The $480,000 Forbes Golfers Association (FGA) and Forbes Shire Council irrigation modernisation project was officially opened on Wednesday by Forbes mayor Ron Penny and FGA president Andrew McDonald.

Both men said the significant investment would be worth every cent.

Mayor Penny said he believed a town’s sporting facilities played a big role in attracting new residents and businesses.

“Any town, in my opinion, worth its salt, must have a good golf course, good bowling greens and a modern hospital… it’s part of what attracts residents and businesses to your town,” Cr Penny said.

Andrew McDonald said he soon realised the extent of the course’s irrigation problems when he took on the FGA presidency in 2009.

Mr McDonald said while the FGA needed to make the costly upgrades to the 50-year-old course watering network, the members could not afford it themselves.

“We knew that it was a 40 year project but we had to pay for it in five to 10 years,” Mr McDonald said.

“Forbes Shire Council’s [$280,500] interest free loan, repayable over 12 years, was a real boost,” he said.

The mayor and FGA president also both commended the successful tenderer, Darling Irrigation, who engaged local greenkeeper Justin Clarke to drive the project.

With the help of FGA volunteers, the work was recently completed on time and on budget.

“We will have a first rate golf course in the very near future,” Mr McDonald said.