Market will help to restore clubhouse after fire

Belleknowes Golf Club members Mary Cromb (left) and Phyll Esplin inspect the site of the former clubhouse at Belleknowes Golf Course. Photo: Simon Henderson

The elves have been busy all year round and the sound of Santa’s sleigh will soon chime across the heavens.

With Covid-19 restrictions relaxed, this year could be a much merrier time for shoppers across Dunedin.

Hoping to cash in on the improved mood is the Belleknowes Golf Club, which will be running a Christmas Market as a fundraiser to help with construction of a new clubhouse, after its old clubhouse was destroyed in a dramatic fire last June.

Club member Phyll Esplin said the club had received an insurance payout, but some of that money had to be used to clear the site, including clearing asbestos that was in the roof.

Firefighters could do little to prevent the total destruction of the Belleknowes Golf Course clubhouse last June. Photo: Allied Press Files

Building costs had also gone up, and while the club was able to fund construction of the clubrooms, it needed to raise more money for furnishing the inside of the building.

"With costs going up and up, we are doing some fundraising."

— The Belleknowes Golf Club Christmas Market takes place on Monday November 21 from 6.30pm to 9pm at the Otago Golf Club, 125 Balmacewen Rd. Email woohoomd@gmail.com for details.

simon.henderson@thestar.co.nz