News Archive

Summary of the Golf Club Committee meeting held on 10 September…

Members

Below is a summary from The Committee meeting on 10 September. Reports from Executive members were tabled and issues were discussed. Key issues noted were: 

From the President:

• Letter to members regarding Membership Fees has been agreed and posted. Ainslie Membership Officer is in the process of sending out invoices for payment to members for whom we have a current email address. The Pro-shop will have the bag tags for collection instead of the Club Reception Desk.
• Committee returning to undertaking closeout – The Committee has re-commenced doing the weekend closeouts with no issues. Closeout is now much simpler with MiScore being used by most members.
• Spike Bar – has reopened with members adhering to social distancing requirements
• Kiosks – The purchase of new Kiosks has been actioned and equipment should arrive at the club in the coming days.
•  Annual General Meeting and election for the Committee – The AGM is scheduled for 24 November. Planning with commence for the preparation of the Annual Report will commence in the next few weeks. Golf Manager to commence planning for the election of Committee members and make arrangements for us to activate the software that we use for these elections. Elections should be conducted commencing in the week 2-7 November. 

From the Vice-President:

• Di updated the Committee on the Website refresh project and the work required by Committee members in updating the content on the site.

From the Treasurer:

• Having accounted for payments associated with the Fairway renovations and other recent purchases (mainly turf for the bunker bank on hole 2) we have around $85,000 in the Club bank account.

From the Men’s Captain:

• Events – The Match committee has reviewed the upcoming events calendar and made the following decisions:
  • Grahame Rees Memorial Ambrose event has been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions
  • 2020 Men’s Open event also cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions and Golf NSW recommendations
  • Club Championships are quickly approaching. Preparations are underway, it has been decided to continue with a one tee start as per last year. Members will book online (or thru Proshop) for the 1^st round and will be allocated the same timeslot for next 3 rounds (unless seeded). Timesheets will open up for changes a few days prior to the event for daily players and members changes.

From the Women’s Captain:

• CSGA District Medal is being played at Gungahlin Lakes on 12/10/20.
• Pennants 2021 – GLGC have entered a composite team with Yowani, CSGA Plate, Brindabella and Bruce Shield Team.

Greens

• Main focus is on the upcoming growing season. All fairways will be fertilised In the next few weeks.
• Fairways are to be verti-drained and scarified (with Amazone).
• Topdressing of fairways begin on 7^th September… 1, 3, 10, 13, 17, and 18 will receive most attention – other selected areas of the fairways and first cut will be addressed as well.
• Seeding of fairways and “rubbing in” will commence very soon after the topdressing and fertilizing.
• All bunkers will be deep raked – particular focus is on the bunkers that have tree roots in them – for example 3, 5, 6, 10
• There are still about 12 trees to drop – which will see the major tree works completed for the Winter of 2020.
• Michael Brice and Denis Collins undertook a tree survey and proposed works document for the Greens committee.  It identified various dangerous trees – particularly close to houses.  Shane will get quotes for the removal of these trees and for stump grinding the many stumps remaining post the tree removal program.
• The large number of Casuarinas on the left hand side of 16 are to be thinned – pending government approval. These trees were originally over-planted (with the idea that there would be a few deaths – this did not happen).  By removing 1 in 3 trees there will be more light to the fairway /rough and encourage healthier turf growth. 
• Greens renovations will begin on 19^th October – we have a window of 6 weeks after this to have the course presented for Medal of Medals

Papers considered at the meeting

Cap on Member Numbers

• Richard lead a discussion re potentially limiting the numbers of members – specifically for those who have playing rights to play Saturdays. It was noted the optimal number should be around 460.  In addition, overall member numbers should be capped at around 700.  Above these numbers members may begin to experience difficulty getting into the timesheets on their preferred days. Richard is to discuss with CEO Ainslie.

Members seeking short term renewals

• Shaun lead a short discussion noting that there have been a number of enquiries by members to renew their memberships for a short term only – due to work postings and expiry of International Visa’s. Shaun noted that By Law 12.1 could apply.  Agreed by Committee – Shaun to inform members of the requirements of By Law 12.1.

Non-members Use of Personal Carts

• Shaun lead a short discussion re requests by Non-members to use their personal carts at GLGC. Committee agreed this is an issue for Murray and Ainslie to resolve.

Bubblers

• Mark lead a short discussion re “opening” up the bubblers on the Course. Kevin to confirm with Golf NSW on what their preferred options are.  It was noted that we should look to open the bubblers as soon as practical due to the usual hot summers.

Scorecard

• Mike lead a short discussion re a new Scorecard – Draft sent to Committee. Committee agreed to the changes proposed.  Mike to take the lead on providing information/communication to members on the changes.  Any changes to the course rating and the club’s scorecards will not take effect until after the Club Championships and until members have been provided with information.

Signs

• Mark lead a short discussion re replacing the signs at each hole. Committee agreed to proposal presented allowing for a budget of $1500 for existing signs to refreshed.

Next meeting is scheduled for 8 October 2020

Richard Oliver/President

Splash September 2020

SPLASH-Sept 2020

Membership Fees 2020-21…..

Members

The time has come for you pay your membership fees for the 2020-21 golfing period.  Through the links below you will find:

• A letter from me providing detailed information on the fees that have been agreed for the period and information on any incentives you may be entitled to in relation to your membership,
• The Direct Debit Agreement Form that those of you wishing to pay by Direct Debit must complete and send to Ainslie’s Membership Officer (Judy O’Connor). A new one of these is required each year if you wish to pay or to continue paying by Direct Debit,
• A Direct Debit Request Form which gives Ainslie all the necessary information associated with your Direct Debit payment, if this is the way you are choosing to pay your membership fees, and
• The form that gives Ainslie authority to take your monthly charge from your credit card, if this is your preferred method of payment.

