Just a query to see if anybody knows how it is performing (financially). After reading the latest story of its inception in the latest Australian Golf Architects magazine I sincerely hope it manages to survive - considering the obstacles it has to face.
Any idea as to whether the great golfing public in Australia has caught on - or sadly will it only be visited by those of us with a love of great golf architecture?

Specky,

Without doubt Barnbougle is the best golf venue I have ever visited.

Great clubhouse, great accommodation and best of all a great course to play golf. The views are great.

Enjoy your golf Specky - cheers.

Sadly the mail I have is that it is struggling. I hate to say I told you so but "I told you so"

QUOTE: Matt @ May 21 2005, 08:29 PM

Sadly the mail I have is that it is struggling. I hate to say I told you so but "I told you so"

My mail is that it has easily exceeded expectations so far. Certainly well enough that they haven't had to spend much on advertising to get people in. Maybe yours got crossed with the Northern Golf Club mail.

Jim

I think of the two possibilities,you are closer to the mark.
With the backing of people like Mike Keiser the long term future is pretty good.

If it was to really struggle it would be a sad commentary on Australia's golfers because it is the first world-class course we can all play.

Matt you definately have your wires crossed. My certified mail is that they have way exceeded their expectations. Will be interesting to see how it goes during winter. Even though winter is the best time of the year down there, the perception on the mainland is a bit different...

Mac said,

If it was to really struggle it would be a sad commentary on Australia's golfers because it is the first world-class course we can all play.
It's unfair to blame Australia's golfers for BBs isolated location. There is no doubt that if you put the course on the mainland near Melbourne or Sydney you would need to book weeks in advance to get a game.
I realise that the site dictated the location but being a hour out of a city in Australia's most isolated and least populated state is a distinct economic disadvantage. If you took off the personal interest hat and rose coloured glasses you would see that.
People like Mike Keiser get wealthy because they are smart and there are dozens of examples of the wealthy benefactor bailing out when the costs get too steep. I hope I'm wrong but the plain fact of the matter is that a few planeloads of Victorians a week will not be enough in the long term. Especially if Jetstar continue to advertise cheap fares then sodomise you over the cost of taking your clubs! )

Matt,

No doubt you'll be pleased to learn Barny Dunes is doing better than you think, and better than all involved had hoped. The real picture will no doubt become clearer after a full 12 -24 months.

re: Jetstar - there can't be anyone that takes more than me on an interstate plane flight. My bags & clubs weigh stacks. I've never carried more than 20kgs, on trips to Qld, Tas and elsewhere. If you're in a position where you have to pay, you need to seriously reconsider what you pack.

Besides - $5 per kilo luggage excess, when you pay next to nothing for the flight in the first place, is hardly sodomy.

MM

I was told a couple of months ago that they were easily exceeding their budgeted rounds, so if that is true, they'll be travelling along quite nicely. The clubhouse is doing very well too, as the restaurant is supposedly the best in town. Full most nights of the week.

Matt,

My last Jetstar trip to Melbourne didn't cost me any extra for clubs. I use a carry bag, so maybe the buggy makes a difference, but I came in under the excess having packed for 5 days.

Matt,

If you think Bridport is a long way from anywhere then you haven't looked at the map for Bandon Dunes. It is near impossible to get there but interestingly they have discovered that golfers WILL travel, regardless of the pain, for great courses. If Barnbougle can continue to do OK and get a 2nd course up then the economics all change as Bandon Dunes has discovered.

As for it not doing well, last time I was there Richard Sattler was saying that they had exceeded their most optimistic projections and that the cabins were booked solid to the end of June. Most courses south of the Murray fall away over winter. Moonah Links you can fire a cannon on midweek in July, so perhaps we should wait until December and see how the first year in total has gone.

JJ

PS Bebox - Matty's only amusing comment in 1078 posts and you edit it!

It seems the consensus is that it is going well which is great news. It probably means that it can only continue upwards as surely those who will play it will want to go back for more.
It is probably one of those projects that has to succeed for golf's sake.
Did anybody notice a front page article in last Saturday's Age which said that the State Governement is detemined to stop the huge development of our Coast Line with "inappropriate" golf/resort development. Some developers would be very sad to hear that news - not to say some golfers.

The real test will be whether its still doing well in a year or two, when the hype wears off. Will people go back there for a second or third visit, taking into account its remoteness and expense?

QUOTE: henry @ May 23 2005, 08:28 AM

The clubhouse is doing very well too, as the restaurant is supposedly the best in town.  Full most nights of the week.

