Members of the Gulf Harbour Country Club got the shocking news last night that the club is closing with immediate effect.

In a letter to its members, director Wayne Bailey says the club has been trying to find ways to make money for over two years, but has been unsuccessful. 

“It is not financially viable to keep the club open, so it is closing,” says Wayne.

“The club has continued to lose money, and it is appreciated that the members have absorbed the higher fees in recent times, however, these costs continue to outrun the revenue.”

In addition, as stated in the letter, the club required significant capital investment. 

“As many of you will be aware, the club has had very little investment in it since it was built 25 years ago. 

The lack of investment is directly linked to the lack of return.”

They had looked at ways to make the club even modestly viable, so it is selling off a generous portion of surplus land in order to reinvest in the course.

“The nature of the course layout meant that this was only possible with the acquisition of other neighbouring land as well.”

Negotiations have meant that this is not only unviable but ultimately a worse outcome than the status quo. 

“Therefore, we have no option but to cease operations.”

He says, not only is the club losing money, but the clubhouse is failing and will need a complete rebuild. 

Gulf Harbour Country Club is a 6.4km, par 72 golf course, that once hosted the World Cup of Golf and has had Sir Nick Faldo and John Daly walk on its greens. 

When the club opened in Gulf Harbour in 1997, it was the jewel in the area. 

It is the only golf course in New Zealand designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, and the layout is routed around a rolling hillside where the change in elevation makes for an exciting and challenging golf game, with an added bonus of free panoramic views.