New Board elected on Friday at the AGM The new Board holds office until the next AGM. A special resolution was passed this year to reduce the number of elected positions to 7 from the AGM next year (2019). This is in line with recommendations which stemmed from a report into Registered Clubs in NSW by IPART. This then allows the board to appoint 2 more members from any category of membership. The other special resolution passed allows Full Playing, Honorary Life, Six Day Playing, Visiting, House, Lifestyle, Country and Social members to nominate people for membership. The existing requirement is to have applications displayed on the club's notice board for a period and the board approving all new members remains. The new Board would appreciate full support from members during their term of office. It makes for a happier club. ![]() Retirement from the Board. Ian McKenzie stepped down from the Board at the AGM. In total, Ian served on the Board for 14 years including 2 terms as President, whilst at the same time working full time as a medical professional. Ian has been a member of the club since 1974 and, together with his wife Maggie, has been very active and a great supporter of the club. ![]() Club Membership continues to grow. At the time of writing, we have a total of 612 members including 452 golfers. Normally we lose members each year as their golfing days pass. Since July 2017 we have gained 71 members so far. Many golf clubs in Australia are having trouble, with clubs closing and other clubs seeking to amalgamate. This is especially so in regional areas. Upkeep costs of an 18 hole golf course are similar for comparable courses in the city or country however there is an expectation that the subscription fees should be lower for a country club. That, coupled with the lower membership numbers and smaller populations to draw from, puts income pressure on country clubs. ![]() The members subscriptions are, like other clubs, a major source of income. The subs of golfing members go towards the course maintenance requirements and course improvement budgets, as well as a proportion of clubhouse costs and club overheads. The other major income sources (once again similar to other clubs) are competition fees and visitor green fees which, again help to met course costs. Membership fees in other categories are set at a level to contribute to the clubhouse and club overheads. Judging by our members' happiness our members value their membership of our stable club. At the club we have a priority list of projects – these include fairway extensions, bunker refurbishment, short game practice area, club house painting, additional cart storage, games cupboard … As capital becomes available these projects will be progressively implemented. Each, of course, is subject to a business case where the return to the members is evaluated against the expenditure. Improving our course has benefits for the members and also makes the course more attractive to visitors. In the past members have been very generous with donations to support particular projects. ![]() The Corellas. Over the last year there are a lot more Corellas on the course. They “attack” the greens and fairways and cause a lot of damage. They do this whilst searching for food. The greens that are particularly affected are the 14th, 15th, 10th and to a lesser extent the 12th. In previous years we’ve tried humming wires, decoys (birds & snakes) and the gas gun. | ![]() On Friday the 27th April the club held its 2018 Annual General Meeting which was attended by 58 of the club's members. We are required under the legislation to hold a meeting for members once per year where directors present the annual report, directors are elected and auditors are appointed. The report is also lodged with ASIC. During my presentation I covered various topics and highlighted "Our 117 year old club is a club of traditions but it is also a business. If the business fails so does the club". Happily we are members of a club that is financially stable and growing. The Board is very aware that the decisions must secure the club's future.The decisions that the Board makes are to benefit the club as a whole and ensure its continuing success. ![]() The 25th of April marks the date where peoples of Australia and New Zealand remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the service of their countries. Last Wednesday ceremonies were held at each of the War Memorials in the local area. Member Pip Smith, a WWII veteran, laid a wreath on behalf of the club as he has done in previous years. Several of our members are ex-service men and women. We owe a lot to all who serve their country so that we may live in a time of peace. For those who gave their lives it is a debt that can never be repaid. Lest We Forget.
Pip attended a dedication of the Bomber Command Memorial at Green Park in London in 2012. When he was shaking hands with Prince Charles, Pip produced a photograph. "I've got a picture of your mum with me from back in 1944," he told a surprised Prince Charles. Click here for the story published in the Daily Telegraph. ![]() The generosity of members. Visitors to the club will have seen a new display cabinet in the clubhouse foyer. It has been donated by recent arrivals in the area Chris & Lana Kunz. Chris hasn't joined the club yet - he is still in the process of moving from their home down in Tura Beach. Once settled in, Chris and Lana will be joining the club. It is a beautiful, splendid cabinet and it is housing some club memorabilia. Thank you Chis and Lana. (Chris is also a pretty good golfer, please make them welcome!) ![]() This year bird damage was especially severe and we have mounted about 12 decoys (hawks & owls) around some of the holes. Since they were put in place there has only been one instance of bird damage to the greens (very slight to the 10th). Now we have the new gas gun (manned by Gunner Simmers) and that, coupled with the decoys, is proving 100% effective. From research it appears that the birds become used to the decoys after a period (around 6 weeks), so the intention is to change the positions in mid May or so. A big thank you to David who has been very generous with his time. |
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Editor - Kevin Burke
Archives
April 2019
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