A planning permit application has been submitted to the City of Ballarat for stage one of the club's masterplan which focuses on its outdoor areas with five new alfresco areas along the rear of the clubhouse along with a new children's playground.

Following stages, still being planned, will include a complete redevelopment of the clubhouse, improved RSL facilities and a museum, new bowls greens and the potential for on-site accommodation.

According to planning documents, stage one would cost approximately $800,000 while a contribution to the overall project would be made by developer Villawood as part of an agreement made during the previous sale of a parcel of club land.

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No changes are proposed to be made to club's liquor and gaming licences as part of the redevelopment.

Midlands Golf Club acting general manager Cameron Vallance said the club hoped the upgrades would allow it to attract new families.

"We want to tap into the new subdivision down the road, where there's a lot of families there. We want to be a club that attracts families to our clubhouse and this facility will let us do that," he said.

"Both our golfers and our bowlers will be looked after in this upgrade and we'll also tap into the family markets. We don't really have a kids offering or a real family friendly facility at the moment, but we'll get that within stage one and stage two.

"The kids playground won't be just plastic fantastic, it'll be something that pops out and there'll be a lot of gear in there that keep the kids excited and they can play a part in filling their time while mum and dad might be having a wine and relaxing within the clubhouse."

Stage two is planned to completely redesign the interior of the clubhouse, expanding its capacity with a new function room and upgraded kitchen.

Mr Vallance said the club hoped the redevelopment would be complete within the next five years.

"The first stage will be finished March-April next year, all going well. The second stage, we'd hope to see that commence within a couple of years," he said.

Stage three includes the RSL museum, giving the Ballarat RSL a home for its memorabilia which is currently in storage.

"To have the museum, the theatre and have them with the proper facilities for their welfare setup tied into this redevelopment will be unreal for not just the club, but for Ballarat and the region," Mr Vallance said.

Mr Vallance said the clubhouse was due for an upgrade, with no major improvements taking place for the better part of 20 years.

"This clubhouse is fairly tired. It was built back in the 1970s and we had a later extension, which was the Fairways function room in the early 2000s, so we are an ageing facility, which we do need to open it up and modernise it," he said.

Ballarat RSL president Alan Douglass said the upgrades would be great for the sub-branch as well.

"With the new renovations, this will be one of the best RSLs in Victoria. With the facilities and relationship we've got, it's absolutely marvellous," he said.

"All the members are very excited. We're getting a new children's playground so members with children can come up and have a meal while their children are out in the playground."

To view the planning documents or make a submission, visit eservices.ballarat.vic.gov.au

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