September Board Meeting - Matters Discussed
Finance & Membership
Results presented to the Board for the month of August showed overall good trading activity, with Hospitality sales some $18k ahead of budget. Unbudgeted purchase of turf to repair damage from flooding accounted for $135k. In September, we had 58 new members, including 41 new women members on the new 5-month program, where members joined the club for the period September to January, which was pleasing and contributed some $50k to revenue. Cash reserves remain solid at $4.1m.
Benchmarking
A Key Indicators Benchmark Report, prepared by industry specialist, Golf Business Advisory Service (GBAS), where Green Acre's key indicators are compared with a cohort of similar clubs, showed that we perform relatively well in most areas. Still, we need to focus on areas with significantly differing results. A Working Group has been established, with Treasurer Steve Poole, former Treasurer Mike Tamblyn and former Director Geoff Crouch, to review the report and report back to the Board.
Course Matters
Two new course staff members joined over the past weeks, bringing our course staff number to 10, which includes Peter, our horticulturist/gardener, and a contracted mechanic. The Board was advised that work to lift and repair sunken sprinkler heads had commenced and would continue without undue delay over the whole course until finalised.
The Captain gave an overview of the "course hole by hole walkaround" recently done with the architects and the Course Sub-Committee. The architects explained their views on potential changes and enhancements, including those related to traffic and water flow management and shading issues. He advised the expected next steps and that the intention was to present a plan at a member's information forum in December or January. He also confirmed that communications with members will continue to be done once we have key milestone dates and more information to share.
Projects
The General Manager gave an update on the status of the Clubhouse Rejuvenation. He advised that works, including painting, new carpet, new lighting and furniture, had, in the main, been finalised and ordered, and the expectation is that these works will be finalised by February next year. Of course, this will depend on the timely delivery of purchased items. A schedule of activity timeframes is being developed and will be shared with members shortly. Some disruption to member facilities is inevitable, and the schedule will show the what and when of the work activities. The critical disruptions relate to the carpet and painting.
He also advised that it was intended to have a member information forum before the end of the year and that easels would be set up in the various clubhouse areas with renders showing how those areas would look.
Sub-Committee Change
All Sub-Committees have been established after the AGM, and the new members to all Sub-Committees are acknowledged and thanked for volunteering in these important positions.
The former Member Services Sub-Committee has been re-developed and renamed to Marketing & Communications with a focus on those two streams of activities. You will see all of the sub-committees' roles and responsibilities in the by-laws section on the website.
