Lord Mayor tees off at Royal Park Golf Club

It’s not every day you spot the Lord Mayor on the fairway, but that was the scene at Royal Park Golf Club on Friday, July 25, as Cr Nick Reece joined members for a friendly round — and some thoughtful conversation about the future of the City of Melbourne’s only golf course.

Joined by club president Sam Hanna, committee member Kai Bowie, and Thomas Jacobs from the Lord Mayor’s office, Cr Reece spent the morning soaking in the course’s unique charm, discussing its challenges, and showing off a surprisingly smooth swing.

“Tee-off time was a dark and chilly 7am, but I was heartened to see a large turnout of keen golfers ready for a hit,” Cr Reece said.

“Royal Park is a truly remarkable golf course – it’s a bit of a hidden gem. It was great seeing so many locals out enjoying the course and having a yarn and a laugh after playing nine holes.”

“As Lord Mayor, I don’t get much time to work on my handicap, so the form was pretty woeful,” he joked. “But it was certainly an enjoyable round with great company at a special place.”

Top of mind for the club was the course’s role in the upcoming Royal Park Master Plan. Mr Bowie said while some change was inevitable, the club was eager to retain the character and challenge that have long defined the home of golfing great Peter Thomson AO.

“The Lord Mayor was very receptive and genuinely engaged. He understands that this is more than just a course – it’s a vital green space that brings physical and emotional benefits to people of all ages,” Mr Bowie said.

Cr Reece acknowledged the club’s legacy and its importance to the city.

“Peter ‘the Melbourne Tiger’ Thomson was born in Brunswick and used to sneak onto this course as a young boy with one ball and one club. Decades later, he returned to redesign it into the short but challenging layout we know today,” he said.

Among ideas raised during the round were safety concerns around the 8th hole – where Cr Reece invited the club to submit alternative design suggestions – and support for upgrades to clubhouse amenities and equipment, including a new green roller.

“We need to keep working on options for the 8th hole. Relocating the tee area does not keep true to the original Peter Thomson design and creates a new set of issues with golf balls running on to Poplar Rd,” he said.

Cr Reece also backed the idea of a future Lord Mayor’s charity golf day to raise funds and celebrate this “brilliantly designed” course.

“A Lord Mayor's Golf Day at Royal Park could be a fun way to raise funds for charity and raise the profile of this wonderful golf club,” he said.

With clear support for preserving and investing in accessible public golf, Cr Reece’s visit was a welcome sign of the City of Melbourne’s commitment to keeping Royal Park Golf Club thriving into the future. •