Club of the Month: Catalina Country Club

A GOLF club can ill-afford to rest on its laurels these days.

You need to move with the times and there is no better example of that than the magnificent Catalina Country Club on the New South Wales South Coast.

Not content with having an iconic golf course, magnificent clubhouse and ‘contented’ membership, this club has put itself on the map for some exciting innovations over the years and a constant desire to add to their marvellous facility with even more attractions…and temptations.

These include such things as the alfresco extensions to the clubhouse completed in November last year with the addition of The Terrace and the View Deck on the western side of the Clubhouse. The area in and around the pro shop has also seen a refurbishment to complement the recent alfresco additions. Or maybe it’s the proposed reconstruction of the 15th hole from tee to green by one of Australia’s golfing greats Greg Norman and his design construction team. There are even plans afoot for a masterplan for not only the 27-hole championship golf course, but for the Club House and surrounds as well. Now that’s what you can call keeping your membership thirsting for more.

One of the greatest attractions at Catalina is that it offers so much more than just golf.

For instance, there is poker two days a week, entertainment with quarterly tribute shows which include a two-course meal; quarterly degustation evenings with various wine companies; 15 refreshing products are available on TAPat the club and the Catalina Restaurant opens seven days a week for lunch and dinner and boasts a great reputation with the locals.

There is even the Batemans Bay Cricket Club which uses Catalina as its home base for social events and its annual presentation dinner.

Junior golf at the club is also going places with the club currently fostering the talents of more than 40 cadets and juniors.

Even more changes are afoot with golf cart paths planned for the entire course and a 99kw Solar system being installed this month.

Club Catalina is proud to attract many visitors – both professional and amateur to the course each year, including those who play the myriad annual events including The Legends Pro Am – October 11 and 12; Women’s Open Tournament – October 26, 27 and 28 (36-Hole Stroke); Catalina Classic –  November 2, 3 and 4; The Batemans Bay Open – a three-day event played in April each year; The Catalina Seniors Open – June 10 and 11 June 2018 (new to the schedule for 2018 and is a senior OOM event for golfers 55 and over); The inaugural Par-3 Club Championships; and the South Coast Junior Masters – a Jack Newton Junior Golf Event – August 25 and 26.

It’s little wonder Club Catalina has produced some champion golfers over the years.

The current course record, however, is 65 on the championship course with Craig Lynch turning on the fireworks that day to set that record mark.

Actually it’s the rest of the members and visitors who have been setting the course alight in recent months…maybe it’s been the great stretch of warmer weather but there has been an uncommon run of holes-in-ones since February this year with two occurring in the recent Batemans Bay Open.

And on a course that’s become famous over the years for the number of kangaroos (there’s plenty of them), kookaburras and turtles, there is a Great White Shark engraved in that history too.

That’s because Greg Norman earned his first professional paycheque in a four day event in 1976 right there at Catalina Country Club and long before he went on to become No 1 in the world and win two British Opens.

By now you are probably wondering what is the best hole at Club Catalina?

The universal agreement is generally that it is the par-three 14th.

It’s about 140 metres over water to a narrow green with the marvellous backdrop of a mountain range…it really is quite captivating and just one of many reasons Catalina Country Club deserves its spot at the top of the tree.

The perfect venue for your next golfing getaway

IF YOU’VE never heard of the Eurobodalla Coast, then pack the clubs and make a beeline for Club Catalina…the rest will take care of itself.

A mere driver-three-wood from the heart of beautiful Batemans Bay, you are a few minutes from an amazing beach, a marina with a variety of motels nearby offering resort-style accommodation and restaurants that will lure you back for more.

The Eurobodalla itself enjoys a reputation as a water and nature lovers’ paradise.

This area boasts 83 beaches, four major river systems and lakes, and many islands and estuaries all occupied by a rich variety of sea, bird and animal life.

The 110kms of coastline includes the Batemans Bay Marine Park and 3,400 square kilometres of land. More than 80 percent of the land is either national park or state forest.

The local economy was once based on dairying, forestry and fishing and is now driven by tourism, agriculture and fishing, retail and property, and has an emerging arts, health, education and wellbeing sector.

And then there’s the golf!

Club Catalina offers a 27-hole championship golf course with flat, landscaped and irrigated fairways – no mountain climbing or back-breaking bunker shots required here. All social golfers are welcome all year round.

Visitors and social groups have ensured this is the most popular club on the south coast.

The club’s Golf Package manager can take the hassle out of arranging accommodation, golf bookings and equipment hire from the fully-equipped Pro Shop.

Stay and Play  at the Bay’s only 27-hole championship golf course from $200 per person per night – accommodation, breakfast, three-course evening meal, golf and twin share golf cart hire included (3 ½ star motel, twin share. Basic Packages start at $90pp.

Club Catalina offers a fully-licensed Club, with a first class restaurant, pro shop, coffee shop, Keno, a fully functional TAB with a new outdoor Terrace area for members and guests.

Every Friday and Saturday night, Club Catalina comes alive with entertainment from some of the state’s most talented musicians, enticing you to dance the night away.

The Catalina Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner seven days, presenting a lovely array of gourmet cuisine with a European influence with an emphasis on local seafood.

The coffee lounge is open from 9am until late serving your favourite brew with cakes, slices and sandwiches.

A courtesy bus service is available Tuesday to Saturday evenings.

CLUB CATALINA is situated at 154 Beach Rd, Batemans Bay NSW 2536 and can be contacted on (02) 4472-4022.