Committee Update September 2024

This message summarises the resolutions and updates discussed at the September Committee meeting. Links to documents and online resources are in bold.

1. Insurance matters: Following the fire at the Club’s Golf Shop on 30 November 2023, we have just received the renewal information from our insurers. As a result of the fire, and others around Australia, several new policy exclusions have been imposed upon the Club and all other golf clubs, insured under the Golf Australia scheme. As a result, Members are not permitted to charge lithium batteries for use in motorised push buggies, at the golf club under any circumstances, as distinct from motorised carts. In the event that one of these batteries causes a fire or other damage while being charged, the Club will not be insured and recovery of any damages will, of necessity be applied to the offending Member.

2. Green and tee renovations:  The greens will recover well through the application of required nutrients and the warmer days will assist growth as soil temperature increases. Thatch levels were reduced to allow oxygen to the rootzone. Sand was applied to fill the core holes with the few remaining open core holes to be treated with a further light application of sand. The yellowing of off type grasses will be targeted so that the Champion is the dominate turf grass. Tees have received a vertical cut and will recover well.

3. Bunkers: Drainage inspection with a drainage camera has revealed that many are blocked. Over time the drains will be unblocked and additional drainage installed where required.

4. Course surrounds: Fairways and surrounds are being monitored and thatch levels reduced where necessary. Selective herbicides will continue to be applied to reduce the wire grass on the perimeter of the fairways. Weeds are being targeted in landscape areas along with additional planting of native plants. The Landscape Work Readiness students are working on the course over the next few weeks under supervision by the registered training organsiation Astra Group Services and with direction from Course Superintendent Marcus Hartup.

5. 3rd fairway: Work on the bare patches on the fairway will commence Tuesday 1st October. The work is expected to take 1 week after. Holes 2 and 3 will be out of play Routing: 1, 20, 19, 4-18. Once hole 3 is back in play, the newly stolonised area will be compulsory GUR.

6. Locker rooms: Work is progressing well on smartening up the men’s locker room. A new entrance to the men’s locker room has been built so that the foyer near the movement space and the corridor to back of house becomes common areas for use by all members and staff.

7. New Golf Shop: The golf shop construction is proceeding on schedule with the new roof in place. The fit-out furniture is being built offsite and the bag storage racks are in transit from New Zealand. We are expecting that all will be ready for an opening celebration mid-November.

8. Club Rules: The draft of the proposed amendments to the Club Rules are being reviewed by a small group of members who are looking for unintended consequences, raising questions and spotting typographical errors. The document will be available to all members next month in the lead up to the AGM on Wednesday 11 December, following Committee consideration of any emerging matters.

9. Member Benefit Review: An analysis of membership data and benchmarking of fees, playing rights and governance issues with like Clubs is currently being undertaken by external contractors Golf Business Advisory Services. The Member Benefits Sub-Committee will reconvene early in 2025 to continue the review and compile recommendations for members consideration.

10. Latest news articles: Read all the September news here or on the App feed.

11. Instant news service: Keep up with results and daily news at BGC on Instagram.

Please contact me or our CEO, Geoff Kuehner, at geoff@brisbanegolfclub.com.au or on 0411 412 666 if you have any questions.

Regards

Deb Kember
President
The Brisbane Golf Club