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NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT - Doug Bassett
It has been sometime between newsletters and I would firstly like to take this belated opportunity of welcoming Rex Gream to the position of the Club’s Secretary Manager. I wish Rex all the best in this challenging role.
By now members would be aware of the Board of Directors decision to impose a levy on all golfing members in the amount of $100.00. Given the current financial position of the Club the Board was left with no alternative. Members will receive a letter advising of this decision in the mail shortly. I note that some 40 members have paid this money already without being officially asked and the Club thanks you for this contribution.
It was pleasing to see so many concerned members attend the information night held on Friday, 10 February 2012. There were many positive suggestions to come from members as a result of the information they were provided with. The Board intends to follow up these suggestions and will report back to the members in relation to progress. Indeed, one of the most significant things to come out of the meeting was that our members’ desire to be kept informed regarding issues facing the Club. It is acknowledged that this is an area in which we been deficient in recent times. It is hoped by the use of these Club e-mails and newsletters, that the Board will be able to disseminate important information to members on a timely basis.
As was advised at the information night the Club is currently experiencing a very difficult financial period. However, it is believed that given the right weather conditions that the current situation can be reversed. Nevertheless, in addition to the poor weather the other area of significant concern is the continuing decline in our membership numbers. With the view of encouraging members to introduce friends or relatives to the Club the Board has resolved to adopt the following measures, until the end of May 2012 any member can bring a friend to "try golf' free of charge (conditions do apply). Moreover, any member who directly introduces a new member to the Club (silver category or above) will receive $50.00 off the cost of next year's membership fees. It is hoped that this initiative will stimulate some fresh membership activity.
The Board is also looking for the assistance of any member who may be able to contribute some time and energy to move the club forward. Should any member have expertise in the areas of business development or marketing, or indeed any other area that may be of assistance to the Club, such as helping out on the course, we would be pleased to hear from you.
It is hoped that our finances will shortly improve and I will be able to report more positively come the end of the financial year. In the meantime, I am available as are all of the Club's Directors, to discuss any concerns that members may have.
AROUND THE HOUSE -by Rex Gream (Secretary-Manager)
Thanks for the warm welcome from members when I took up the Secretary - Manager role. Members may not be aware that I have worked for the club asbartender on a casual basis (yeah, I know the thoughts you are thinking)since June 1998.
The job has been full on as the club faces a difficult time financially. I foundout very quickly how wet weather affects the club as the first fortnight Iwas in the role, it basically rained the whole time.
An offer sent to Uni students via "O week show bags" for golf with acomplimentary drink thrown in. Part of the exercise is to raise awareness ofhow close the club is to the uni colleges.
Thank you to the members for the positive response so far in regard to thelevy.
TREASURERS REPORT - Wayne Smith (Treasurer)
(I have included Wayne’s email thoughts as a report. Obviously Doug and Wayne have similar views and understandings.)
Thank s to all the members who attended the meeting and all those that sent in apologies. The support of the members is greatly appreciated.
More than 40 members either made their contribution on the night or over the weekend.
Financially the club is a long way from being out of the woods but if everyone pulls together we should make it.
We need a strong membership drive and it is up to members to try and encourage new members.
Most of the financial details were handed out at the information night.
Many thanks to Rex for the great work he is doing under a great deal of pressure.
All fund raising ideas will be graciously accepted.
NEWS FROM THE GREENS: by Jeff Garraway - Greens Convenor
The members who attended the information night, Friday10th, will be well aware of the impact the wet weather has had on player participation and therefore the finances of the Club. The Greens Committee and our Course Superintendent has a “wish list” of projects to undertake and equipment to replace which has to be postponed due to lack of finances. Under the circumstances Brett and his staff have done a wonderful job during the wet weather to keep the course in the condition it has been in. The timing of the breakdown of the big Torro rough mower (Christmas/New Year break) was unfortunate, making it extremely difficult for the rough to be kept under control.
The area adjacent to the 2nd tee has finally been cleaned and tidied. The trees beneath the power lines on the 9th have been removed giving the hole a different outlook. There will be a couple of pines trees, which overhang the power lines at the back of the 4th green removed as well. This will promote a better grass cover in the area behind the green.
Cart users have generally been very aware of the restrictions placed on them during the wet weather and have complied with the directions given by our course superintendent. There are however, a few players who think that those restrictions do not apply to them. Please use carts as directed during wet weather.
