Billy’s second Asia-Pacific selection is GDF related

The recent selection of 18-year-old Billy Dowling in the seven-man Australian team for the 2024 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan in October, underlines the significance of The Brisbane Golf Club’s Golf Development Fund.

The purpose of the Fund, established in 2018, is to support BGCs Junior Academy and to provide financial assistance, at times, to elite amateur golfers and professional golfers who are yet to establish their careers.

Billy Dowling is one of those golfers. He joined BGC three years ago, primarily for the opportunity to have a home course in Brisbane, but also to hone his match-play skills in Division 1 pennants.

“Quite obviously Billy, and a long list of outstanding members such as Maverick Antcliff, Aaron Wilkin, Samuel Slater, Hannah Reeves, Aspen Sugars, Sam Howse, Chase Oberle and current Men’s Club Champion, George Giblett, possess a natural golfing skill,” said BGC Director of Golf, Joe Janison, mentioning some of the 22 members who have received support from the GDF in the current financial year.

“But unless this talent is nurtured, and specific support provided, often a gifted athlete can be lost to a sport. At BGC we are proud to be able to offer our budding champions this vital assistance, and that is thanks to our members who help sustain the Golf Development Fund.”

The GDF is mostly funded by BGC members, with some minor fundraising events also held throughout the year.

Since its inception, the fund has accrued more than $75,000, primarily from a $20 non-compulsory fee added to member renewal notices each year. Last year, 654 members each donated $20 to the GDF.

“Generally, funds raised are to cover membership costs of selected junior golfers and elite players, enabling them to enjoy complimentary use of the course, clubhouse and practice facilities,” explained BGC Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Kuehner.

“At times funds raised will be used to cover entry fees and various expenses for elite players to compete in events domestically and internationally. Funds will also be used to support our Junior Academy regarding the provision of golf equipment and to keep the costs of attending junior coaching clinics to a minimum.”

Mr Kuehner said the funds will be invested, and managed by the Finance, Audit and Governance Sub-Committee, which will provide recommendations to the Committee about recipients of fuding.

“The selection process is based on written applications received and an assessment of the ability, potential and personal conduct of each individual.

“The Committee then signs off on which junior members and elite players receive use of the course, clubhouse and practice facilities each year.

When Billy Dowling joined BGC three ago years as a 15-year-old with assistance from the GDF, his decade-long Gold Coast-based coach, Canadian-born Nancy Harvey, was effervescent in her praise of the club.

“We are so grateful to The Brisbane Golf Club for extending the opportunity to Billy to become a member of such a highly-rated and prestigious club,” said Nancy said.

“He is very excited and is looking forward to the challenge of testing himself against the high-quality golfers at the club, and mastering the tough layout. And with the support and tutelage he will receive, I tip a big future for Billy.”

Other pertinent details relating to the GDF are:

• BGC has won five of the past six Men’s Brisbane District Golf Association Division One Pennant competitions, and the Women four in succession.

• Chase Oberle was the beneficiary of GDF funding to assist with travel expenses to play in the Australian Amateur in Victoria in January.

• Sam Howse also received funding, via travel expenses, to play in the numerous events including the Australian Amateur.

• BGC last week had 15 players contesting the Queensland Stroke Play and Amateur Championship at Bribie Island.

• Junior membership at BGC is growing four times faster than the national average. The Club currently has 219 junior members, which represents 12.7% of the overall Club membership, and is three times above the national average.

• In 2022 BGC appointed Asha Flynn – 2023 National PGA Coach of the Year (Game Development) – as its dedicated Women and Junior Golf Development Manager .

• As many as 11 Junior Coaching Clinics are conducted at BGC every week, for up to 110 participants. GDF support lowers the cost of participating in these programs.

• Eighteen BGC juniors recently competed at the Queensland School Sports Championships, with six selected in the Queensland team.

• BGC won the Queensland Junior Golf Program of the Year Award in 2021, and was a finalist in 2022 and 2023.