Vice President’s Good News Story!
Hello my fellow members, Well spring has sprung, daylight saving has begun giving us more Tee off times and the smell of Jasmine is in the air giving me a massive hay fever head ache, enough about me.
It also marks the beginning of the party season, spring racing, the race that stops the nation – Melbourne Cup and Christmas is not far off.
While COVID-19 has restricted how we do things, I can’t speak highly enough or be thankful enough of our staff for their vigilance and professional manner in which they have managed the club and the COVID situation. This has allowed us all to continue enjoying our wonderful golf course and club house. The revenue from bar takings, particularly downstairs and of course social golf bookings is evidence of this. We now, as a collective need to raise the profile of the bars and gaming upstairs as well as our restaurant within the membership and the wider community to ensure our continued growth and prosperity.
The message is, we are a safe place to meet for a meal and a drink.
We have the luxury of space that other restaurants and pubs don’t have for social distancing. We have vigilant staff constantly cleaning and sanitising as well as fabulous caring and thoughtful members. Let’s not forget plenty of parking and the best views in the district to look at while sharing a drink and meal with friends. I personally look lovingly in to my wife’s eyes at dinner and when she blinks I run to the bar, enough about me.
Evidence of our safe and pleasant club was reinforced to me after a board meeting last Thursday when a lovely lady and her friend, both non-members commented on how safe they felt in the club with the space between tables and the attention to detail of the staff. They absolutely loved Ueli’s menu from the restaurant and stayed till closing. Later in the conversation I found out one of ladies is one of the heads of Australia’s new Disaster Control Department. Getting a massive tick of approval from someone with those credentials was quite heart-warming. Both ladies are now regulars so time to pass this message on to one and all. P.S Watch out for Ueli’s new weekend lunch time specials.
With changes to job keeper the club will increasingly have to stand on its own, I’m sure you have seen changes in the club of late all aimed at getting people in the door and driving revenue from the changes of opening hours, reopening of the gaming room and the installation of our TAB machine, just in time for Melbourne Cup!! The machine was a great hit with members and public alike last Saturday stopping that 2pm exodus to our opposition.
With the slight easing of restrictions, we can now recommence holding functions again, although with limited capacity, let everyone know we are back and be sure to contact the club or Amanda with any inquiries.
Which leads me to say WATCH THIS SPACE Amanda and her team and Ueli in the restaurant are now taking inquires for functions for the party season so tell your family, tell your friends. Did I mention the team are putting together an extravaganza for Melbourne Cup lunch? Details in this newsletter, just be sure to get in early to avoid disappointment.
With the crowds coming back on Friday nights we are exploring bringing back the raffles in a COVID friendly style. I have much, much more to talk about and I could go on, so keep an eye out for the 19TH NEWS and the advertising on our in-club TV’s.
Just before I go, I want to wish two of our young guns well as they leave us to embark on new careers at the completion of their studies. Fiona Batt joining Nestle and Ned Bissett joining a Business Advisory and Accounting Firm, I’m sure NRGC has given them a good grounding in work ethic, commitment and customer communication to help them in their future endeavours. Thank you for your service and best of luck to you both.
Head down and follow through.
Cheers Alex Cicchini – Vice President