Hope for golf club
ACE Radio has put its shoulder behind a community effort to save Horsham Golf Club with a donation that has dramatically reduced a $300,000 rescue target.
The ‘substantial’ financial commitment, combined with a rush of other community pledges in the past week, has helped cut the total by more than half.
Horsham Golf Club, based on figures to yesterday morning, now needs to find $137,500 by the end of the weekend to guarantee its future.
Last week the club, at risk of going into administration, pleaded with Horsham district and the broader region to help it fight its way out of financial crisis.
It revealed it had only a fortnight to secure at least $300,000 to avoid directors relinquishing control of the club’s destiny.
ACE Radio Broadcasters, through The Weekly Advertiser, 3WM and MIXX FM, joined money-raising efforts based on recognition of the importance of the club and its iconic course to Horsham district’s socio-economic health and prosperity.
ACE chairman and owner Rowly Paterson said the Horsham course, apart from being rated highly across Australia, was part of the social fabric of Horsham and generated considerable tourism opportunities.
“We recognise the overall importance and value of the golf club and its iconic course to Horsham district and the broader Wimmera,” he said.
“There is nothing else like it in Horsham district and it certainly qualifies for general community support.
“The club is in a bit of bother and we’re confident that a short-term injection of money will help it ride this hump and get it back on the road to long-term viability and success.
“What’s encouraging and important is that the club is meeting goals through a new and well-measured business plan.
“This short-term fix will provide confidence to continue to move forward.”
Horsham Golf Club president Leo Delahunty said the financial commitment from ACE and everyone else pitching in was fantastic.
“It’s just marvelous. It just shows the regard the community and region have towards the club, based around its course and the golfing experience on offer,” he said.
“It has been such a rapid response. To be more than halfway to our target within a week shows us the degree of confidence people have in the club,” Mr Delahunty said.
He said the ACE and Paterson family support was an example of the level of commitment the network had to the region.
“It is incredibly generous. The level of support Rowly and Judy Paterson make to the region is just terrific. I congratulate them on being such community-focused people,” he said.
The golf club board will meet on Friday where members will assess circumstances surrounding the moneyraising effort.
“Pledges are okay but we would obviously prefer cash and people can rest assured all cash donations are secure,” Mr Delahunty said.
“We have until the end of the weekend to get the money required and I’m confident we are going to get there. Any type of contribution is welcome.”
Mr Delahunty said people keen to get involved in the money-raising effort could call Horsham Golf Club on 5382 1652.
The club’s position is based on misfortunes over many years, caused initially by the devastation by Black Saturday bushfires in 2009.