Situated on the banks of Lake Dunstan, the Cromwell Town and Country Club boasts the "best views in Cromwell", president Allan Rickard says.
And with the support of a new committee and manager Jock McGregor, he is determined to capitalise on that as the club moves to put a controversial year behind it.
A garden bar will be built along the front of the club's Melmore Tce building, next door to the Memorial Hall, within the next few weeks.
"We've got the best view in Cromwell and the land we own extends quite a bit around the building.
"We also get a lot of requests for private functions but struggle with space," Mr Rickard said.
Eventually, a new commercial kitchen will replace the existing facility, which will enable more functions to be held at the club.
"We're starting to rebuild but we have to make sure it's viable and we can recoup our costs. In the next financial year we should be able to do that," Mr McGregor said.
In the past financial year, the club has cleared its mortgage and is now ready to continue operations debt-free.
He said owning poker machines meant the club could put money back into the community - in the 2008-09 financial year about $9000 was donated from the proceeds.
This year, the club is the major sponsor of a boating regatta on Lake Dunstan, after contributing $3000 towards the annual event.
Mr McGregor said in the past month the club's turnover had increased by about $6000 - mainly due to new promotions.
"We were on par with the last month's takings with a week still to go. It's all positive now," he said.
The club's latest financial statement for the year ending June 30 showed a total surplus of $26,693 - up from June 2008's surplus of $21,784.
Its assets including bank accounts, stock, land, buildings, and equipment totalled $579,584.
Mr Rickard says the new committee is dedicated to enlivening the atmosphere of the club and attracting new members.
Predominantly middle-aged and older residents attend, although there is a push towards attracting those in their 30s.
"Four years ago, when I got on the committee, I was the youngest member by about 30 years. We have a few members in their 20s but you could count them on one hand, and we want to encourage the 30-year-olds to join," he said.
He said the club's popularity had already started to rise within the community as more promotions were put on for members.
Mr McGregor said for people who did not want to frequent local pubs, the club was an ideal alternative.
"A lot of people don't like going into the hotels where the young ones are, they want to come to a place where the atmosphere is good, people are friendly, and there is no trouble. Members have a sense of owning part of the club - it's like an extension of your home," he said.
With more than 1000 members, the club had been susceptible to differing views about how it should be run.
In the last month, major changes have taken place following some discontent from members about the club's management, employment, and structure.
Former president Rosie Cahill retired his position due to health reasons in August.
Before his retirement long-time president Duncan McMillan and his wife Carolyn - who was employed as the club's manager - left their positions after the previous committee voted for a restructure.
Mr McGregor, who took over the manager's role in September, said payments had to be made to the McMillans and some former staff members.
It was not to be the last hiccup for the club - which had to call an extraordinary general meeting at the last minute to deal with a motion for a vote of no confidence in its committee.
The motion was signed by 74 members and a vote held on September 20 before the club's scheduled annual meeting.
Despite initial support for the vote of no confidence, it was dismissed after just 17 of the 218 members present supported it.
At the club's AGM, which was attended by 188 members, further changes were made to the committee.
A former vice-president, Mr Rickard was elected president, and former committee member Toby Templeton was elected as vice-president.
Former committee members Jacinta Neilson, Megan Ireland, Lloyd Hopgood, and Lynette Hedges were re-elected.
Former member Alan Moseley did not seek re-election, and club members Steve Pope and Russell Braden were elected to the committee.
Cromwell T&C Club
- Incorporated: June 1977
- Where: Melmore Tce, 5000sq m, overlooking Lake Dunstan.
- Membership: 1050.
- Staff: eight people including manager Jock McGregor.
- Committee: Allan Rickard (president), Toby Templeton (vice-president), Jacinta Neilson, Steve Pope, Megan Ireland, Russell Braden, Lloyd Hopgood, and Lynette Hedges.
