Hi members,

An update from the Committee after our meeting with YMGC Management on the 20th December.

Firstly, a big thank-you to all for your help and guidance this year with what has been a busy period at the club. I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to 2024 with what’s shaping up to be a very busy year ahead.

A big thank-you to Andrew Maclean for getting all the goods for the BBQ at the club on Saturday (23/12) and to all the helpers (including my wife) who helped with the preparation, cooking and cleaning up. I think it went well and was certainly appreciated by the members. A special thanks to Martin Wilkes for his assistance, great to see him there and talking to all the members.

Minutes from the meeting on 20/12/2023 at YMGC.

Attendance: John Sloan, Tim Vegt, Lucy Jiang, Peter Farrell, Stuart Robertson, Ian Muntz, Andrew Jury, and Andrew Maclean

Agenda items:

  • New Team Members
      • Melanie Foster has joined the team in the Pro Shop
      • Hospitality staff still being recruited and finding it hard to get new people in. I think Tara is a recent addition.
      • New catering firm has been employed. I met Hok at the Xmas mixed and always open to discuss any of our needs. 
  • Course update
      • Met with Tim formally. Tim gave us a brief overview of his previous experience and whilst still early days he is sorting out and familiarising himself with the course, staff, and equipment. To me he sounds very positive, and I think he will be a great asset to the club. His priorities now are,
        • Staff training and sorting out OH&S items and new management policies such as, cleaning equipment after use, using PPE, dealing with members on course… etc.
      • We discussed bunkers, and particularly those that have already been started. Asked him to remove plastic and put in some designated Drop Zones which has been done. These bunkers will be a priority for completion in whatever form when work starts after the Master Plan gets approved.
      • Peter Farrell asked about having greens prepared on a Sunday as well as a Saturday. Tim was open to this saying rolling the greens on a Saturday and then cutting on a Sunday a likely scenario. He is re-organising his staff so that this can be done on weekends. Also looking at similar preparations for Tuesday and Wednesday.
      • The state of the site maintenance shed is a little under the weather and needs a fair amount of attention. Peter and I did a walkthrough after the meeting and have a few items that need looking into,
        • Clean out all the firewood inside the workshop.
        • Give the offices, tea rooms and toilets a fresh lick of paint and repair walls where required.
        • Mezzanine floor needs a tidy up, lots of equipment and other pieces up there so will document everything and then discuss whether we keep, sell or remove.
        • Outside of the shed needs a tidy with a lot of miscellaneous items lying around. Volunteer group to investigate this.
  • Levy funds
      • We spoke to Lucy and John regarding this, and our priority is to have bunkers attended to as soon as possibly however, this will be reliant on the Master Plan.
      • We also discussed the toilet situation on the 12th and back of the 2nd hole. The council are not allowing tanks to be implemented and wanting the sewage to be pumped to the club house to be disposed of. A huge undertaking so looking at other options and locations.
  • New membership
      • Christina has agreed to stay on for 1-2 days a week until they find a suitable replacement. Her main duties will be assisting members with enquiries and new membership administration.
      • Andrew Maclean has sent Lucy our induction kit.
  • Pennant / Syllabus
      • Men’s Senior Pennant starts in January, and we already have the syllabus for games for all categories. Our syllabus has been completed and sent to printers. Should receive around mid-January but we will get it loaded to the website soon.
  • Sponsorship
      • Spoke to Lucy about BMW coming on board but she advised they have committed to Commonwealth GC this coming year. As we have delayed our sponsorship for this coming year, I think another sub-committee later in 2024 to start organising for 2025.
  • Management update
      • John Sloan gave a bit of an update on progress with Master Plan from the Clayton Group. Things are progressing and John has seen a very early draft of proposed plan but hasn’t discussed in detail with the group.
      • John advised Mike is keen to have members’ meetings so he can outline the plan and discuss various aspects and the vision.
      • John is going to arrange a preview of the draft master plan mid to late January for the committee to get our feedback.
      • Stuart also asked if we could get something going to able to pre-order half-way coffees when coming up the 9th, 18th and 27th holes. Lucy said she would look into and advise.

In general, I think a positive meeting with plans progressing and still lots of discussion and actions to take place. Meetings early in 2024 will certainly put a lot on the agenda. Be on the lookout for:

  • Volunteer day at the club.
  • Invite to meet with Mike Clayton to review course changes.
  • New coffee ordering QR code.
  • 2024 syllabus to be loaded online and hard copy books available from mid to late January 2024

Have a safe, happy and healthy New Year

Andrew Jury

YMMA President