PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Plettenberg Bay Golf and Country Club (PBGCC) is testing the waters for the possibility of extending the club's lease until 2075.

A report on a proposal to upgrade the club and see its lease extended past its current date (2050) until 2075 was tabled at the December Bitou council meeting. 

The club would like the terms of the current lease agreement to apply for the 25-year extension period, subject to changes provided.

PBGCC motivates its request by stressing the importance of the golf course in maintaining and expanding Plett's tourism offering. The aim of the report is to obtain a resolution from the council that the land is not required by the municipality to provide "a minimum level of basic services".

The issue of security of tenure – which could attract investors – is key to the long-term vision for the PBGCC and its development into a national golfing magnet.

Requirements

The report states that, before the municipality can consider the options for the future use, development and upgrading of the PBGCC, legal requirements must be met. 

This includes complying with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Management Act and the asset Transfer Regulations, as well as a public participation process and obtaining the market value of the 67ha property.

The council decided to refer the matter back and it will come before Council again once the municipal manager, Mbulelo Memani, has established the market value, the public participation process involving the national and provincial treasuries has been completed "and any other deemed necessary by the municipal manager". 

Bitou Mayor Dave Swart didn't see an issue with the application and said the process is on track. He said the PBGCC wants to upgrade the club "and obviously to do that they want to ensure that it's worth investing the money".

Baby steps

PBGCC chairperson Barbi May said the report to Council was essentially to enquire about the future of the club. 

"Any decision we take will first have to be put to our members at a special general meeting. We want to get 'country' back into the meaning of 'Country Club', which is at the centre of everything. It is more than just a golf club," said May. 

She added that it is too early to start talking about big development at the club. The new club management is taking baby steps to improve the facilities, such as upgrading its kitchen facilities.

"We are busy with the basics," she said. In its report to Council the PBGCC said once it gets in-principle support from the municipality it will prepare and submit its formal application.

Tourism drawcard

"It has become increasingly evident in recent years that the facilities offered by the club lag some considerable distance behind those offered by its natural competition," reads the report.

"A visit to any [other] competing golf courses [in the region]... will confirm this.

"The committee of the club believes that unless steps are taken soon to address this matter, one can reasonably expect that demand to use the Plett course will decline, which will adversely impact Plett's tourism offering."

According to the report, the club committee has resolved in principle to upgrade the clubhouse and related facilities to place the club on a par, if not ahead, of its competition. This is seen as an essential step if the club is to remain attractive to golfers and a major tourism drawcard to Plettenberg Bay.

"The very nature of its activities requires that any long-term funding needed by it is raised either by donations from members, or through debt structures such as debentures funded by members," reads the report. 

"To achieve this, it is key that the remaining lease period is sufficient to meet the requirements and expectations of funders. The existing remaining period of the current lease is not adequate for this purpose."

The 18th hole at Plettenberg Bay Golf and Country club.

Pipe dream

However, May said that the committee is looking at all available possibilities. "It is a bit of a pipe dream, pie in the sky and it would be great if it can happen. What we're doing basically is testing the waters and opening the discussion." 

The PBGCC report claimed that Plettenberg Bay is a sought-after golfing destination for a large "swallow" population from Europe who spend their summer in South Africa, as well as from all around Southern Africa. According to May the club has 150 up-country members and 170 swallow members.

The improvements will also include new facilities aimed at providing more people in the Plett community with recreational and sporting amenities. 

"The club will actively seek inclusion of a wider spectrum of the Plett community by introducing tiered fee structures and providing coaching for disadvantaged youth. The club believes its proposal for an extension brings immediate and tangible benefits to Bitou and the wider Plett community."

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