The outside of the course especially along the 13th fairway is in need of a good clean up. It has been suggested to me that if a working bee was organised for a Sunday morning it would only take a couple of hours, with sufficient helpers, to tidy up. We will see what can be organised after the club championships. Also members could you please fill your divots around the course, especially on the par 3’s. Brett is also concerned about the number of bottle tops that are being thrown discarded around the course. Bottle tops and mowers do not go well together so please keep them (bottle tops) in your bag until after your round.
Best of luck to all players in the club championships, with favourable weather over the next couple of weeks I have no doubt that the course will be in excellent condition.
Good golfing.
MENS NEWS: by Vanessa Ward-Captain
As most are probably aware, the Club Championships are coming up. The time sheets are out. The first two rounds will be played on the 25th-26th of February, with the final two rounds being played the 3rd-4th of March. I would like to encourage everyone to try and compete in all four rounds. I wish everyone good luck.
As newly appointed Captain, I would like to thank Trevor Carson for all of his hard work. He did a great job in the position, and gave a lot of his time to the Club. I know that I have a lot to learn, so I ask for patience and advice, (constructive advice), while I get my head around the job.
I hope that we have some nice weather for our upcoming events.
Good Golfing!
LADIES NEWS:by Kay Nash - Ladies Captain
A hearty welcome to all the ladies for 2012.
A big thank you to Elizabeth Lloyd Jewelers for donating a $1000 diamond to be played for as an NTP event over the coming year. The 14th Hole will be the lucky hole. The ladies will again be running the Swingers programme on Friday mornings from 8.30 for those women interested in trying golf, so let friends know they can come along and join in.
Call Kay Nash for more info 0439003242
ARMIDALE VETERANS NEWS: by Graham Wyles - Veterans Publicity Officer
The final round of the NE Vets Pennants for this year will be played at Walcha on Thursday 19th May. At this stage our Armidale Blue Team is well ahead in the competition with 768 points but Walcha, Uralla & Guyra are all close together about 30 or so points behind, and Walcha will have a home course advantage for the final round on their tricky sand “greens”.
Members are reminded to get their names down on the list in the Club house so we have a good number of players to support our Blue team and perhaps arrange to share cars for the trip to Walcha, which is always a great day out.
A reminder too that our 2011 Vets Championship gets under way this month with the first round starting on Tuesday 24th May with the 2nd round on the 31st , again sponsored by Jackson’s Quality Meats.
The Presentation Dinner following the Championship will be held at the Golf Club on Friday 3rd June so please put this date in your diary as we would like to have a good turnout for this popular get together.
ARMIDALE VETS GOLF REPORTS
The first round of this years’ New England Vets Golf Pennants tournament was held at Guyra on 7th February. About 24 Armidale members travelled to Guyra for the round which was played in fine weather on a fast drying course which had been waterlogged during the recent wet spell – in fact one of the fairways was still under water so the first hole had to be played twice! Despite all the rain the course was presented in excellent condition and its presentation is a credit to their hard working team.
Local knowledge proved important on the day as all the major individual prizes went to the Guyra players who seemed to know how to put better on their comparatively slow greens and also knew how to avoid the wet areas.
The final teams points ended up with Guyra leading with a total of 267 points from Uralla on 245, Armidale Blue 235, one ahead of Armidale Green 234 followed by Walcha on 226.
The next round will be played at Uralla on Thursday 22nd March.
Vets 2012 Membership Fees:
Thank you to the more than 80 Vets who have paid their $10 annual subscription. If I have not been able to catch you at the Club, you will find your receipt, membership card, and NSWVGA fixtures booklet in an envelope with your name on the table beside the Vets noticeboard. Those who have not paid yet, you can do so to any member of the Vets Committee, or leave you sub in an envelope marked with your name with one of the Clubhouse staff.
Please pass on this news to any Vet whom you know does not have email. A copy will be posted on the Noticeboard shortly.
Dear Vets,
Here's some news re Vets Golf and a little of what is happening around the Club.
Guyra Pennants:
A big thank you to the 24 men and lady Vets who travelled to Guyra on 7 February for the first round of the Kempster Pennants.
The weather was kind, and a good day 's golfing was experienced.
