Important President’s Message – Golf Shop Fire – Friday, 8 December

This will be my final message as the President of The Brisbane Golf Club. Tomorrow night the Annual General Meeting will appoint your new President, Deb Kember, and our new Committee. I can assure all Members that this transition is occurring smoothly despite the difficulties surrounding the Golf Shop fire last week. Indeed, all of our Committee Members have been re-elected with Fiona Elsdon becoming the only new member of Committee.

The Club is already well advanced in preparation for the next period of planning for building a new Golf Shop. Insurance and development approval planning issues are underway and the demolition and removal of the destroyed Golf Shop has commenced today. The barricades have been repositioned around the old shop and work has begun on the removal process which also involves asbestos protection.The carpark and entrance are partially being used by these workers, but Members can still access the carpark with no difficulty. Just take care and observe any signage.

A temporary Golf Shop demountable is being planned to be positioned around the East Practice Putting Green or flagpole region. Work on this preparation and installation will also begin in the next week or so. Currently continue to use the Garden Room for all Golf Shop matters.

The Committee is concerned about safety issues with the regular use of the first hole as a par 4. From the current tee, visibility over the hill is not possible unless Members go up to the end of the Practice Green to look ahead. We therefore strongly encourage all Members to do this, and it would be worthwhile for the groups playing the hole ahead to provide a “sentry” on top of the hill to ensure nobody tees off before the fairway is clear.

On the topic of the first hole, there is an urgent need to begin drainage works at the end of the fairway about 50-100 metres from the green. These works will begin in the next week and the hole will be closed while the works are completed. It is an ideal time to perform these works over the coming few weeks while many Members are holidaying and more importantly the growing season is upon us. It is anticipated that this work will only take 3-5 weeks allowing for the Christmas holiday period.

The Committee is also concerned about all lithium batteries that may be on site and being charged. The Committee has taken the decision to ban charging of all lithium batteries on site for MGI type buggies effective immediately, and individual members are being contacted directly about this. Furthermore, we encourage any Member who uses one of the cart sheds to seek insurance advice regarding their carts and other equipment that may be stored. It may be prudent to take out both personal and liability insurance for this stored equipment especially if batteries are being charged on site.

Finally, I wish to further clarify the Club’s position for those Members who lost golf equipment in the fire. We are still working through some final insurance and professional advice issues, but I wish to re-iterate that the Club will offer a Restart Assistance Package to those affected Members without personal insurance. This package will encompass excellent deals from Golf Companies on top of large discounts provided by the Club. There may also be extra golf credits to assist Members getting back playing as quickly as possible. As soon as we have certainty on this Restart Assistance it will be communicated to all members in detail. I am hopeful that will be next week.

As this is my final official message to the Club, I thank you all for providing me with the honour of being the Club’s President over the past 3 years. It is sad to be leaving the position after the tragic fire last week, but I am certain the Club is in a sound position moving forward and the new Committee is ready for the challenge ahead. I look forward to playing more golf while continuing to enjoy the company of our Club community.

Best wishes to all.

Regards

Mark Deuble, President