Mount Gambier’s newest tourist attraction has hit a hole in one – with bookings flooding in for the Blue Lake Public Golf Links’ mini golf course
The Blue Lake Putt Putt opened yesterday, with the course already generating extraordinary interest, attracting more than 500 bookings this month.
The 18-hole course includes a replica Centenary Tower, miniature Blue Lake and light up ghost mushrooms.
The project has taken nine months to build and was funded by a Community Development Program Regions round 5 grant valued at $170,000.
Blue Lake Public Golf Links’ owner and manager Bill Burley said the Blue Lake Golf Club had matched the funding with the man hours put into the project.
“The total value on it is very hard to say because a lot of it was done with manual hours from volunteering,” he said.
“It is worth double what the grant was, at least.
“We have tried to capture the local region with some of the features on the putt putt.
“We still have a few things to come, we have a cray pot with a metal crayfish on top and the winery hole has a few things to add to it.”
Mr Burley said the community response had been “just incredible”.
“We have got not just Christmas bookings, but kids parties and I think it’s going to great for hopefully tourism as well,” he said.
“This club was in trouble three and a half years ago to be able to remain open, and with the driving range and this now, it creates a whole new aspect to the club.
“The Crater Lakes area just has so much potential, it’s a great feature of our town.
“We want the tourism, we want people to come here and enjoy it, that’s what it’s all about.”
Mr Burley said the putt putt course would not be possible without the hard work of volunteers.
“It has been the brainchild of Stephen Smith from Steplen Constructions who has put a lot of hard hours into it and his son who owns Limestone Coast Landscaping Irrigation, they have done an amazing job,” he said.
“I would also like to thank Ken Milsop, he is one of our volunteers and our club members.
“It was a host of volunteers who helped as well and a lot of tradies who have put a lot of hours in.
“Tyson from Limestone Coast Turf did an amazing job with the putt putt itself.
“The Centenary Tower work is from Ernie Scheidl and Scott Attiwill and their team.
“It is all stonemason work, all handcut and crafted.
“Even local people have got on board and sponsored a hole, it is fantastic.”
Walk-ins are welcome, but bookings can be made by calling 8725 6198.