No offence but what is it up against ? Ma and Pa Kettle's sandwich emporium ?

If you think Bridport is a long way from anywhere then you haven't looked at the map for Bandon Dunes.
I knew it wouldn't be long before somone dragged that tired and inaccurate arguement out of the closet. Let me put simply for you JJ. The USA has over 280 million people Australia has 20 million. NO CONTEST.
On our Gold Coast trip recently Jetstar were charging $5 kilo over 20 kilos. A bag with 14 clubs inside a travel cover weighs about 17-18 kilos. This only leaves 2 kilos. So if you have a suitcase weighing say, 10 kilos you can easily rack up another $40. Virgin do not charge you like that.

Matt,

Look at how far Bandon is from the nearest large population centres they regard as their catchment zones, Portland, Seattle and San Francisco and then compare Bridport to Sydney and Melbourne. My guess is they are looking at somewhere around 15-20,000 rounds so they don't need 280 million people to do that. There is a LOT more hassle to get to Bandon, 8 hr drive from Seattle or nearly 4 hours from Portland, than the 70min drive from Launceston for Barny Dunes. I'm guessing the weather in Oregon is not quite as kind as the north coast of Tassie as well.

With regard to people in this country travelling to play golf, distance obviously wasn't an issue when you travelled to Qld to play on reclaimed swamps that charge much more than Barny Dunes recently.

JJ

PS Exactly where did your "mail" re Barny Dunes come from?

With regard to people in this country travelling to play golf, distance obviously wasn't an issue when you travelled to Qld to play on reclaimed swamps that charge much more than Barny Dunes recently.
It's not a difficult sell to organise a group to catch a direct flight from Sydney to the Gold Coast. There are many flights a day to choose from therefore meeting the needs of individuals and their work situation. You can throw in the warm weather, nightlife of the Coast and the variety of courses to choose from as well.
Stack that up against a limited range of flights (or a Melbourne stopover), hiring a bus and driving for an hour, only one course (a very good one I agree) and limited apres golf activities and it's tough to convince the average punter to make the effort.
You guys and your Golf Course Architect sect are not a realistic sample of Joe Public. Your average bunch mates going on a 3-4 day golfing trip are going to choose The Gold/Sunshine Coast, Murray, Hunter Valley, Port Stephens or Mornington Peninsula ahead of a remote spot in Tassie.
My source is a major supplier in the golf industry.

QUOTE: Matt @ May 23 2005, 04:27 PM

On our Gold Coast trip recently Jetstar were charging $5 kilo over 20 kilos. A bag with 14 clubs inside a travel cover weighs about 17-18 kilos. This only leaves 2 kilos. So if you have a suitcase weighing say, 10 kilos you can easily rack up another $40. Virgin do not charge you like that.

I don't know why you would get charged & I wouldn't. I had a full suitcase. Do you carry bricks in your bag.

I didn't get charged. I had done my homework and we chose Virgin. With Virgin they just log your bag as 5 kilos no matter what it weighs ( so the idea is to to stack it with shoes, balls etc)
I have a big staff bag. You put 14 clubs in it and your shoes then lock it inside a travel cover (can't trust those baggage handlers) and it will come to about 17-18 kilos.
How recently since you travelled? My wife works for an international airline and they are all clamping down on excess luggage due to security issues, fuel costs and they were just getting fed up with so many bozos thinking they could bring anything they wanted on board. I recently saw a guy trying to take a plasma screen TV on a hand luggage.

QUOTE: Matt @ May 23 2005, 05:27 PM

My source is a major supplier in the golf industry.

A major supplier of dodgy rumours it would seem Matt

QUOTE: Matt @ May 23 2005, 05:50 PM

How recently since you travelled?

April this year. I don't use my staff bag anymore, so that would have helped.

Maybe I got away with it because I chat to everyone.

Yep.

Hi guys, I'm playing Barnbougle soon and would like to know if anyone here knows what type of hire clubs they have. I'm reluctant to take my clubs all the way down there from Newcastle for just 1 game. I'm going there for a weeks holiday.
On the other hand I don't want to play one of the best best new courses around, so i'm told, with a 8 peice set of 10 year old Brosnans.
Any help would be welcome.

Nussy

Take your own clubs. The hire clubs are ok - they are new but the course is too good not to play properly.
Get a carry bag and a cheap airline bag cover - if you don't have them already.

And, play twice. It only takes 3 hours to get around.
The first time you play you will have no idea what is going on.

It only takes 3 hours to get around.
Would they be because there is no one there?