Founded in 1892, the Geelong Golf Club was one of the oldest in Australia when it ran into financial hardships during the early 2000s and eventually sold its land to a golf management company that also had a development arm to its business. Shortly after the sale, the owners put forward a proposal to reduce the 18-hole course down to 9 holes, and subdivide the remaining land for residential homesites. After some initial resistance, the plan was approved and a new 9-hole course designed by Graham Papworth was opened in 2013.