Ashlar/ Stonecutters Ridge Swap Deal

[Grunt]

Heard something very interesting whilst at Ashlar today. Stonecutters Ridge have put a deal to the Ashlar Golf Club. Move your club to our course and it is yours, just give us your course for us to turn into houses.

Amanda & Brad did you know of this happening?

Members were all for the deal, they gain big time and the club gets a grade 1 course. The club is not trading well at all. I heard that if the deal does not go through course maint funds will have to be cut by 50%. It is treading water holding a bag of bricks at the moment.

[amanda]

Hi Grant - I had not heard this at all!

The biggest issue was always going to be getting members - and while the original plan was for a premium private exclusive course - I think mgmt have shifted to more of a public model - making money on volume (which makes sense in the area).

I will make some enquires and give you more info if I get some.

I suppose what we don't want is the same situation we had at New Brighton - a group of golfers on the Board of Directors who don't have modern ideas and sub-standard club management. We were looking forward to a decent level of service from a professional mgmt company like Troon or similar.

[Grunt]

The Ashlar GM said that they are now surveying the Ashlar course to see how many blocks they can get on the course, talk was 500 new homes. Also a figure of $30 million was mentioned.

[Grunt]

Forgot to add I like the deal if I still will have reciprocal rights there .

[3oneday]

The older members are resisting at this stage my neighbour is a member there.

[Grunt]

Some older guy's I met today were all for it, needs a 75% vote Yes though to get through. Will be tough.

[3oneday]

Gotta get 75% of members to attend the meeting first

[Grunt]

Is 75% of the vote, they are hoping for 250 to attend.

[3oneday]

Really, seems unlikely that it would be that simple. It's s hithouse course anyway, be better flattened

[Andrew]

I assume they would only need 75% of a quorum.

[Grunt]

Yes that is what I meant Andrew, seems it may be close thing with the age of the membership at Ashlar and the resistance to change of people in general.

[AndyP]

If Ashlar takes over Stonecutters, will Homers be allowed as members?

[Grunt]

If Ashlar takes over Stonecutters, will Homers be allowed as members?

Why not?

[mikezone13]

I'd be sad to see Ashlar go, I have always been very impressed each time I've played it, and most recently (on a pennents day) the greeens were some of the fastest and truest I've ever played on (except the 6th or 7th that looked dead).

Add to the fact that it has been using recycled or bore water for years whcih leaves it always lush makes it a great gem in Western Sydney.

[Hooker]

Is 75% of the vote, they are hoping for 250 to attend.

Was a member at Wallacia a few years ago when they got more than 300 members and more than 75% of the vote to let Panthers take over.

Similar situation, the old members didn't like it but it got through.

[goughy]

If Ashlar takes over Stonecutters, will Homers be allowed as members?

Why not?

Only if he plays naked and drags his clubs behind him attached to a chain around his neck!

[Scottt]

Was a member at Wallacia a few years ago when they got more than 300 members and more than 75% of the vote to let Panthers take over.

Similar situation, the old members didn't like it but it got through.

except that Wallacia's course is better off for it. Ashlar will become housing...

[Grunt]

Don't speak so soon.

Has it (Wallacia) all come to a grinding halt G69?

[WeekendHacker]

I am a current member at Ashlar. This is looking more and more like moving ahead even though management at Ashlar are still being very silent to its members about how serious this really is. The standard reply is "Its too early to tell and we are currently looking at it". In a letter to the members regarding all of the talk regarding this matter they have listed out the plan of what will be done with member pricing and the management structure etc. This is obviously far further down the track to "we are still looking at it". With golf courses suffering with falling memberships the last year this is really the only option for Ashlar if they want the club to continue in some way shape or form.

[Scottt]

I see... The new p3 (the third?) is a good hole.

The hole you're about to finish, that's back nine or front nine? Last I was there I recall some work underway on the par four dogleg right that hugs the OOB - the 13th?

[Grunt]

Will have to go out there for a look soon, was supposed to play there last week but could not get there in time for a hit, comps are walk up starts.

[Scottt]

Thats the one scott.
But our hole numbering is different.
We built two new par 3's out there, the 3rd and 5th on the master plan...this new par 4 is the 4th.
You walk thru the back of the downhill par 3, behind the pond to some new tees stuck in the corner. The hole was grassed last week and looks great.

right. it goes over the land previously occupied by that uphill par three?

[amanda]

Our Medallist rep hasn't given us any info - just saying that they are considering all options.

They'd better give us a family lifetime membership if this goes through - I'm sure $30k would buy you a whole lot of years as a current member at Ashlar

[Grunt]

Members at Ashlar said that the current rates for members would be locked for 3 years if the deal goes ahead.

[amanda]

Those Ashlar members would be getting a good deal - they sold the land based on each block getting a membership to the GC without having to pay the $30k joining fee.

Plus - the clubhouse & all other facilities (swimming pools, tennis courts, gym, creche) will be to Medallist standards.

Hopefully - whatever factors that have caused Ashlar to be in such bad shape won't be brought to Stonecutters Ridge. Let's hope it's not bad mgmt ...