By Olivia Ireland and Sarah Keoghan
A decomposed body has been pulled from a pond at a prestigious golf club in Sydney’s south, as police investigate the circumstances behind the grim discovery.
Golfers at The Lakes Golf Club expressed their shock after the man’s body was spotted by contractors conducting a pest inspection nearby about 9.30am on Wednesday.
Golfers walk past as police retrieve a body from the water at The Lakes Golf Club on Wednesday morning.Credit: Nick Moir
Divers were called in to retrieve the body, which police believe was in the pond for several days.
Police said there was no significant sign of injury, and it is not yet known whether the death is suspicious.
The body was slid up the bank on an orange floating device while wrapped in a blue tarpaulin.
The man was wearing black shorts and blue sneakers at the time he was found, police said. He has not yet been formally identified.
Police allowed the club to stay open, but it eventually diverted golfers away from the first and 10th holes for the afternoon.
Golfer Matthew Alch had just walked up to tee off for the day when he saw the body about midday.
“I saw the helicopter and saw police coming in. We were just about to start and walked down to the first hole and saw the body being brought out of the water. We were there,” he said.
“It’s an unfortunate thing. Hopefully [the police] can work out what happened.”
Golfers Matthew Alch (right) and Bruce Hammond. Credit: Sarah Keoghan
Playing alongside Alch was Bruce Hammond, who said he was about to head out to the club when he heard the news, but still decided to play.
“I was at home and had a telephone call from one of my colleague golfers who said it is in the news, are you playing golf?” he said.
Paul Jumikis said he was in the last group to play the 10th hole before police closed it for the day.
“We just played the 10th hole and suddenly the people behind us walked straight up to us on the green,” he said.
The Lakes Golf Club, where a body was found.Credit: Facebook
Ron Hoenig, the Labor member for Heffron, expressed his condolences for the deceased.
“As a proud member of the Lakes, it’s difficult for me to fathom such a terrible event happening at this beautiful and historic grounds [sic],” he said.
The golf club’s website states that it is “one of Australia’s pre-eminent private clubs and one of the leading major tournament venues in Australia”.
A full membership for those 40 years and older has a $40,000 entrance fee and a $5700 annual fee.
The Lakes is hosting the Australian Open this year alongside The Australian Golf Club, with men and women playing on both courses in the first two rounds.
The club has previously hosted the Australian Open seven times, most recently in 2018.
Australia’s Greg Norman won the national title there in 1980 and US golfer Tiger Woods came third in 2011.
The club also has a golf academy and hosts functions.
Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here.