President’s Update
As I write this, I reflect that October has begun, the AFL Grand Final is decided, Daylight Saving starts this long weekend and your Annual Club Christmas Dinner Dance is next month! In a small change to the calendar, the Party will be held on Saturday 23 November. The night will build on the very successful Commemoration Gala, so please get your table bookings in early to avoid disappointment.
Your Board and its Golf, Club and FTAA Committees have been very busy over the past 2 weeks.
Your Board has received welcome feedback on the Trial Competition Sheets and has lifted the restriction on Members playing in the Competition, as it failed the “best interest of Members” test. Members who are able to put their name on the Sheet and be in the Club when it opens are permitted to do so even though they are on the Course. Please note, this only applies to Players – Members are not permitted to put their name down and then leave the Club.
Twilight Golf is back! Make a note of November 7 and 21 and December 5 and 19; Shotgun Start from 5 pm. More details to follow soon.
Your Board continues to find ways to raise revenue in what are challenging times. The new Drink Driving Laws have hit hard with July and August Bar and Gaming sales well down.
As a direct result, Competition Fees will increase from 1 November by $2 (to $14) for Individual Events and $1 (to $15) for Medleys. In addition, in order to maximise Weekend Public Revenue, Members may only play in the 2 hours following a Competition if they pay 50% of the Public Green Fee.
Management have also been asked to tighten the belt and look at smart ways to reduce costs, such as multi-skilling and a review of shifts.
Friday Nights are to be given a boost with some important changes, commencing the October 18 as highlighted below:
Many Members have asked that we have more variety in the Club; so on October 18, our first Live Performer Grant Newsome will be playing from 7-10 pm. If you’d like to hear more from Grant then follow this link.
Members will be pleased to hear that we will be starting a Badge Draw between 7-8 pm. Starting at $500 and increasing $50 per week, a lucky Member (Social or Playing) will take home up to $5000 if their Member number comes up and they personally claim the prize within 3 minutes.
A ticket in the Meat Raffle will only be able to win once. If a previous winning ticket is drawn again, then the ticket will be auctioned to the highest Bidder – who will automatically win a meat tray. This is to inject some fun, interaction and, importantly, raise more money for the Diggers. In future, Member Diggers will have Diggers Day as a free event – to further honour their contribution to our Country.
Members may have noticed that a special Bar Menu is now available on Weekends from 3-5 pm. Your Club Committee continues to work closely with the Club Caterer and plans are afoot to further improve the variety and options available to Members. If you haven’t tried Ueli’s famous Wasabi Beef, Salt Pepper Prawns and many others, then you are missing out.
Please take note of the shorter opening times (BBQ 7 am; Club 4:30-7 pm) on Labour Day, Monday 7 October.
Happy Golfing – Mark Mathieson President