Riverside Oaks.
Once the perfect playground for any golfer will soon become a Ghost town.....
When I was in my early 20's I was invited out to Riverside Oaks on a Corporate Day. Had an awesome day and drove home with the biggest of grins. Back then it was $150 per round and the course was the best course I had ever seen.
I could never afford to pay $150 per game so that was it for me playing at Riverside Oaks, whilst I went off into the big world and tried to earn a buck.
Roughly 5 Years ago I has the pleasure of joining Riverside Oaks. $1950 for one years membership and that included a cart. Super Value. The second new course had recently opened up so we would play two rounds of golf most Saturdays with both courses in great condition.. Times where good.
So what's happened.
Like all course the money starts to dry up, head green keepers come and go. One course gets washed away in the floods. Management think it wise to keep increasing fees yearly even though members see declining playing conditions year on year. As it stands today Riverside has a new General Manager, the ex GM from the Heritage in Melbourne and I was recently informed he apparently run it into the ground whilst he was at the helm their which now makes sense and he seems to be doing a stellar job of ensuring Riverside Oaks will be nothing more than a paddock in the coming months and years to come. Hope I am wrong but I would like to get a bet on with Sportsbet if I could to validate I am not.
Today Riverside costs $5000 per year, and remember this is for only one course now as the other one got washed away !!. The one course left is probably in the worst shape its ever been in. 12 months ago roughly, 230 member base of which over 80% have now left to join much cheaper neighboring courses given the constant pricing increases.
Well it's sad times, Covid etc etc etc and the time has come to say my farewells to Riverside Oaks, just like the previous 80% of members. I tried so hard to hang in hoping things would turn around, but even with many of my mates having already departed, the price increase was the final nail in the coffin not to mention course conditioning.
I hope they get a new General Manager one day that recognizes the benefits that a strong member base can bring to a club as the present GM clearly does not.
If you are thinking of having a round out there anytime soon (well post Covid that is) I would advise you to look for and alternative better conditioned golfing destination...
All the best guys and stay safe.