Member Services’ Missive

Once again we find the year is flying by and we are almost at the half way mark. There is plenty happening, as always, at The Brisbane Golf Club and this missive has been prepared to update your on the following:

• In The Wait List We Trust!
• Let Big Tech Enhance Your Membership Experience!
• Automatic Top Ups – Now Available ▶️ Don’t Get Caught Short
• Lest We Forget
• Birdies, Birdies, Birdies and Still Counting!
• Taking Relief
• Fiji (Tee) Time

In The Wait List We Trust!

During winter, with the shorter days upon us, we start to see the waitlist for bookings increase on  Wednesdays and Saturdays. Members are encouraged to trust the waitlist as in winter last year it cleared on every occasion with tee times empty once the day arrives. In addition to trusting the waitlist we ask Members to only make a booking if they are certain of playing and to ensure they remove their name ASAP if a late change is required.

We will be adding two further tee times at 12.44pm and 12.52pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays effective from early June 2024. While these tee times may mean you run out of light to complete 18 holes, they are perfect for Members looking to play golf but not the full 18. Competition fees will not be charged if you play in these tee times and don’t complete your round.

Let Big Tech Enhance Your Membership Experience!

It wasn’t that long ago that we all had to queue at the golf shop to pick up our cards and scratch around with a rubber at the end of the game to make sure the addition was correct before submitting your partner’s score. Then came the MiScore app, taking us all into the 21st century. Members were able with just a tap on their phones to digitally score for Stableford, Par, Stroke or Best Ball competitions while also tracking their pace of play and viewing GPS distance from the pin. Then came the new app, which has recently been updated. Now it’s never been easier for members to quickly post-match check friends’ scores on the leaderboard, view upcoming bookings, make new bookings, set up a group chat, check the latest news at BGC, and much more. Our members have proved to be very tech-savvy with 87% downloading the app, and downloads of the new app progressing well. Peter White, at 80 years young, says it’s the best advancement since metal drivers! Raising the standard of service to members is our constant goal. In addition to all the above features, the new app:

• Includes a digital membership card so you don’t need to carry a physical card or fob to make a purchase from your house account.
• Allows you to access the latest news of the Club by clicking either ‘Feed’ or ‘Member News’.
• Provides the ability to customize your home screen with your most-used icons/features.
• Review recent charges to your house account and top up your house account.
• Create a Member Chat group.
• Book a lesson easily with one of our professionals under ‘Lesson Bookings’.

While the new app doesn’t allow you to check your daily handicap, you can now download the Golf Australia app and place it next to your new app on your home screen, giving you the total package for all your golfing, club news, and handicap information. Visit the App Store or Google Play to download the GA Handicap App. The old app has only 6 months to live, so why not make the change today? Follow the instructions here or ask Geoff Kuehner, Peter Collins,  our staff in the golf shop, or any transition member who will be able to run you through the simple setup process. A user guide for the new BGC App can also be downloaded by clicking here. Who said Big Tech was dangerous 😮.

Automatic Top Ups – Now Available ▶️ Don’t Get Caught Short 

The Brisbane Golf Club now offers Members the opportunity to top up their house accounts automatically. This means when a Member’s house account falls under $50 (this amount is chosen by the Member) it can be automatically topped up by $100 (this amount is also chosen by the Member). This ensures a Member always has money in their house account and doesn’t need to regular transfer money into their house account.

To start automatic top ups please complete and return this form to Geoff Kuehner, via geoff@brisbanegolfclub.com.au.

Lest We Forget

The Brisbane Golf Club’s Anzac Day service continues to go from strength to strength in the quality of the service and the attendance. Over 175 members and guests, including Members or relatives who have served, paid their respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our country and values this year.
A moving introduction by President Deb Kember set the tone, Julie Brown then read the Recessional, John Millman  recited the poem ‘Anzac Day’ by Drewsom Hunter, and Geoff Kuehner  read the prayer  ‘God Of Love and Liberty’.  Alistair McNee’s emotional key note address stirred the audience with many members reaching for the tissues.

Safina Kyprianou (Women’s Club Champion) and Ben Williams (Club Professional) laid wreaths, and Veteran member Bob English read ‘The Ode’.  A mournful Last Post by St Peters Lutheran College  student Peter McArthur was followed by one minute silence. The New Zealand and Australian national anthems were performed by Junior Member Amy Holmes,  Holly Hyde, and Maddie Eastman (students from Corinda State High School), concluding what was an outstanding Anzac Day ceremony. To top it all off, a complimentary breakfast was provided by the Club to attendees via a gold coin donation to Legacy. Members and Guests donations to Legacy reached $400 for the very worthy charity.

Birdies, Birdies, Birdies and Still Counting

One of the objectives of the 2012 landscape master plan was to create locally appropriate vegetation communities and habitats that increase biodiversity therefore increasing bird life. The proof is in the pudding with the bird count prepared by Professor Hugh Possingham and members now standing at 99 species.

Indeed how lucky is The Brisbane Golf Club in having Professor Possingham conduct this annual bird walk. Instantly booked out the next walk is on Sunday, 30 June from 6.30am to 9.30am and you can click here to join the waitlist. Professor Possingham is one of Australia’s most distinguished scientists and conversationalists. Click here to learn more about him.

A round of applause to 35 year member Rob Hollingsworth for securing the distinguished Professor to donate his time to conduct the popular tours.

Your golf club is far more than a place to chase white balls. The Easter Egg hunt (over 100 children/grandchildren), Kids Christmas Party (125 children), BGC Putting Competition, Night Golf, Mahjong Group, award winning junior Golfing Programs and generous family entrance fee discount making BGC a golfing, social and family Mecca.

Members can follow and enter their bird observations on the course in the following way:

• Google “eBird” in the first instance and register an account with the “Cornell Laboratory”. This allows access to locations globally, plus on-course sitings can be logged at any time.
• Our location is “The Brisbane Golf Club (restricted access)” which gives a full list of sightings over time.

Taking Relief

Our golf course provides toilets at hole 4, the clubhouse and hole 16 which are strategically located to cover most holes. It would be appreciated by your playing group and playing groups adjacent if you could use these. It is understood that this is not always possible and in those emergency circumstances, Members should ensure they are well out of sight of others. Urinating in a public place is an offence in Queensland so it is obviously deemed offensive to the majority of people. Your cooperation in this matter would be appreciated. If for no other reason please consider your playing partners who have to shake your hand at the conclusion of the game.

Fiji (Tee) Time

Fijians simply enjoy each passing second in the present moment. Embracing Fiji time – or indeed, getting through a Fiji holiday without getting irritated or frustrated – means being patient and letting go of that ever-present need to Get Things Done. BGC is in final negotiations to add Denarau Golf and Racquet Club as a reciprocal club.

Our Directory of Reciprocal Clubs details all our reciprocal clubs including our unique Club1896 reciprocal arrangements with participating golf clubs from around the world, all of which were founded in the year 1896.

I believe The Brisbane Golf Club reciprocal arrangements are now as good as any other Australian golf club. The Committee is determined to pursue other reciprocal clubs to enhance our member experience. If any current Members believe they could assist in obtaining reciprocal rights, please call Geoff Kuehner to discuss. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Our golf club is far more than a place to chase white balls. The Easter Egg hunt (over 100 children/grandchildren), Kids Christmas Party (125 children), annual Christmas Lunch (200 members and guests) BGC Putting Competition, Mother’s Day Buffet Breakfast with mums FREE, Night Golf, Mahjong Group, award winning junior Golfing Programs and generous family entrance fee discount making BGC a golfing, social and family Mecca.

Regards

Patrick Dixon, Chair of Member Services