Inside The Ripper House, LIV Golf’s Australian VIP Party Mansion

Sporting events are a lot like music festivals. There is nowhere to sit down; you almost never get a good view, and the food is reheated to the very limits of what is physically palatable, but at LIV Golf, things are a little different. The rebel sports league, best known for turning golf on its head back in 2020 with additions like ‘The Watering Hole’ and live DJ music performances from party lord Fisher, is continuing to change the game.

For the 2025 Adelaide tournament, the Saudi-backed sports league took disruption to new levels, taking its unique brand of anti-traditionalism off-course. Far from the lush greens and feathered fairways of The Grange Golf Club, The Ripper House, a first-of-its-kind experience, offered guests a creative culinary nod to Cam Smith’s course-topping team.

The Ripper House

Picture this: An Aston Martin Vantage sits idle in front of a sprawling palatial mansion. Champagne flows and an arsenal of well-dressed attendees line a leafy passage—all to the sound of what could well be Edith Piaf herself. This is nothing like the golf experience I was expecting.

From the moment I entered The Ripper House, I got a sudden sense that this wasn’t going to be a stock-standard sporting event. Described as the ‘new highlight’ of the LIV Golf Adelaide 2025 line-up, the activation takes visitors on an upscaled, elevated journey through South Australia’s remarkable dining, beverage and sporting portfolio. But what is The Ripper House, exactly?

“The Ripper House is where sport, culture and entertainment collide,” Nick Adams, general manager of Rippers GC said. “It’s the hottest ticket in Australia and we’re only getting started.”

Named after the Australian team and reigning title holders, Rippers GC, The Ripper House is an off-course sports experience that offers guests a relaxing and inviting space to enjoy the golf tournament, drink premium South Australian-born elixirs and indulge in some of the state’s finest produce. Think of it as a luxurious 19th hole, the natural extension of the round where the stroke play draws to a close and nightlife begins. Located around 20 minutes from The Grange Golf Club, the private residence served as a proverbial home base for the Australian arm of the global tour, which has fast become one of the most popular on the circuit.

Food & Beverage

Elevating the experience, The Ripper House teamed up with Australian chef extraordinaire David Moyle for a bespoke menu that spoke to the unique local elements that the country is renowned for. The former Franklin chief and culinary master worked to craft a series of genre-bending creations bursting with flavour, taking inspiration from Australian pub cuisine and the great barrooms of yesteryear.

Across the weekend, guests at The Ripper House had access to a near-endless assortment of elevated favourites, from bold new takes on the classic avocado toast to kangaroo schnitzel and wattleseed ice cream. Hearty and industrious, Moyle’s menu was the perfect embodiment of the LIV Golf ethos—Playful yet refined, slightly off-kilter and completely untraditional. The drinks list followed suit.

Mixologist Lachlan Gunner from acclaimed Adelaide cocktail bar Trap provided a similarly world-class beverage assortment. Served at a custom-made bar that doubled as a replica of the infamous hole 12 at The Grange, Gunner’s concoctions were bright and bold, again in keeping with the tournament’s unapologetic nature. Among them, a bespoke cocktail simply dubbed #rippermode took inspiration from the grassy greens of the host course, harking back to the day’s activities. As night fell, however, The Ripper House took shape.

Style & Sport

As I wandered through the space on Friday, it was hard not to feel a sense of nervous excitement. In between smooth, soulful sets from Harvey Miller, resident DJ and one-half of award-winning Aussie act Client Liaison, the space transformed into a makeshift fashion show. Each and every attendee brought their own sense of style to the fold, blurring the lines between contemporary prep-wear and classic golf fashion.

Not that it was a surprise. With a guest list that featured actors Josh Heuston and Travis Fimmel, snowboarder Scotty James, television personality Rebecca Judd, surfer and LIV Golf ambassador Mick Fanning and a host more, it was always likely to be a stylish affair. For me, however, The Ripper House represented something different. A place away from the course, complete with golf simulators and putt-putt where the hustle and bustle of the playing field slipped away, the unique activation felt like a home away from home.

In many ways, The Ripper House was the inevitable final link in LIV Golf’s Australian chain. No longer just a rebel league built on big money, the sporting event has become an integral component of South Australia’s burgeoning quest to reach a global audience. Hospitality activations like The Ripper House, replete with fine dining options, remarkable concoctions and a bevy of beautiful vehicles to look at, make for a seriously enticing prospect if you’re coming from elsewhere. And with the state government officially locking in exclusive hosting rights for another six years, LIV Golf isn’t going anywhere any time soon. Rip in.