Redacted Minutes of TMGC Management Committee Meeting of 20/9/2023

1.    Welcome and Apologies. The meeting was opened at 1.15 pm by the President in the Chair.

Present: Gerry Moloney (President), Kevin Arnold (Vice President), John de Jersey (Secretary), Ross Barnes (Treasurer), Ross Hodgson (Captain), Katy Hewitt, Kristo Bradley.

Guests: Andrew Revie (Club Professional), Graeme Andrews (Greenkeeper) and Simon Briggs (nominee for captaincy at the forthcoming AGM).

2.    Professional’s Report

Andrew noted that the number of visiting golfers had remained very strong.

Road to the PGA. The Australian PGA Championship will be held from November 23-26 at Royal Queensland. If the Club holds a stableford competition at a suitable date, members can opt to pay an extra $10. All those paying the $10 get complimentary entry into the PGA and the winner of the competition gets to play in a pro-am competition allied to the PGA (minimum of 12 participants). It was agreed that Saturday November 11 would be a suitable date. Andrew agreed to advertise. The Club will also participate in the Jarrod Lyle day in competitions on November 4 and 8.

Andrew indicated that Rachel Rogers, the widow of a former member, would like to hold a golfing fundraiser for motoneuron disease research in honour of her late husband, following on from this year’s successful event. The proposed event would not be held until next year. The MC enthusiastically supported this proposal.

Andrew also raised the possibility of finding a trainee following on from Neville. The MC supported this idea.

Re the newly laid synthetic grass on the back deck, it was noted that buggies are not allowed to be parked on the grass as damage would result.

Relating to the Clubhouse refurbishment, Gerry advised that the renderer will soon finish the job by rendering the brick wall near the kitchen, and that Rodney would do the painting. He also advised formally that the Club had received a grant of $18,000 towards renewal of the front deck. The flooring will be in Modwood or Mirbau. Kevin will bring ideas to an upcoming meeting., including ideas for roofing.

3.    Greenkeeper’s Report

• Graeme thanked the MC and members for their support, particularly for nominating him for the award of Golf Club Employee of the Year and Superintendent of the Year. He indicated that the course was holding up relatively well, considering the absence of rain and the number of rounds being played.

• Graeme indicated that he had arranged for a tank of water to be provided to our neighbouring farmer, to be used to water his cattle in the case of an emergency.

• Graeme informed the meeting that following approval of the purchase of a new tractor and sprayer at the previous meeting, he had negotiated a purchase with Dover and Sons of Beaudesert of a new tractor and a spray unit for a total of $46,739. The new equipment should arrive shortly.

• Graeme is seeking to arrange for the dead pine tree on the left of the fourth fairway to be cut down and removed by Mountain Trees. However he indicated that further tree removal, as approved at the previous meeting, would need to be put on hold because of the total fire ban prevailing at the moment, which would restrict burning of waste timber.

• Members endorsed the new tee signs and Graeme said that he would be installing the remaining ones when time permitted.

• Graeme noted that the greens renovations would commence on October 9 with Tim Kerr aerating the greens and Graeme completing the renovations on October 10 and 11. Gerry will send a reminder email to members. Graeme will be on annual leave from October 4-9.

• Graeme also noted the extent of damage to the tees due to the number of rounds played and the very dry conditions. He urged members to fill divots whenever they have the opportunity. Levelling of the tees on the 2/11 holes was on the program. Another priority was repairing or replacing the retaining wall on the 17^th tee, the cart path below the retaining wall and the steps up to the tee. A concrete path here would be a desirable improvement.

4.    Minutes of Previous Meeting.

The minutes of the August 17 meeting of the MC had been precirculated and were confirmed (moved: Ross H, seconded: Katy, carried unanimously).

5.    Business arising from August Minutes (not otherwise listed)

Four items still need attention: liquor compliance signage, Compliance Plan for OGTR, Psychosocial Hazards Code of Practice and Alinta point of contact (should be Ross B and Gerry).

Katie has negotiated successfully with the owners of the Hope Island Golf Simulator who have agreed to offer free sessions as prizes for some Monthly Medal events.

