{"id":22759,"date":"2023-04-04T07:38:01","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T21:38:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brisbane.miclub.com.au\/cms\/?p=22759"},"modified":"2025-10-16T10:51:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T00:51:10","slug":"brisbane-kick-off-visionary-quest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brisbane.miclub.com.au\/cms\/2023\/04\/brisbane-kick-off-visionary-quest\/","title":{"rendered":"Brisbane kick off Visionary quest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our First Visionary of the Year winner for 2023 has been chosen…<\/p>\n

Congratulations to the team at Brisbane Golf Club for their holistic and well-planned approach to ensure an equal opportunity for all. The club has won a $500 voucher and is now in the running to win up to $10,000 worth of products from the latest Callaway REVA product range, designed specifically for women. Our overall Visionary of the Year will be voted upon and announced towards the end of the year.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s their story…<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Brisbane Golf Club places great importance on ensuring that women and girls have ample opportunity to engage with and be part of the club with the development of women and girls a key focus in the club’s strategic plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving women and girls as one of the main pillars of work in our strategic plan, shows how serious and committed we are to this work,\u201d said Geoff Kuehner, CEO of Brisbane Golf Club.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt not only makes good business sense, but engaging more women and girls within the club makes good cultural sense too.\u201d<\/p>\n

The club has a long history of advancing women\u2019s golf, however this headway really ignited during May 2018 when the club introduced gender neutral competition.<\/p>\n

Club leaders initially held concerns \u201cas change can bring uncertainty and unease\u201d but after communicating this upcoming change through the club\u2019s usual communications they were pleasantly surprised at the acceptance from its membership.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike our main committee who identified this need, I think everyone understood and accepted that if you pay the same membership fee as a fellow member, you should be entitled to the same playing rights,\u201d Kuehner said.<\/p>\n

The change not only benefitted the existing membership, but also women searching for a new place to play or beginner golfers eager to hit the course.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has opened up options for new women to join the club,\u201d said Asha Hargraves, Women\u2019s and Junior Development Manager.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have new women graduating from our beginner programs on a continuous basis, many who work, and it is advantageous for us to offer these women relevant playing times.\u201d<\/p>\n

A combination of relevant membership and playing opportunities, plus a seamless and well supported development pathway have been catalysts to a high membership uptake.<\/p>\n

That is a 72 percent conversion rate from beginner clinics to membership, plus an increase in 15-year-old to 18-year-old membership from two to 11 in 2023.<\/p>\n

The club boasts a long-standing and thriving women\u2019s development program.<\/p>\n

Recognising the importance of this program to encourage more to play, the club invested in a staff member \u2013 Hargraves – to manage the program.<\/p>\n

Which has been two-fold with 70 new members joining since 2013.<\/p>\n

Joe Janison, Director of Golf, is pleased with the strategy.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving someone with the time and expertise to focus on growing, enhancing and expanding our beginner pathway for women and juniors has been priceless,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur programs are always at capacity, plus we have a very high transition through to membership. All of this is because Asha is dedicated to planning programs well in advance, actively recruiting, coaching and most importantly creating a social and welcoming atmosphere that brings women and girls back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hargreaves frequently communicates to the club\u2019s member engagement committee. This group of members work closely with CEO Kuehner to ensure a harmonious culture within the club.<\/p>\n

Committee members work with the coaching team to ensure a seamless transition from beginner clinics to relevant membership and everything in between, including a mentoring program.<\/p>\n

Kuehner is proud of what the club has achieved, some additional items being:<\/p>\n