9 minute read
FEATURE: OUTDOOR AREAS
Experiencing the great outdoors
From beachside decks to lush terraces, clubs across Australia are transforming their outdoor spaces into lively areas where guests can soak up the sun and enjoy the views.
IN AUSTRALIA, WE’RE fortunate to have a climate that’s perfect for spending time outdoors. For clubs, this presents a prime opportunity to take advantage of the year-round outdoor weather. This is exactly what inspired Altona Sports Club to rebuild its deck.
“We’re right on the beach in Altona, so we’re very lucky where we’re situated. We’ve got an ocean view out the back, so we thought we needed to build a really good deck out there so people can sit there and have a drink or have functions or corporate events,” said Altona Sports Club chief executive Gavin Comport.
The club is located in the charming coastal suburb of Altona, just 13 kilometres southwest of Melbourne, and backs onto Altona Beach.
While there was previously a deck overlooking the water, it didn’t compare to what the club has now.
“Our small function room had a very small deck, and it needed a refurbishment – it was very well and truly long overdue for one. The old deck could hold 50 people if we were lucky, but now we can accommodate 200,” Comport explained.
There are a lot of young families in Altona, so it’s very important for us to create a space they want to come to.
– Gavin Comport, Altona Sports Club CEO
Since the renovation, Comport says the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“People love it. It’s really increased our functions. People now want to utilise the space for events, whereas previously, it was a real struggle to sell that space.”
The new deck is connected to the club’s newly refurbished function room but is also available to patrons when there are no functions.
“The idea is to have a space that people can use, especially in the summer, down by the beach. We want people to sit down, enjoy the view, and take it all in on a good summer’s day.”
In addition to the new deck, the club has also installed a half-court basketball court.
“A lot of teenagers have started coming down with their parents. It’s made a big difference to the demographic we can attract,” Comport noted.
“We’ve already got a couple of soccer goals, and we used to have portable basketball rings, but it used to get a good hammering and got damaged here and there. So, we thought let’s spend a bit of money and put in a proper half-court basketball court. It’s NBA standard, so people can have three-on-three matches if they want a bit of competition.”
Comport emphasised the importance of this addition to attract families to the club.
“There are a lot of young families in Altona, so it’s very important for us to create a space they want to come to,” he said.
Greener pastures
Easts Leisure and Golf, owned by East Maitland Bowling Club, is another venue that sought to capitalise on its surroundings. However, unlike the ocean views at Altona Sports Club, East Leisure and Golf’s focus was to take advantage of its lush and expansive golf course.
As club manager Scott Driffield recalls, the idea came from an “off-the-cuff” remark on a sunny afternoon in 2018 between some directors and managers who were enjoying the view from the club’s function room balcony. This casual conversation led to the decision to expand the clubhouse and include three new indoor-outdoor terraces, each offering unique perspectives of the lush fairways and surrounding landscapes.
“We said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we had a deck that took advantage of this view?’” Driffield said.
Easts Leisure and Golf’s recent expansion wasn’t just about taking advantage of golf course’s views though. It was a strategic move to create more versatile spaces.
“We had outdoor areas before, but they were predominantly smoking areas,” Driffield said.
“We wanted to get away from that. With smoking regulations, we weren’t permitted to serve food in those outdoor areas. The way we’ve set the new terraces is with automated windows that can be lowered or raised, and those terraces essentially becomes an indoor area. We’ve got the best of both worlds.”
Every golf club wants to show off the view of their golf course.
– Scott Driffield, Easts Leisure and Golf club manager
The new outdoor areas have also opened up opportunities to host a variety of events.
“We’ve already received inquiries about hosting retirement parties and smaller birthdays where they have it on the terrace. It’s great that now have that option to sell, in addition to the main function spaces,” Driffield said.
Driffield emphasised the importance of making the most of the clubhouse views.
“Every golf club wants to show off the view of their golf course. It’s a great view, probably second to overlooking beach,” he said.
“Now, you can be in one section of the terrace and be directly looking down the first fairway, while also seeing down the 18th fairway – it’s a great view.”
