Amended TMGC MC Minutes of 19 March 2025.

1.   Welcome and Apologies. The meeting was held at the TMGC Meeting Room on Wednesday March 19, commencing at 1.15 pm, with the president in the Chair.

Members present were Gerry Moloney, President; Kevin Arnold, Vice-President, John de Jersey, Secretary; Ross Barnes, Treasurer; Katy Hewitt and Kristo Bradley. Apology from Simon Briggs (Captain).

Guests were Tony Cole (Vets Sub-Committee); Graeme Andrews, Greenkeeper; Bjorn Schmal, Webmaster. Apology, Judy Barnes (Ladies Subcommittee), Ross Hodgson.

2.   Veterans’ Report. The President noted the financial statement for the Veterans Account, showing a credit balance of $5365.46 at February 28, 2025. Apart from the weather, Tony reported satisfaction about the course and the vets competition.

3.    Ladies’ Subcommittee. Nothing to report.

4.   Report from Bjorn Schmal re Marketing Program. Bjorn reported that despite the preoccupation with the cyclone, social media interactions involving the Club had picked up over the previous month e.g. Facebook by 100%. Bjorn needs more input from the Club to capitalize on this interest. Andrew’s organised trip to 13^th Beach and Katy’s Zero to Hero posts proved popular. On the website, 70% of visitors came directly and 30% from Google searches. Lots of interest in the fees page and the members page, suggesting a redirect to the members’ page would be popular. Bjorn will meet with Andrew and Gerry next week to canvass further ideas. He will make a suitable time to fly his drone over the course while Katy is playing, to give visitors further details of each hole. The new boutique hotel next to St Bernard’s now has a link to our website on their website, offering a 10% discount for their guests to play at TMGC. Bjorn suggested that this could be extended to other businesses and the committee agreed in principle to look at this on a case-by-case basis. Bjorn said at the next meeting he would aim to present a screen update on his work for the Club. He also said he would be taking more photographs to further improve the web page.

5.   Professional’s Report. There was no formal report this month due to Andrew’s absence on holiday.

6.   Course Report. Graeme reported that a lot of time had to be spent over the last couple of weeks in the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred because of the fallen trees and branches and was thankful for the support of the volunteers who turned up for working bees. The rough’s mower has been back in action and whipper snippers are being repaired. Graeme is happy with the support of Barry, Stephen, and Rossco with roughs mowing and Gerry, Todd, Maurie and Liam with greens mowing. Fairway mower blades are being sharpened. Gerry is applying for a $5000 recovery grant to assist with tree lopping and removal by Mountain Trees. Hopefully, the Council will remove the jacaranda which fell on the machinery shed. Tony Cole agreed to investigate an electrical issue involving the fuel pump in the machinery shed.

Kevin noted that the concreting jobs agreed at the previous meeting had to be postponed because of Alfred but now that the course is drying out, they will be rescheduled. Similarly, the changes in the pumping shed approved at the last meeting had to be put on hold but should be completed soon. Tony tabled three quotes for generators. It was agreed that a purchase should be made but it was put on hold given current financial pressures until later in the year. 

Searchlight are installing a sensor light on the back deck along with drop lights and an emergency light at the back sliding door of the club house. Rob Casey asked for approval to have a whirlybird installed on his buggy shed, because of mould. This was approved, with Rob to pay for the “bird” and the Club to pay Liam for installation.

7.   Minutes of Previous Meeting. The Draft Minutes of the February 26 meeting had been pre-circulated and were accepted, moved Katy, seconded Kevin, carried unanimously.

8.   Business Arising.  The Perdurable tee signs and the freezer in the ladies’ room still need to be attended to. Liam will fix the holes in the entrance driveway with wet bitumen. Kevin will talk to Tim about purchase and installation of a drinking fountain in a suitable location on an outside wall of the club house.

9.   New Membership Applications. Applications were received as follows: Dan Murray, Young Adult; Joe Murray, Young Adult; Ben Murray, Junior; Luke Clements, Weekday. All applications were approved. There was one member re-joining, Damian Jennings, a Country member. This brings the number of members in total to 298.

The Secretary raised the issue of new member Peter Bichsel. Andrew to provide Peter with a GA number and handicap when he returns from a brief holiday.

10.                       Financial Report. Ross had pre-circulated the financial report for February. This showed a balance in the operating account at the end of February of $128,200.30 and there were 644 visitors. The balance in the Ladies’ account was $11,269 and in the Vets account $5365.

11.                       Workplace Health and Safety. No issues were raised.

12.                       Competition Report. No issues.

13.                       TMGC Strategic Action Plan. Gerry noted that the marketing program led by Bjorn was well underway (see above). A meeting with Andrew Leventis of GA was upcoming. Gerry noted that the previously advised Women in Golf workshop had been cancelled and would be held on April 7.

14 and 15.       Correspondence. Gerry noted that acquittal of the Sports & Recreation grant used for the back deck had been achieved successfully, the first grant in this program to be acquitted.

16.          General Business.

·       The MC moved a vote of thanks to Graeme for his sterling work during and after Cyclone Alfred.

·       Generator purchase. See above.

·       Lattice partition outside Club House kitchen needs repair or replacement. Kevin will talk to Liam about what is best to replace it with.

·       Graeme’s holiday request for September 15-19 was approved.

·       Update on bore pumps and concreting. See above.

·       Machinery. By flying minute, the MC approved the purchase of a reconditioned John Deere roughs mower for $27,500. A new motor is being obtained and will be installed. It is expected to be available in June and will serve as the primary roughs mower, with the recently repaired one becoming the spare.

·       Succession planning. In progress.

·       Wish list and tour of course. Upcoming.

·       Membership list with dates of birth is required for planning purposes.

·       Cart sheds update. We are waiting for the result of a grant application to partially fund the next set of sheds.

·       Storage shed on hold.

·       Updating of CCTV for front and back decks. Andre Cafun will do this for the Club.

16.     Closure and Next meeting. The meeting was closed by the President at 3.20 pm. The next meeting is set down for Wednesday, April 16 at 1 pm.

Minutes prepared by John de Jersey, Secretary, TMGC.