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After an upheaval of the course and a change in ownership, the Par 3 golf course at Old Broadwater Farm – a Busselton institution since 1988 – is here to stay and better than ever.
New owners Zeb and Asher Packard-Hair said despite the pressures of development, the public nine-hole par 3 course would be retained and stay in operation, providing a recreational golf option to locals and travelers for the foreseeable future.
The new owners, who are grandsons of the original land owners and co-founders of the course, took over management in February and have hit the ground running with significant improvements to the course and kiosk renovations now well underway.
“Two generations on we wanted to honour the vision of the founding partners by preserving the course as a relaxed, fun, family-friendly and affordable alternative to full size courses, while upholding an excellent standard that can still provide a great challenge to experienced players,” Zeb said.
... a relaxed, fun, family-friendly and affordable alternative to full size courses.
“There was a lot of work to be done after the development works required a reconfiguration and construction of four new fairways, but the course is now back and better than ever.”
The idea for a recreational par 3 course was conceived by a group of six friends in the days when Busselton was still a sleepy rural town in the late 1980s, and the Broadwater Par 3 Golf Course was built on the corner of Ted and Bette Packard’s dairy farm on the outskirts of town.
Initially run out of an old caravan on the lot, the course exploded in popularity and the now iconic but unassuming A-frame kiosk was built by the original owners in 1992. Fencing of the course area from the farm kept the stock out and allowed the natural bushland to regenerate over the years.
This includes the resurgence of rare King Carbunup Spider Orchid, which has led to a nature reservation being placed over the land, precluding it from further development.
The course now sits nestled in the corner of Fairway Drive and the Busselton Bypass, surrounded by the heritage-themed residential estate Old Broadwater Farm.
As part of the current renovation, the renovated kiosk will soon offer gourmet espresso coffee, food, Simmo’s icecream and cold drinks to cater for golfers and non-golfers alike, amongst the natural peppermint and redgum bushland.
The Par 3 is open to the public seven days a week.
Casual competitions are run several times a week, offering a chance to meet and play with the regulars.
Greens fees are $10 per round midweek and $11 on weekends and public holidays.
Hire clubs are available for all ages.
For more information visit par3.com.au or call 08 9754 2002.