Looking ahead to upcoming events, Driffield is particularly excited about the Club Championships in October, with the new terraces now completed.
“We’re picturing that there’ll be a viewing gallery standing out on the decks, cheering on the players as they come up the 18th fairway. It’ll actually give a better spectator view of the golf course for tournaments and other major events,” he said.
Toronto Workers Club is also embracing flexibility in its current renovation plans. Scheduled to be completed by mid-October, the renovations involve converting the club’s existing underutilised auditorium into an indoor-outdoor sports bar.
Once completed, the new sports lounge will feature sleek, contemporary lines and curves, as well as a large floor-toceiling retractable glass door that allows for a fluid transitio n between the indoor and outdoor areas. There’ll also be beautiful greenery cascading from the ceiling to bring a refreshing touch of the outdoors.
“While we don’t have a lake view, even though we are so close, we wanted to ensure our patrons feel the atmosphere of an indoor-outdoor space with nice surroundings, aesthetics and some natural light,” Toronto Workers Club chief executive Ben Launt and marketing communications manager Melissa Pepe said.
Apart from a small outdoor area near the club’s current TAB area and snooker tables, the revamped sports lounge will be the only outdoor the club will have.
“We knew we needed another space to cater for viewing sporting events on a big screen and also an outdoor area which we completely lacked. No doubt this was the right area for it,” said Launt and Pepe.
Embracing nature
One club that has fully embraced the great outdoors is Darwin Ski Club in the Top End. Located on five hectares of land overlooking Darwin Harbour, this unique venue prides itself a completely outdoor establishment, where the natural environment shapes its patrons’ experiences.
“The club’s story began 60 years ago where the primary focus was on water sports where it was all about skiing on the harbour and running speed competitions, and so on,” explained Fay Gurr, Darwin Ski Club secretary.
Unlike most modern club venues with clearly defined spaces, Darwin Ski Club only has two building structures: one to house the bar and the other the kitchen.
“It creates an atmosphere from the time you walk in; it’s bit unnerving at first because you’re not quite sure where the club starts or ends,” Gurr said.
“There isn’t a lot of signage directing you to specific areas, which is unusual in today’s world where we’re so used to being guided everywhere. But that’s part of the charm – it’s about finding your own space and just settling in.”
The club’s open-air setting does, however, come with its challenges, particularly during wet weather.
“There are times in the year when it’s raining or when there are storms, and the club is fairly exposed. I’ve been here when there were about six tables and a dozen chairs that got picked up by tides and wind and went into the harbour.
But they got washed back. You just go oh well – you don’t fight the weather or the heat here,” Gurr said.
Despite these challenges, or perhaps because of them, the Darwin Ski Club has thrived.
There are lots of places to watch the sunset in Darwin, but not many where you can do it with food, drinks, and a safe, family-friendly environment.
– Fay Gurr, Darwin Ski Club secretary
“It’s part of why the club has survived and flourished for 60 years,” Gurr said.
“It’s part of why the club has survived and flourished for 60 years,” Gurr said.
“People sit here and say, ‘Within a little while, I just felt so much more relaxed. I wasn’t worried about what I could be doing or not doing because I’m just here.’”
Music and entertainment have become integral to the club’s identity, where there’s now a permanent stage setup to host a variety of events, including the Darwin Festival, and performances by local and well-known bands.
“The stage is also used by community groups, like the Irish Association or various not-forprofits, who use it for their events,” Gurr added.
In addition to its role as a music venue, the club boasts an outdoor swimming pool.
“We’re about sport, family, and entertainment. The swimming pool is booked all the time for things like learn-to-swim classes, aqua aerobics, and even adult learn-to-swim sessions. During concerts, the pool area often becomes a VIP section,” Gurr said.
With ample seating and a dog-friendly venue, Darwin Ski Club is also a popular spot to watch the sunset.
“There are lots of places to watch the sunset in Darwin, but not many where you can do it with food, drinks, and a safe, family-friendly environment,” Gurr said.
