Members
Please find below a general update on a number of important and current matters.
Safety
Ainslie has requested that members be reminded that there are two Give Ways signs which need to be observed as members depart from the club grounds. There is a sign asking drivers to give way before the foot/cycle path and then another as drivers proceed onto Gundaroo Drive. Recently, there has been some near misses in this area hence the request for members to take additional care.
We had a member of the club injured while playing a week or so ago. This might not have happened if ‘fore’ had been called. A reminder to all players, if you hit a ‘stray’ ball that is not going where you aimed it, please remember to call ‘fore’. In this instance, our member was hit in the head resulting in a trip to hospital, stiches, a dose of concussion and time away from the game due to the injury. Make the call to be safe.
Opening game for the season
The game on 15 January started well but unfortunately, was caught in a significant storm event. It was great to see a strong field for the game but sad that the game had to be cancelled. Rather than refund the competition fees paid to players it was agreed that the money be donated to the Jarod Lyle foundation, which was the agreed charity for the game. It you participated on the day you will be aware people were trying to get a ball into a ‘tinny’ placed in the middle of the pond. Jeff Turvey and Ross McLoughlin were both successful but donated their winning to the pool to top up the money going to the foundation. Well done gents.
Thanks to all of those who returned for the presentations to those who had won Honour Board events. The winners were as follows:
- Men’s Club Champion 2021 – Ben Davis
- Women’s Club Champions 2021 – Michaela Scheetz
- Mark Brooker Medal 2021 – Men – Inpong Hanxomphou
- Mark Brooker Medal 2021 – Women – Barbara Jang
- A Grade Men’s winner 2021 – James Hynes
- B Grade Men’s Winner 2021 – Tim Hourigan
- C Grade Men’s Winner 2021 – James Wunsch
- Women’s Nett Winner 2021 – Jackie Penno
- Junior Champion 2021 – Kane Smith
- Senior Champion 2021 – Brian James
- Mixed Foursomes Champions Scratch 2021 – Les Molloy and Angela Yang
- Mixed Foursomes Champions Nett 2021 – Michael Cole and Emily Cole
- Medal of Medals Men 2021 – Jayden Nguyễn
- Midweek Medal of Medals Men 2021 – Bruce Perry
- Midweek Medal of Medals Women 2021 – Thi Le
- Medal of Medals Women 2021 – Hyoun Jeong Kim
- Matchplay Handicap Winner Men’s 2021 – Kaleb Shortland
- Matchplay Handicap Winner Women’s 2021 – Evelyn Chung
- 4BBB Matchplay Winners 2021 – Simon Hall and Red Barron
- Australia Day Cup – Men’s 2021 – Nigel Turner
- Australia Day Cup Women 2021 – Maddie Hood
- Diggers Cup 2021 – Alister Winton
- Eclectic Nett Winner 2021 – Mike Hogben
- Eclectic Gross Winner 2021 – James Hynes
Congratulation to all of these folks and if you are yet to collect your medallion/s, please do so from Tim in the Golf Office on Wednesday or Friday between 9.00am and 2.00pm.
The January Committee meeting
Normal reports not required for this meeting as a January meeting not normally held.
We have canvassed and are starting to further develop some ideas around possible uses for some of the Course improvement monies. Some of our thinking and early discussions with Ainslie have included:
- An improved entrance to the Golf Club
- Ainslie were generally supportive of this as a project.
- It has been agreed that that design work and costing should be undertaken with funding to be discussed and subsequently agreed.
- Storm shed/s somewhere in the vicinity of holes 5,6 or 7 and 11 or 12
- It was recognised that when storm warnings occur, it is a long way from those further holes to get off the course and to safety.
- The erection of shelters would provide a place for players to move to until the storm and lightening had abated. These would be simple structures under which players could stand until it was safe to play on. Such shelters would also assist in speeding up play.
- Agreed to cost the work with final agreements on funding to be agreed after quotes have been sourced
- Front nine – toilet
- Committee feels that better facilities are required for players on the back nine due to distance from club.
- We agreed with Ainslie to look at options:
- Portaloo and increase pump/service cleaning regime.
- A plumbed toilet (circa $60k+ depending on distance for plumbing etc). Windy-loo/halfway house conversion was $50k+ in 2017/18)
- Irrigation system
- Some further tweaking to the irrigation system over the coming years would be beneficial to the watering of fairways and rough.
- Consideration will be given to how best to achieve what is required.
- This was considered a lower priority for 2022 and would be more seriously considered for 2023.
As these ideas are further investigated the Club’s Course management Plan will be updates. Leo Davies has agreed to lead this work.
Other matters discussed at the meeting
Pennant shirts
- A new design and colours to be explored for the next set of shirts.
- Our quest is to arrive at a shirt style/s that can be worn by all pennant players (Men, Women and Juniors) with different fittings as applicable.
- We will play in the existing shirts for 2022 and aim for new shirts for the 2023 season.
- Design of the new shirts to be longer lasting in that it would not change annually. The intent is to design and procure a shirt that can become recognisable as the Gungahlin Lakes shirt.
- Committee will work with Murray and other suppliers (as required) in sourcing the new design and ‘fit’ for the shirts.
E-Scooters
- Committee reviewed Guidance Statement 16 to ensure it covers the use of Golf Caddies and similar aids for use on the Golf Course.
- The Committee agreed that the use of private carts and mobility aids should continue still be examined on a case-by-case basis to ensure the appropriate liabilities are accepted by users and the cart/aid fits within the Ainslie Group’s insurance regime.
- The Committee has requested some guidance from Ainslie as to health and safety issues associated with these types of mobility aids on the course. Ainslie remain mindful of the contractual arrangement they have with Murray and ensuring that any disadvantage to Murray is minimised.
New women’s initiative
- An initiative has been proposed to help bring more female players into the club. In summary the concept would involve: a fee around $700 paid by the female participants for a 6 month “Get into Golf” program; social play at times when the course is quiet, and play under the guidance of coaching staff. The aim would be for program participants to join the club for the next playing year. The committee considered this to be a good initiative in our quest to increase our number of female members. Fiona will lead the planning on this initiative.
Safety on the course
- Simon Hiscock and Tracey Banister have presented their first report to the Committee on hazards they see on the course which will now be discussed with Shane. Broadly speaking, these fall into the following categories:
- Some rock walls without adequate fall protection
- Protection for female golfers from stray balls, due in part to the recent thinning of shrubs and trees
- Trip and slip hazards from slippery and steep tee box slopes (the 8th hole)
- Trip hazards from where a section of a cart path is lifting.
- Each of the issues will be reviewed and discussed with the Superintendent as appropriate.
Reciprocal Clubs
- Jeff Turvey updated the Committee on a minor name change that was needed to the list of reciprocal clubs on the website. Following this update, the list is up-to-date and provides accurate information on our reciprocal club.
Good golfing in 2022
Richard Oliver/President