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Cambridge Developer Says Golf Club Members Deserve Better

Friday 27 November 2009, 2:06PM

By HMC Communications

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Concept plan of the proposed Cambridge Golf Club development
Concept plan of the proposed Cambridge Golf Club development Credit: HMC Communications

CAMBRIDGE

Cambridge property developer, Mike Smith, is speaking out publicly following a Cambridge Golf Club meeting held earlier this month, where club members voted down the proposal to sell 8.8 hectares of land.

Mr Smith said the meeting was an utter debacle: “I have over 40 years of Director experience with companies such as Fonterra, Lion Nathan and Fisher and Paykel Healthcare. I, in all my years of attending such meetings, have never witnessed a meeting so poorly run. The decision was voted down by 10 votes in a meeting that was, in my opinion and the opinion of many other members that my son, Matthew has spoken with subsequently, a complete and utter debacle!”

Mr Smith and his son, Matthew, are proposing a retirement village development that includes some free hold titles with views over the golf course.

As part of the development proposal, Mr Smith and his son have also proposed improving the course by redeveloping holes to create one of the region’s best golf clubs. As part of the acquisition of 8.8 hectares from the golf club, the father-son team have offered to invest a total of $4.4 million into the club in other ways, including: $2.1 million for course realignment and upgrades; $1 million for new irrigation; $300,000 for a new driving range; $300,000 for new machinery; $100,000 to upgrade the carpark; $100,000 to upgrade the maintenance shed; and $500,000 to be put toward a discretionary fund for the benefit of the club.

Mr Smith said, “My son, Matthew and I are still very interested in partnering with the golf club community on this development. All we ask is for a fair forum where we can fully explain this development to members of the Cambridge Golf Club. Cambridge Golf Club members have been misled and misinformed and they deserve better.”

Concept plan of the proposed Cambridge Golf Club development