Guyra will be hosting its Two Day Open Event on 5 and 6 March 2012. A poster with details is on the Vets Noticeboard.
Club Information Night:
The Vets were well represented at the Club Information Night held last Friday, 10 February, when more than 100 members attended to hear the Club President Doug Bassett outline the very grave financial difficulties the Club is facing.
The Board has decided to impose a compulsory levy of $100 on all members in order to address the current cash deficiency. It is not my role to recount the detail of the Club's position ( that information can be obtained from the Secretary Manager or any Board member), but it was reported that the Club is facing a loss of about $33K by the end of June 201 ( having made losses of $95K over the past five years). Bad weather has reduced markedly the number of competition and social rounds played to date, but this situation has been further exacerbated by 64 members not renewing their membership since June 2011, making a total net loss of 124 members over the past three years.
It is expected that all members will be contacted by the Club in coming weeks outlining the position, and seeking payment of the levy.
In the meantime, Vets are asked to continue to support the Club by their presence both on the course and in the Clubhouse. Try to bring another Vet to play on Tuesdays.
If you have friends or family members who may be interested in playing golf, bring them out. If they play with you they will get two free social rounds, as an introduction to the Club.
Again, more details of this, and other initiatives, are available from Rex Gream the Club's Secretary/Manager.
New England Week of Golf - 10 -13 April 2012
Entries for this event, which will be held at Armidale and Uralla have opened and a steady stream are being received. A poster providing details and entry forms are available beside the Veterans' Noticeboard at the Club. Support the Vets and your Club by participating in this event. You can play on all four days, or just one if that is your preference.
Working Bee Next Monday:
Following is a message from Jeff Garraway, the Green Convenor:
Attention Vet Members
"We shall be having a working bee on Monday Feb. 20th to have a general clean up and to do the edges of the bunkers. Those with a couple of hours to spare could you please be at the machinery shed a 8am. Last time we did the bunkers in about 3 hours with around 6 helpers so the more the merrier.
Brett will also need assistance when the renovations/coreing of the greens are being done on Monday Marsh 12th. I shall be in touch closer to that date."
Regards
Jeff Garraway
Vets 2012 Membership Fees:
Thank you to the more than 80 Vets who have paid their $10 annual subscription. If I have not been able to catch you at the Club, you will find your receipt, membership card, and NSWVGA fixtures booklet in an envelope with your name on the table beside the Vets noticeboard. Those who have not paid yet, you can do so to any member of the Vets Committee, or leave you sub in an envelope marked with your name with one of the Clubhouse staff.
Please pass on this news to any Vet whom you know does not have email. A copy will be posted on the Noticeboard shortly.
Good golfing!
Nick Hanson Hon Secretary/Treasurer.
PS. Do you know Bill? Nothing on the course ever fazes him. His concentration was legendary. He could not be distracted. Imagine the surprise of his playing partners when he interrupted his putting on the 14th green ( the one nearest the road) to remove his cap and stand to attention as a funeral procession drove past. When his mates asked him why he interrupted his putting , he relied "She was a good woman, we had been married for 38 years. That's the least I could do"!!
Juniors
We had four juniors compete in January at the Tenterfield Junior Event, Callum Butler, Matthew Turner, Airlie Walsh and Bronte Walsh. They all did very well. Airlie won the girls 6 hole, Bronte won the girls 36 hole Matthew 4th junior boys 36 hole against 24 competitors. More information to come about Callum’s success.
LINKS RESTAURANT: Julie and Tom Walsh
Thanks to the members who are supporting their club by bringing their functions to us and also thanks to them for recommending our venue to the wider community. I hope they will continue to do so, as functions of any type can be profitable for both the caterers and the club.
Much Thanks, Julie and Tom
The Golf Club Newsletter: Ken Docksey
At Wayne Smith’s persistent encouragement I have undertaken the job of newsletter person. I have a CV which includes 15 years of periodically and always irreverently producing the Hillgrove Cricket Club newsletter ‘Dougies Mate”. Now that I am a lot more grown up I am sure the golf club version will be staid and reverent. There is a team of important people assisting me but I am keen to co-opt a few more people with ideas, or skills, or an understanding of the humour of life (maybe even golf), and enthusiasm.
I am very impressed by the wholehearted support of the people whose words precede and Phillip Williams for his practical help to make this a reality.
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