Like most businesses across Australia, Mount Compass Golf Course has been through an uncertain time during the past 12 months due to the impacts of COVID-19.
“We were very concerned we were facing a potential complete shutdown of the course for an extended period – which could well have resulted in it never reopening,” said Stephen Connor, Mount Compass’ managing director. “Fortunately golf was generally exempted in South Australia, so we kept trading – albeit with limited numbers, strict social distancing and a range of health and safety practices in place.
“The Range Restaurant suffered most, being reduced to take-away food only. Fortunately South Australia was fairly quick to return to the new normal and as a result Mount Compass saw golf traffic grow consistently throughout the year. We are up about 60 percent on last year in golf patronage and the restaurant is back to very solid trading – it’s booked out most nights.
“Land sales have also been strong. With the advent of the HomeBuilder grant and people looking for alternate living options, we advanced and sold out Stage 2A of our subdivision and are now moving on the remainder we have available in Stage 2B. Having a view across a golf course, an attractive township, wineries, restaurants and beaches all in very close proximity is a pretty compelling lifestyle choice – and only 45 minutes drive from the Adelaide CBD.
“The course is now better recognised as a result of its ranking and our promotional efforts. Word-of-mouth has been kind to us – we keep getting positive feedback from our customers. We greatly appreciated the support we were given in tough times and, in turn, I think a lot of people were grateful we stayed open so they could play golf when most other fitness and recreation activities were closed off.
“I am proud of the efforts of our team. Our rise in Australian Golf Digest’s biennial Top 100 Courses ranking – from 96th in 2018 to 73rd in 2020 – is welcome recognition for them.”
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Mount Compass Golf Course is leaping from strength to strength, ushering in a new year with a new superintendent.
Matt Overall is a local lad, born in Victor Harbor and attending school through Port Elliot, Victor Harbor and finishing up at Westminster College. He is well known around the traps for his cricket prowess, having played for years in local teams. He worked his apprenticeship at Kooyonga Golf Club, and has played on the Glenelg Golf Club pennants team in recent years.
Having been on the grounds team at Mount Compass since 2019, Overall has been crucial in achieving recent course improvements that have pushed its ranking closer towards the top 50 in the country. He is looking forward to his new role as superintendent and watching his ideas and plans for the course come to fruition.
Matt’s favourite golf course (other than Mount Compass!) is Fox Hill in the United Kingdom, where he was lucky enough to play when he was abroad to play a cricket season for a county side in 2015.
His favourite hole at Mount Compass is the fourth, as there are “many different ways to play through” and it can be a real challenge. “I love that I can come to work and see locals that I’ve grown up with, but also meet a whole lot of new golfers and share this amazing course with them,” he says.
The Details
Mount Compass Golf Course
Where: George Francis Drive, Mount Compass SA 5210
Phone: (08) 8556 8500
Web: mcgc.com.au