6.    New Membership Approvals

The following applications for new memberships or membership renewals were received and all were approved. New members: Chris Beecham, Young Adult; Dave Davoren, Lifestyle; John Weber, Lifestyle; Jake Davidson, Junior; Marty Spies, Full. Members rejoining: Joel McMillan, Young Adult; Luca Kilpin, Junior; Murray Kilpin, Full; Jack Taylor, Junior; Jay Fong, Country; Tony O’Hare, Full; Tim Richardson, Young Adult; Nick Mahoney, Young Adult; Sam Pietro, Full. The total stands at 244 members.

7.    Financial Report

Ross B had precirculated to all Club members the Annual Financial Statement and Auditors Report, as required for the AGM. He also circulated a Monthly Statement for August. The opening balance was $261, 953.01 and the closing balance was $262,490.56. Ross noted that there had been a large increase in our electricity bill (37%). Ross also noted the auditors advice that GST has to be paid on Competition Fees. Ross advised that it was necessary for him to have access to all Club bank accounts, because he has to sign off on them for the Annual Financial Report and Auditors Report. Accordingly, he needs to be a signatory on the Ladies Club Account. The Secretary will talk to Di Lilley and ask that she attend to this matter.

8.    Workplace Health and Safety.

A new light will be installed near the Cart Shed for Pro Shop staff as a precaution. See above under Greenkeeper’s Report for comments about the retaining wall, steps and lower cart part on the 17^th tee.

9.    Competition Report.

Ross H indicated that members seemed happy with the competitions at the moment. The King and Queen of the Mountain competitions will be held in October over two weeks. Males will play off the black tees and females off the white tees. Prizes will be awarded for both gross and net scores. Ross noted that our new Captain would require a laptop and one is available. He also said that he was very willing to help Simon become fully familiar with the duties of the Captain.

10. Correspondence In:

Letter from Andrew Leventis (Golf Australia) re MC workbook.

11.Correspondence Out.

Email to TM Show Society re sponsorship

12. General Business.

·       Preparations for the AGM. It was noted that no secret ballot would be required and that a show of hands would be sufficient to confirm election of those nominated to the various positions.

·       The Stronger Communities grant obtained through the office of the Federal member Scott Buckholtz (for synthetic grass surfacing of the back deck) has been acquitted.

·       The MC will need to meet in the near future to consider the Golf Australia Workbook and strategic plan development.

·       Ross B said he would provide the key to the rental communications tower gate to Andrew Curtis to allow spraying of the weeds.

·       It was noted that the local rules board only requires one change which Dave Strong can attend to, not a full replacement as previously discussed.

·       Kevin will look at replacing the downpipe at the front of the Meeting Room.

·       Quote for tractor and spreader: see greenkeeper’s Report above.

·       Painting of doors and door frames in the meeting room block. Katie will ask Rodney for a quote.

·       Discussion about keeping the area around the back deck tidy. On hold.

·       Greens roster. On hold.

·       Website photographs update. Katy to attend to after the clubhouse painting is complete.

·       Placement of new cart sheds and storage room. Kevin will prepare some plans for the next meeting.

·       Practice area options. Ongoing.

·       Membership lists. Gerry and Andrew are reconciling lists.

·       Koala trees will be obtained by Bruce Bartle from a Northern NSW contact, but only after significant rainfall.

·       GCDGA. Gerry attended a meeting on September 12 to discuss competitions (Interclub, Pennants). There are pros and cons of the TMGC participating in the Interclub.

·       Katy has been working towards getting our insurance company to pay for the window at 39 Jenyn’s Road broken by a golf ball from the fourth tee.

·       It was agreed that Honour Boards and trophies would be updated after the King and Queen of the Mountain.

·       Course signage. The old Professionals sign should be replaced with a new, narrower sign to go underneath the new Professionals sign, available for another sponsor.

·       It was agreed that we should obtain clear plastic café blinds for the back deck. Kevin will investigate.

The meeting was closed by the President at 3.45 pm. The next meeting is scheduled for October 18 at 1.15 pm.

Minutes prepared by John de Jersey, Secretary, TMGC.