News Archive

22nd December 2019

Information for members – the water situation….

All members

As you are all aware we have had very little rain over the last six weeks resulting in declining dam levels on course and, as such, I thought it important to update you both on the current situation and actions taken to nurse the course through worrying period.

This is the current situation with the dams on the course (Shane, our Superintendent and Mark Hynes measured the levels late last week) is:

dam between the 18^th Tee and second fairway a remaining depth of 1 meter
dam on 10^th / 13^th a remaining depth of 1.5 to 2 meters
dam between the 2^nd and 3^rd is empty.
the main dam in front of the club has a remaining depth of 4 meters.

Late last week the club received permission from ACT Environment Protection to access limited water from Gungahlin Pond and if the situation become dire we may also be able to pump limited water from Yerrabi Ponds. This is positive news and provides a major back-up to our current supply. However, we need to use this water sparingly to ensure we are seen as responsible in the eyes of Government and the community. Fundamentally, this about keeping the course alive until rain arrives. We cannot afford to be seen as abusing the privilege afforded to us and have the Government revoke the concession.

Some water conservation measures we have now employed are:

we have turned off irrigation to the Tee carries (ground between the Tee Box and the Fairway)
we have detuned the Tee and fairway irrigation cycles. The norm is two cycles of 15 minutes which we now have moved to 10 minutes twice a night.
we are watering the Green surrounds every second night and the Greens every night.
During the day Shane and his team our out hand watering any drier areas on the greens – the greens are the most important course asset
in total we have reduced reduced watering to 800,000 liters to the whole course (down from approx. 1.2meg). This sounds like a lot but is barely enough when battling the current temperatures and wind.

Shane is confident that we can make it to the end of January with what we have at the moment and maintaining the current watering program. Worst case is that he will have to halve the water on the Fairways and possibly the Tees.

Shane and his team are doing an extremely good job managing a tough situation in conjunction with maintaining a well presented course. That said we, as members, need to ensure our expectations are measured and accommodating of the current situation.

This information has been provided both for your information and so that you can tell friends and family should the watering of the golf course be raised with you, noting the current restrictions in force. Please assure anyone who raises the issue with you that we are being very responsible and simply trying to keep the course alive, until rain falls.

Regards

Richard Oliver/President

14th December 2019

Cart use over Summer

Hi everyone
With the horrendous conditions that we are currently experiencing can all members that use carts, please keep to the paths and rough. The tyres on the carts get extremely hot during summer and burn the fairways (not what we need with no rain in sight)
I have asked Murray to advise the social players as well, so if you do see socials doing the wrong thing please ask them nicely to keep to the paths and rough

10th December 2019

Summary of the key outcomes from the December Golf Club Committee meeting…

From the President

Welcome to the new members of the Golf Club Committee – Fiona Wicks (Women’s Captain) and Simon Hiscock and Eddie De Bear (General Committee members).
This meeting was primarily to set the scene for the Committee’s activities for the 2020 golfing year. Issues raised for the Committee to think about were:
- a focus on increasing the number of members we currently have from around 500 to closer to 600;
- a continued focus on the playing schedule and strong management around the planning and preparation for the various events;
- the Club’s website and communication with members, more generally; and
- the Capital works program and course maintenance – a revision to the Course Management Plan will be done and then information provided to members.
Membership of the various sub-committees was agreed. The leads for the various sub-committees is as follows:
- Greens – Mark Hynes
- Match – Kevin Flanagan
- Membership and Governance – Richard Oliver
- Planning and Projects – Di Carlos
- Safety – Mark Hynes
- Communication – Shaun Calvert
- Juniors – Amanda McLoughlin and Dave McGibbon (for Junior Pennants). Adrian Andreatta is the Committee contact .
- Women’s Sub-Committee – Fiona Wicks
- Pennants – Craig Farrell with Tony Murcutt the Committee contact
Members Handbook – noted that the work is nearly completed on the new Handbook and should be ready for Members in the early new year – Hard copy printing was discussed with agreement that only 100 hard copies would be printed. The Handbook will be available to all members via the Website
There was discussion in relation to the current Lifestyle membership conditions. A article will be posted in the near future providing additional information on this category of membership.

From the Treasurer:

Financial reports from Ainslie have not been received for the end of November results due to the earlier committee meeting being held in December. Based on last year’s timing, and due to the upcoming Christmas holiday period, it is expected financial reports for December and January will not be received until early February. Therefore, the next financial reports for the committee to consider will not be available until the February 2020 meeting (currently scheduled for 13 February 2020). As noted in the Annual Report, the Club is in a sound financial position. The February Report will also have a proposed budget for the 2019-20 golfing year.

From the Captains:

XMAS Hamper event will be held on the 14th December – Prizes will be Coles vouchers – like last year.
Opening Day Lakeball will be held on the 4th January.
Noted that the Men’s Eclectic has been set up.
Di noted that she will complete finalising the Women’s competition in the near future.
1st meeting of the new Women’s Committee has been held. Fiona noted that Nicole Maher and Helen Bird have joined the Women’s Committee.
noted that the Womens XMAS competition will be held at Fairbairn GC on Friday 13th.

Greens:

The development of a Water Remediation Plan was discussed. The intent is to have a plan which clearly outlines the steps we can take when drought conditions are present. Committee agreed in principle to the intent. Lead of the Green’s Committee to discuss with experts in the field.

Pennants:

The Pennant teams were announced by Craig Farrell at the Monthly Medal Presentations last Saturday (7 Dec). Check the Notice Board for the names of those selected.

Richard Oliver /President

28th November 2019

2019 Annual General Meeting – 26 November

All members

The Club’s Annual General Meeting was held on Tuesday 26 November. A copy of the Annual General Report for 2019 is provided for your reading and can be accessed via the following link – GLGC Annual Report 2019 – PDF V4 . The Minutes of the meeting are also provided for your reading and review. Access is via this link – AGM 2019 Minutes. My thanks to all the members that attended the meeting.

Your Committee for the new golfing year is as follows:

Executive

President – Richard Oliver
Vice President – Di Carlos
Secretary – Shaun Calvert
Treasurer – Tony Murcutt
Men’s Captain – Kevin Flanagan
Women’s Captain – Fiona Wicks
Vice-Captain – Mike Hogben

General Committee

Member – Mark Hynes
Member – David Wicks
Member – Simon Hiscock
Member – Eddie De Bear
Member – Adrian Andreatta

I thank Norm Loughton, Leanne Guymer and Jeff Turvey for their efforts over the past year and I welcome Fiona Wicks as the new Women’s Captain and Simon Hiscock and Eddie De Bear as new General Committee members.

Regards

Richard Oliver/President

20th November 2019