The GOLF practice chipping & bunker play area adjacent to the cart shed is nearing completion & will be officially opened by State Member Greg Piper on Frid. 18 th Nov. This project was achieved under a State/Local Govt. grant through the efforts of Mens Golf President Bryce James. Director Brian Shackleton has applied for a new grant to build 300 metres of cart paths & we await the result of that application.
We have a new fleet of 18 Yamaha Petrol carts arriving late November to replace our current tired electric fleet.
The Course Improvement Challenge Day held on 30 th Sept. raised a huge $15,002 & these funds have been passed over to the Golf Committee to begin works on installing fairway watering to the 6 th . Many thanks to all sponsors, players and helpers on the day for making this day a success.
The Pro Am over the 28 – 30 th weekend has attracted record sponsorship and weather permitting should be the best event ever – thanks to Erica Ford , Dave Stretton and team for all the hard work over the past 6 months.
The new “Battle of the Sixes” competition has started & presents a fresh & fun way of playing the game for new comers & those regulars pushed for time to play a full 18 holes. See the Pro Shop for details & get a team together for the 2 nd comp. early in the new year.
A special thanks to the Nathan and his team for the way they present the Course each week and on special occasions – they might get paid by FMS but they are still very much our boys and part of our culture.
The BOWLERS have also been busy with Government grant applications & have recently had funds approved for the installation of more shade structures – Federal Member Greg Combet called in for a fund hand over photo shoot & an ear bashing on the farcical proposed Pokie Pre Commitment scheme… we think he got the message. The No.1 Green is currently undergoing major renovations & will be in top condition for the start of the Pennant season in Feb. 2012
The PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT being pursued by our landlords involving the re-zoning of land at the back of the course is still in the initial stages where environmental issues are being considered & it will be sometime, perhaps years, before any real progress is made.
Our FACILITY MANAGERS, F.M.SOLUTIONS are doing a reasonable job in bringing a lot of Course/Greens & Club House maintenance issues up to speed and many small but important changes have been made – we even have the fish pond out front working for the first time in 5 years or so. Car park lining will be completed over the next few weeks & members will also appreciate the improvement to all outside lighting. We are currently working – with volunteers – on Stage 2 of the WATAGAN ROOM UPGRADE which involves replacing & repositioning T.V. Screens along the Eastern wall & eventually a re-paint – yes, the green will go.
Our relatively new CATERER Teik Lim, has done a great job in increasing our Bistro patronage but unfortunately for us he is moving on to greener pastures at Beresfield Bowling Club in Feb 2012…. We have been fortunate to secure the services of a similar operator, through Teik's introduction, and he will work with Teik through January to ensure a seamless transition under the “Fairway's Wok & Grill” banner & , at least initially , the same menu & format. We see it as an opportunity to build on the Teik experience rather than a problem.
Our ENTERTAINMENT & PROMOTIONS programme continues to offer variety & appeal on a somewhat limited budget with hostess Deborah Bird doing a great job in putting the fun into our raffle nights. For those not sure of what's on, read on: Monday - 1 st Monday each month is Members Mad Monday with a badge draw on the half hour , meal deals, happy hour and more Tuesday - Bingo from 10am Wednesday - BBQ Bonanza Meat Raffle from 5.30p.m. plus Grocery Grab Promo. Friday - Mega Meat Raffle – quality meat trays from Black Pepper Butchery up for grabs. Members Badge Draw after the raffles. On the 1 st & 3 rd Friday's - Kaz's Karaoke, always a fun night. Saturday .. Free Cabaret in the Main Lounge with Peter Stefanson & friends on the 1 st Sat each month and Retro –A-Go-Go on the 2 nd Sat. of each month , again a free show in the main lounge. Sunday .. Variety Raffle from 5.30 pm.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS Melbourne Cup luncheon, hat parade, sweeps etc. Classic Country Cabaret .. Free in the main lounge Saturday 5 th November from 7.30pm. First Xmas Ham Raffle … Tuesday 22 nd November Xmas Toy Raffle … Sunday 27 th November
*MEMBERS BADGE DRAWS on Friday & Sunday nights are in the process of having the jackpot amount raised from $3,000 to $5,000 once current term expires – stay tuned.
The new POKER MACHINES are proving popular with players & this area of our business continues to provide both entertainment and a chance to win cash for our patrons & a vital source of revenue to the Club. Without their contribution we would struggle to survive. The details & implications of the proposed Wilke/Gillard Pre Commitment Legislation are too convoluted to outline here but suffice to say they represent a very real danger to the viability of this & many other Clubs – the proposed changes won't work & they will hurt. Hopefully sanity will eventually prevail & those elected to govern will revert to rational & informed deliberation in the months ahead.On the STAFF front many would have noticed that our Senior Bar & Gaming Supervisor, Shona, will soon become a first time mother and we wish her all the best with that little adventure. She will be taking maternity leave from mid December and Lucie Robertson, one of our part time staff will step up to the Senior Supervisors Role during Shona's absence. Maree Smith ,one of our long time part timers, will also be helping out by taking on an expanded role that includes cellar, stock control and some admin. duties.
- New DIRECTOR Kerrie Caddey has had some difficulty in meeting the obligations required by the role due to her family commitments and in the best interests of the Club has agreed to stand down from the Board – we wish her all the best & hope that one day when life settles down a bit she will give it another try. In the mean time, the Board has invited former Director Bob Baker, who was the next in line on the election vote tally, to fill the vacancy left by Kerrie's departure. So those regular raffle patrons will soon be seeing Bob's familiar face at the raffle table. Our great army of VOLUNTEERS are so important in the overall running of the Club & in maintaining our unique culture. It is almost impossible to name them all as some are sure to be missed but in this Newsletter special mention & thanks go to Don Schultz, Ruth Hughes, Colleen Coaker, Frank Walker & Les Frizell for the many hours they but into beautifying our gardens, pools & general landscaping.
To all other helpers – you know who you are & what a great job you do – your efforts are appreciated. A Special Meeting to determine proposed CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES has been scheduled for Wednesday 16 th November at 7.30 pm in the Club's Auditorium. Details of the proposed changes are available on the Club's Web Site, at Reception or the CEO's Office. Many of the changes are well overdue & we encourage you to attend this important meeting.
Finally, our overall TRADING POSITION has improved quite substantially as a result of the strategies & structural changes implemented earlier in the year and those adopted subsequently. Despite the negative effect a few prolonged periods of bad weather had on Golf & Club House revenues we have managed to produce a PROFIT for the 9 months to 30 th Sept. of $101,000 after depreciation & provisions & with all rental commitments met. That compares to a LOSS of $109,000 for the same period last year & we think that's a pretty good effort.
Barring any unforeseen disaster & prolonged periods of bad weather we are on track to produce the best financial result for the full year to 31 st December in 16 years – and they said it wouldn't last !
Happy Clubbing !
Ian Taylor CEO 26/10/11
