This month another Naracoorte Golf Club Annual General Meeting will be held where all members are given the opportunity to review and comment on the past year.

As President I have the opportunity to recognise the many members who have contributed to what I believe has been a very successful year not based on financials alone. The support of so many members throughout the year and many on a weekly basis has created a friendly welcoming Club atmosphere.

We are privileged to have three of our Life Members still playing golf and supporting the club on a regular basis. Thank you to Graham Leishman, Kevin Carracher, & Brian Sherlock.

For the past two years Bev Watson and Colin Richardson have represented our club as Patrons and as always will continue to be wonderful ambassadors and supporters of the club. Congratulations you both are wonderful people respected by all.

Ian Cox when asked to take on the position as Public Officer responded in the positive immediately. Ian has played a major role on the membership sub-committee reviewing membership structure and costs and is always available if required.

Our reputation of high quality catering is well known but as members do we realise the important financial and public relations role our lady members contribute to the club each year. They are called upon to cater for functions at least twenty times per year and theladies committee contributed $25,000 towards the kitchen renovation, an investment in the future of our club and Felicity Miles project managed the entire plan

Thank you to Robyn Talbot, Elaine Zerk, Chris McDonald, Sandra Munn, Bernie Richards, Maureen Collins, Marlene Bull, Helen Cox, Bev Watson, Felicity Miles, Margie Porter and Liz Ogilvie. Without these willing helpers our club reputation would be diminished.

Over the past year I have met personally with all visitors who have made golf bookings and most that arrive without notice. The conversations afterwards are always about the quality of course presentation and the test, mental and physical of all parts of your golf game.

Tim Shortt, the part time staff and our volunteers are a weekly discussion point and we do not take for granted the weekly course presentation. We appreciate the passion and personal commitment that Tim Shortt contributes daily. Our thanks and recognition to the part-time staff Richard Oliver, Graham Williams and weekly volunteers Richard Male and Terry Paech.

Scott Lawrie’s entertaining regular newsletter and Lance Maclean’s Facebook commitment have been a vital link between our members and the general public all year. Our website is managed by Jesse Briggs and each person plays a valuable role in club communication.

The valuable contribution Scott Lawrie has made to Naracoorte Golf Club as Captain in 2003 & 2004 and this year deserves special recognition. Scott has taken on the responsibility of Club Captain for seven months this year and continued as Chairman of the Social Committee. His commitment and dedication to the future of our club is unique and deserves our sincere thanks and recognition. We will miss his spontaneous humour at our meetings.

The organisation and commitment each year to maintain the high standard of success achieved by the Two-Cocks Committee is a tribute to their professionalism. The 2018 Two-Cocks Charity Golf Day was by all accounts the best yet and while fortunate with the weather the support of 215 players and at least twenty volunteers made the day memorable again. Naracoorte Golf Club directly benefited in many ways, for example : our ladies were paid $2000 for catering, the club received the profits from bar takings and on course sales, received a cash donation of $10,000 and $6,000 towards the purchase of the computerised score-card scanning and competition management systems. Congratulations and a sincere thank you on behalf of the members of Naracoorte Golf Club to the dedicated Two-Cocks committee who no doubt are already working towards the staging of another successful event in 2019.

For over two years Peter and Sue Brown have committed to sourcing club Saturday weekly competition sponsors, organising signage delivery and letters of thanks. I personally have received comments of high praise from sponsors for their professionalism and of course Peter’s unique brand of humour,

Barry Munn and Adrian Zerk stocktake and purchase the club alcohol on a weekly basis and “fill” the fridges, a Tuesday morning ritual that I enjoy sometimes with Bill Moorhouse as well. Thank you, another job I do not worry about.

Ladies President Robyn Talbot is a valuable member of the club committee and contributed to the discussions at all times offering an experienced point of view. A major contributor to the ladies catering team, Robyn is another long term dedicated and valuable club member.

Ladies Captain Pam Hood completes two successful years administering competitions, public relations, and representing NGC throughout the South East. Past ladies captains have set a very high standard and Pam can be proud of her success in the Captains role.

A man of few words best describes the Club Treasurer Chris Burford who listens, evaluates and is involved in all the decision processes and outcomes. The club financials are in good hands and Chris supports the club with sponsorship and social activities.

My first year working with Vice President Andrew Sincock could be best described as educational and a new experience. Andrew has strong views on most subjects and I respect his willingness to confront club issues. His initiatives to revive the Friday nights “Frothies / Footy tipping Competition & Wednesday “Pool” competition have contributed to our Bar sales and club public relations. From an administration point of view Andrew has been a willing assistant to me every time help is needed in the clubhouse or on the course.

My personal thanks to Bill Moorhouse who is not only the club professional barman for almost every club or special function but a willing assistant in any and every task I have to deal with. Without this support I could not fulfil the current responsibilities, Thank you Bill.

One of your committee’s priorities over the last three months was the purchase of a Defibrillator and we naturally sought the advice of Dr Brian Norcock. The final outcome of the research and discussions has resulted in Dr Brian Norcock donating a new Defibrillator to Naracoorte Golf Club. I sincerely thank Brian on behalf of all our members.

To the members who have been kind and allowed me to hire their personal golf carts throughout the year thank you. The club would lose valuable green fee income if motorised golf carts were not available. Our big test in March next year is to supply 6-8 golf carts for Airport Golf Club on Saturday & Sunday 23/24. Then 15 golf carts the following Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday for a group of up to fifty Adelaide Social Golf Club members. We have negotiated a green fee (four days), dinner one night, and the golf carts because no other club can guarantee 15 motorised golf carts in the South East.

I have made the promise, with your help we can deliver and the club will benefit financially.

The introduction of the MiClub competition scoring system has been a major task and will save our Captains and Match Committee many hours of time in the future. This would not have been possible in 2018 if not for the $6,000 donation from the “Two Cocks Team.” Without the expertise of Sue Hood who had the task of preparing over 60 pages of data that included member details, competition programs, and communication generally we would have been months away from bringing this system online. Thank you Sue.

I have now worked for fourteen months under the current agreement e.g. 15 hours per week @ $10ph plus an allowance for phone and motor vehicle. With the Clubs approval I will do this for another two years under the same agreement. My goal is to be able to give the incoming committee for 2020 a recommendation about future employment. The club currently banks $225 pw being (the hourly rate difference based on 15hrs per week.

I have already come to the conclusion that if the Club wishes to maintain the same standard of service as is delivered now, a minimum of 30 hours per week is required.

I know we all understand and are aware of our ageing population and the change of priorities young people have today, this is a worldwide issue and one we have to address also. The last fourteen months has resulted in a “wake-up” call for me in terms of generating cash flow from other than club members.

The best financial rewards come from staging golf events in addition to the weekly club events. Entry fees and bar trade on these other days can be a financial windfall.

We have one major issue with trying to promote the club facilities for private functions, charity events or even “wakes” We have no wheel-chair access or upstairs toilets !That is not news to our members but to sustain the current course and clubhouse standards we now enjoy and for the future this issue must be a priority now. Grant applications , draft quote and project management are being discussed.

I have made the decision to re-nominate and if elected for another two years will continue to work towards a viable long term plan for future club management.

My personal thanks to all the members that have supported our initiatives over the past twelve months and those that have offered to assist me personally.

Kind Regards

Melville Proud (President)