18/05/2022
Hanmer Pitch N Putt - The True Story
Rodney Hale had a dream 18 years ago, with $1.35 in the bank. He wanted to build a training ground for golf and an awesome activity for people to play and have fun. What he didn’t realise was that the end result was the exact specifications for International Federation of Pitch N Putt.
Taking a step back here, Rodney needed to find the ideal site. Plus he had to find another investor to help in the building of the course. Rodney had investigated several blocks of land to be able to find the right area but to no avail. Then Jan Crawford and Dr Crawford had heard the idea of building the course and were keen to lease the land the course is now on. Jan was passionate about keeping certain trees and making sure that it was going to be kept as a green belt. The Crawfords had purchased this block of land as they had a passion about keeping a green area in the middle of Hanmer and did not want it to become a village of houses. When the first lease payment was to be made Rodney took cash cheques, cash and coins in order to make the first payment. Where the next payment was coming from at that point was unknown.
Rodney found another partner with the equipment to assist in building the course, even though this partner’s wife was pregnant with twins and he had his own business to deal with as well, plus building their house.
Jan kept insisting on keeping trees and promises were made to take cuttings and replant. Unfortunately Jan passed away and Dr Crawford keep his promise of making sure that this was going to be kept as a green belt.
Several years passed and Dr Crawford would be seen to walking the Crawford path and then in his mobility scooter loving the fact that his and his wifes dream was coming to fruition.
Stop there. Hello, an agent decided that this area would be prime residential land and went behind the back of the land owner (Dr Crawford) and approched the sons who signed agreements that this land would be perfect residential property.
Documents are there to prove this. Dr Crawford did not know this until we showed him the documents. So the property went up for sale, we were keen to put an offer in and should have the first option but unfortunately didn’t get that option. The agent gave an us an oversized figure that the land would sell for. At this point we could not put a offer in but were still interested in purchasing the property. Offers were placed. One bidder was refused as they wanted to turned the land residential. Another offer was to keep the land as a green belt, retain the Pitch N Putt and build a single home for the new purchaser. This offer was for lower than the previous. We could have easily affored that.
What next … within a short period of time it came to our attention that the new owner was approaching council for the land to become residential. Once we knew this we approached the owner and the agent to try and purchase the land to retain it as a green belt and commit to the Crawfords dream and promise we had made. The agent said that wouldn’t happen though the new owner stated anything is possible. When the submission came out we put our own opossing submission in. We had well over 1000 signatures wanting the Pitch N Putt to stay, we gave examples of wildlife on this property, geckos, lizards, frogs, pied stilts, oyster catchers and much more. Council stated that as we were only leasing the property we had no relevence. There is paperwork to support this.
Yes we were living on a 60 day lease, but we were still approaching the owners to subdivide this section off and sell it to us. Now, five years later we are here.
We have contacted new owners and they are not negotiable to allow the Pitch N Putt to stay, even if it was part of the new residential development.
We now feel we have to fight, not for us, but for the community and the longlevity of things to do in Hanmer and the late Jan and Robert Crawford.
Take us out and there are 12500 people who came and played and enjoyed this facility. These people not only spend money with us but accomodation and other activities. A quarter of a million dollars that will not go into the community. Jobs that are lost as a result oif closing. Local children no longer have a free activity they can play. No more free tournaments for local children to introduce them to golf and a life skill. No longer is there an activity that several generations can play together and enjoy.
So from here, yes we could leave. But now, after seeing the comments and passion, it is not about us, it is the Hanmer Community and tourism that is now the concern.
We don’t know how or what to do to save this … can you help, not for us but for Hanmer.