If you are choosing to pay via Direct Debit using your credit card you can complete the necessary documentation, scan it and send it to Judy O’Connor, the Ainslie Group Membership Officer at judy.oconnor@ainsliegroup.com.au. 

You can also, of course, put all the necessary documentation into an envelope and leave it at Reception for processing by Judy or make your payment online to the Ainslie Bank Account the details of which are:

• BSB: 012-955
• Account No: 836288315

If you make your payment online, be please be sure to quote your name and membership number as reference for your payment.

The club looks forward to you renewing your membership and readying yourself for the new playing year.

Richard Oliver/President

Golf Club Membership letter for 2020-21 Sept 20

Direct Debit Agreement Form 2020-21

Direct Debit request form 2020-21

Credit Card authorisation form 2020-21

MiScore App

Members update – 21 Aug 20

Members

I thought it timely to update you on a number of issues.  This update is a little longer than normal but please bear with this and read on.

Fairway renovations

In the next couple of weeks, Shane and his team will be preparing the fairways by scarifying them to remove thatch and using the verti-drain to prepare the surface for top-dressing.  Of course, this is all weather dependent.   Greens committee have identified a number of fairways which will be top-dressed by the contractors, and work will (hopefully) commence on Monday 7 September, after the course has dried out sufficiently for machinery to operate on the Fairways.  Shane tells me that we are about to apply 240 tonnes of sand to the course.  After top-dressing is completed, Shane and his team will be “drag matting” these fairways, and then adding seed.  He will also be applying fertilizer to all of the fairways over the coming weeks, when the time is right.

While these processes occur and until the surfaces ‘come good’, the current local rules will remain in place.

Honour Board events update

As is the case with a number of the other clubs in the city, we have decided to cancel our Gungahlin Lakes Men’s and Women’s Open events this year.  The Men’s event was scheduled for 19 and 20 September with the Women’s scheduled to be played on 24 September.  We are still heavily impacted by the COVID 19 restrictions and know that many who might normally have traveled to play in the events are reluctant to do so this year.

At present the Walking Clinic Spring Classic scheduled for 3,4 and 5 October is planned to be held but, this will be confirmed in the coming days.  Murray is in the process of discussing the arrangements with the Walking Clinic, as the current sponsor.   

Our Club Championships are scheduled for the weekends of 10/11 and 17/18 October and we are looking forward to the course being in good shape, for this our premier Honour Board event.

One upside to the cancellation of the Opens, as unfortunate as it is, is that we will be able to put more time into the repair of the course before the championships, a small plus.

Membership fees for the 2020/21 golfing year

We have been working with Ainslie to agree the fee arrangements for the 2020/21 golfing year.  Below I have summarised the arrangements for the golfing year which begins on 1 October 2020.  This information is provided for your advance planning and for you to use in thinking about which membership category is best for you and members of your family who might like to join the Golf Club.

In thinking about the arrangements for the coming year, we were keen to simplify the administrative arrangement for both members and the Ainslie Group. We have negotiated a flat increase of $60 across all membership groups except for the Intermediate, 9-Hole and Junior categories where a $30 increase has been applied,

There is no change to the water levy for this year which will remain at $80. The water levy will remain as an additional payment to the membership fee and assists Ainslie with the payment of the Water Extraction Fee charged by the ACT Government.

We have also negotiated that the ‘Elder discount’ continues to apply to members with 20 years of continuous membership and are 60 years and older. Unfortunately, the discount will not apply to those who choose to pay by direct debit. Further information on the application of the discounts/points rebate is included in your membership letter which you will receive in the next couple of weeks.

The membership fees have been agreed as follows:

If you are not eligible for the ‘Elder discount’ but pay in full on or prior to 30 September 2020 your Ainslie card will be credited with 2,000 points. More detail on the application of points can be found in your membership letter which will come to you soon, as noted above.  The letter will come to you via email (if we have a current email address for you) or via the post if we don’t have an email address for you.

Remember there is also a ‘Family’ membership sub-category where the following applies:  For each full-fee paying adult (7, 6 and 5-day membership categories), the Family membership category will allow one dependent who would qualify under the Junior category requirements to such membership free of charge.  For any additional dependents who would also be in the Junior category the membership payment will be discounted by 50%.  If there are two full-fee paying parents/adults in the family, then this would entitle two free Junior memberships and any subsequent Junior members at 50%. Please note – the water levy is still payable for all members of the family.

The club’s Membership Officer (Judy O’Connor) will allocate the amount of any applicable discount direct to the member’s account at the time of processing their renewal. This will avoid any unnecessary delays.  Members need to remember that the discount/points rebate will only apply if you pay your full membership amount by the COB on 30 September.

Our Golf Manager has a list of the members we have identified as being eligible for the ‘Elder’ discount.  If you are unsure of whether you should be receiving the discount/points rebate, send Tim Payne, our Golf Manager, an email and he will check against the list for you.  His email is Gungahlinlakes@gmail.com. If you have other membership related queries please email Judy at judy.oconnor@ainsliegroup.com.au to seek clarification.

As noted earlier in this update, the Club will be contacting you in the next couple of weeks with an invoice for your membership fees.  I also plan to post a copy of my letter to members on the website providing additional access to the information. Please watch for this.

Enough for now……

Hope you are all travelling well at this challenging time.

Regards

Richard Oliver/President.