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For the past few weeks I have wanted to write and provide some news about what is happening behind the scenes at our Club but the constant drag of a closed course, no carts when it was open and “carry your clubs” is not a background to a positive communication. However when the good news comes it comes in spades and I write to provide an update on several matters.
Queen’s Birthday Honours
Wonderful news in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for 2022 when two long standing and admired Members of PHGC were included.
Doug Walters was appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for “significant service to cricket at the elite levels” adding to his MBE and
Lucie Gabb was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the communities of Pennant Hills and Beecroft.
To all of us who know Lucie and Doug it is no surprise. I was able to send them a message first thing on your behalf. Lucie replied that she is quite happy to be paired with Doug who indicated that he was also pleased with the pairing.
The Rain Bomb
It is heartening to see the fields filling and members enjoying the course now that the sun is out and the winds have helped dry out the surface. In February and March, we lost 27 days of golf due to rain. It did not get any better in April when we were restricted to 1974 rounds of golf. This compared with April 2021 when in more normal conditions we played 5977 rounds means a shortfall of over 60%. Unfortunately it impacts bar trading and takings in the pro shop and therefore can have a significant effect on financial results. However it is pleasing to report that careful management of staff levels and efficient operating practices means that each month has been cash positive. Revised estimates of trading in the final quarter based on confirmed external functions and greater course access indicate that the final result may be not be too far from original budget expectations.
Our Foundation
In the past months our Foundation has toiled excitedly to prepare plans for a Golf Academy on the site of the old Professional Shop. They have worked closely with the Board who have overseen both the process and the proposed outcome. The plans are spectacular; the Golf Academy will be a game changer for our Club. The building includes four trackman bays, a lecture theatre, offices for the Director of Golf and Teaching Team as well as a retail and club fitting area, all on the ground floor. The basement level is an extension of the current cart storage area and will provide for 50 carts and over 170 individual buggy storage bays. The Board meets this week to review the plans and authorise the Foundation to proceed to DA stage. The granting of a DA is never a quick process, especially with tree removal and other construction pre-approvals required.
The considerable cost of getting to DA stage has been met by Members of our Foundation, all whom have subscribed $1,000 or more to qualify as such. Under the Trust Deed, donors of $1,000 or more become Life Members of our Foundation. The Club has not been called on to contribute in any way other than to enthusiastically support their work. You may have noticed that our Foundation has been active in the past few weeks calling for members of the Club who may not have subscribed to the Foundation to consider doing so. Our Foundation needs to raise a minimum of $40k to be absolutely sure of completing the DA, and up to $70k if there are a series of requisitions. This amount will also provide funds to build a model of the GA to physically illustrate the outstanding features of the building.
You can donate either by calling Kim in the Office or better still click on the following link to the ASF which will provide a receipt evidencing a tax deduction, click here.
PHGC Strategic Plan
I had previously talked about how the Board and the Planning Committee chaired by Mark Bradbury had developed a working draft of a Strategic Plan which reflected the outcomes of the “Voice of the Member survey” and the direction our Club was taking in the medium term. Mark subsequently made presentations to Members and to staff covering the action plans in response to the outcomes of the survey. These sessions were very well received and the Board has benefited from constructive feedback from Members. Copies of the key slides used in the presentation can be viewed by clicking here. Additionally, members who are interested may see a short form voice over by Mark with the key slides, click here to view.
The major feedback from these sessions was the need to provide for a cart path as part of the green and tee design of our course. Perhaps not surprising given the restrictions on course access at the time of the presentation. A cart path is included in the course plan but is subject to cost and priority of completion of works on tees, greens and our drainage system. However it is worth noting that even a dedicated cart path would not have made any difference to course access during the rain bomb.
Golf Booking System
During the early Covid period when golf was restricted and like many other clubs we were teeing off in pairs. To provide fair and equitable access to tee times we activated the lottery system for booking. As Covid restrictions were removed, heavy demand for tee times continued due to some extent to th fact that members were not travelling and so we persevered with the lottery system. Some members were happy with it to continue, others were not. We kept a watching brief on demand as daylight saving ended and the winter months approached. It now seems that whilst tee access remains competitive, our fields are not full and there is no compelling reason to continue with the lottery system for bookings.
The Course and Playing Committee have agreed that we return to an open booking system of “first in best dressed” and you will find that the lottery system has now been removed from bookings sheets. The 6 day in advance period will be retained.
Restrictions will be placed on visitor numbers and it is wise to check with the Professional Shop before confirming a visitor invitation. The winter solstice is on 21st June after which when the days will gradually lengthen and tee times can be extended.
Cancelling a Golf Booking
There are a number of acceptable reasons why all of us might need to cancel our booking for golf from time to time but there is only one acceptable way to go about it. First, remove your name from the time sheet by logging in or by ringing the Professional Shop as soon as it becomes apparent that you are unable to play. Secondly, ring or email the people you are down to play with to say you need to withdraw, you do not have to say why. This courtesy is a time honoured practice at our Club and should be respected.
Taking your name off the sheet immediately provides a chance for another member to play in that time slot. Informing your playing partners that you are unable to play gives them the opportunity to invite another person to take your place.
Course Project
Our work with designers has continued and I am pleased to say that we are almost at the stage of choosing the most attractive way forward. A small working group comprising Neil Rolfe, Liam Ash, David Blackshaw, Damian Maguire, Barnaby and I are sorting through the options and preparing a presentation to the Board. After the Board has had the chance to digest the project, assess the options and select a preferred alternative we plan to test it using a small review group comprising a representative sample of Full and 6 Day 1 Members.
This review group will probably meet toward the end of August and depending on their feedback and advice we hope to be in a position to share the proposed way forward with all Members in a special meeting, possibly in October. The timing of that meeting will depend on having final cost estimates and development of the construction plan.
Staff Changes in the Pro Shop
Andrew Potter who had been at our Club for 6 years has taken a career step to join the Australian PGA Office as an Event Manger, we wish him well in that role, he has been a good servant of our Club. Similarly, Jared Dries who has worked as an assistant in the Professional Shop has accepted an offer to become a Sales Development Representative for Qualtrics who are a leading global customer survey group. Jared had also been a good servant of our Club and we wish him well in his new career. Fortunately he remains available for our Pennant Team.
This has provided an opportunity for Rachel to move to a full time role as Assistant Director of Golf where she will be overseeing the golf program and have increased responsibility managing the shop and providing customer service. The good news is that Rachel will remain available for private lessons and retain her high level involvement with Golf Australia.
Jessica Noh who is a Tour Professional of the WPGA and has been at Ryde Parramatta since 2015 will be joining us on June 30. Jessica is a local girl from Marsden High and will be available for private lessons as well as working with the Juniors and Get Started programs.
Steven Vail (no relation to Simon) is currently a PGA Associate and has been at Lynwood Golf Club this past year and is currently assisting with our Cadet program on Tuesday and Thursday will be joining us full time in early August. Steven is a six time winner of the Club Championship at Ryde Parramatta and was their number one pennant player for a number of years.
Please extend a welcome to both of them when they join us.
Good luck with your golf,
Michael Rowan
President
Wednesday, 15 June 2022
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