pm Thursdays, to allow for dinner service.
Construction of the development is slated to take at least 18 months and is not expected to begin for some time; event bookings are still being taken for 2027.
“The clubhouse refurbishment represents an exciting opportunity for Long Reef Golf Club to modernise and future-proof its facilities, ensuring they align with the expectations of today’s members and guests while preserving our long-standing community value,” furthers Russell.
“This is more than a renovation, it’s an investment in the club’s next century, one that balances tradition with modernisation.”
