Club Tocumwal: Striving to Be the Region’s Sporting & Entertainment Hub

Club Tocumwal has begun the 58-week, two stage, $7.5 million renovation to become a sporting and entertainment hub in the region. 

After several years of deliberation and planning, construction began in mid-July with a huge focus on ensuring the Club, in the state’s Riverina & South West region, is fully operational throughout the renovation stages. 

The Club successfully obtained a 2022-23 Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund Grant from the NSW Government which matched the Club dollar-for-dollar, with the grant totalling $3.547 million.

The Club submitted its plans to resurface two bowling greens with a synthetic grass surface, install six pickleball courts, move the pro shop, fit an elevator and construct bowls clubroom amenities and golf buggy storage underneath the current clubhouse. Plus, there  are plans to create a junior golfing program and retrofit the old pro shop into the home of the Southern Riverina Junior Golf Academy. 

Club Tocumwal CEO Paul Gemmill says he is so excited for the transformation to come to fruition, adding that it's an exciting time for the region and town which has had a huge boom since COVID. 

“It's a generational change for our Club, we're the major employer of our community and we're also a destination for golfing holidays and always have been,” Paul said.  

“Basically, the clubhouse facilities will now match the two golf courses we've been offering for the past 60 years.” 

Stage one will see the construction of new additions to the north of the clubhouse, including ground floor and upstairs areas, pro shop, junior golf academy, grand entrance and revamped bar area. During this phase the main clubhouse will operate as normal.   

Stage two sees the renovation of the old building and the opening of the new additions for all our members and visitors to enjoy.  

“The grant money has probably brought us forward by a decade to be able to do this and it's just so exciting,” Paul said. 

“The whole community is buzzing.” 

Since the pandemic, Paul said the region seems to be booming, with most river clubs succeeding and improving their offerings as more people escape the city to spend time down there. 

“While we're focusing a lot of energy into junior golf development, we are putting almost the same energy into the value for the community of having a relevant Club for everybody,” Paul said.  

“It's a beautiful little place to visit so what we want you to do is come for a few days and stay on course at our Club because we've got on-course accommodation.   

“You don't have to be a golfer to enjoy our beautiful Club and to wander down the main street of Tocumwal and enjoy the weekend farmers’ markets on the weekend – it's just a nice place to visit.” 

It is hoped that it will be complete by July 2025.