Redacted Minutes of 9 July 25 Meeting of the TMGC Management Committee

The meeting was opened at 1.20 pm on July 9 in the Committee Room, by the President in the Chair.

1.    Attendance. Members: Gerry Moloney, President; Kevin Arnold, Vice President; Ross Barnes, Treasurer; Simon Briggs, Captain; John de Jersey, Secretary; Katy Hewitt and Kristo Bradley. Guest: Andrew Revie, Club Professional. Apology, Graeme Andrews, Ross Hodgson.

2.    Ladies’ Sub-Committee Report.  Bank statement till June 16 shows a credit balance of $11,987.48.

3.    Veterans’ Sub-Committee. No report. Bank balance at May 31 of $5076.69.

4.    Professional’s Report. Andrew supported the plan to purchase an advertisement for the Club in the August Edition of Golf Digest, with a focus on 9-hole golf courses. This was agreed with Gerry to follow up with the copy.

5.    Report on Marketing. Our marketing/IT professional Bjorn Schmal was unable to attend and will be asked to the next meeting.

6.    Minutes of Previous Meeting. The draft minutes of the June meeting had been pre-circulated and were confirmed on the motion of Kristo, seconded Simon, carried unanimously.

7.    Business Arising.

·       Gerry will talk to Bjorn about future marketing and IT work for the Club.

·       Signage and Sponsorship. It was agreed that we need to keep signage up to date (Simon, Katy, Kevin and Ross to pursue.) Simon noted that Nick Cristiano, a plumber and club member, was interested in sponsoring the Club.

·       The Secretary to write to the principals of The Professionals Tamborine Mountain to invite them to attend the presentation to the Club Champions on Saturday, August 16,

·       Gerry will put out a reminder email re membership fees with the information that only financial members can play in Club competitions, including the Club Championships.

·       It was noted that a forklift attachment for our tractor had been purchased and would be delivered on the next day.

·       Ball washers are to be re-installed near the 7th and 8th tees.

·       The Meat Tray account profit stands at $535 for the year.

·       The new buggy sheds will be delivered on July 10 and will be erected as soon as Titan can make the arrangements. The final cost will be $60,000.

·       A Jacobsen greens mower has been ordered, with a cost of $61K and a delivery time of about three months.

·       A grant to the Gaming Grant of $80 000 has been submitted for the purchase of a Toro fairway mower. TMGC to contribute $61k if successful. The current mower needs to be kept operational until a new one is obtained. It may be necessary to purchase a good second hand one.

·       Ring mains around the remaining greens will be installed in September. Given experience with the first set of ring mains, it will be far preferable to use a trench digger to dig the trenches. Kevin will deal with the installation team.

8.    New Membership Approvals. The following applications for membership were received and all were approved.

Jason Triplett. Full.  333jat@gmail.com

Naomi Triplett. Full. 333nlt@gmail.com

Deb Mackay. Full.  authorsea1@gmail.com

Roger Frith. Lifestyle. rsfrith1@bigpond.com

Will Frith. Young Adult. willrf19@gmail.com

This brings the total membership to 314.

9.    Financial Report. The report had been pre-circulated by Ross and was adopted unanimously. The closing balance at June 30 in the working account was $61,178.46. There were 578 visiting players in June. Of the 314 members, 147 people have not paid their 2025-26 subscription. Gerry will send a reminder in the newsletter.

10.   Workplace Health and Safety. Simon raised the issue of problems around the 6th green and 7th fairway due to water coming from the road and houses above the green and the 7th tee. Water is coming down through an easement and being diverted by our newly installed drainage trench above the green. This saves the green but below the green and the gully on the 7th become very wet. Kevin will invite our Councillor, Amanda Hay to visit the troublesome area to see what the Council may be able to do to address the drainage situation. The committee approved the installation of a drop zone or zones to prevent damage to the koala tree plantation along the bottom of the first fairway. Concerning the same area, the committee agreed that the palm-like tree in the koala tree plantation should be removed. It was noted that it is a Mexican tree fern and that there are two other examples of this tree on the course. Mountain Trees will be asked to remove this tree.

11.    Competition Report.  Simon noted that he was reviewing the handicap ranges for A, B and C grades to rationalize numbers in each category. Gerry noted that Tom Sharp and Amanda Hay had accepted invitations to visit the Club on August 16 for presentations to the club champions. The Secretary is to write to the principals of The Professionals Tamborine Mountain to invite them to attend. Gerry will update Honour Board spreadsheet for the Clubhouse TV when all are completed.

12.    TMGC Strategic Action Plan. On hold.

13.   Correspondence. Acceptance letters from Amanda Hay and Tom Sharp to attend the Club Championship presentations on August 16. 

14.    See 14 above.

15.    Course Report. Ross H will organize a working bee for volunteers from the Vets but not till the wood piles have been dealt with. Kevin will pick up the effluent tank for the toilet to be installed near the greenkeeper’s shed. Graeme has restored the emergency water supply that we have agreed to provide for the cattle owned by Tom Duncan across Golf Course Road. This was disconnected during the irrigation work.

Kevin and Graeme agreed that the problem raised by Graeme about the greenkeeper’s budget could be solved by adding a contingency fund to the budget ($10000) to cover any major expenses, outside the scope of the normal operating budget. This was approved unanimously.

Graeme is going to put replacement grass (possibly buffalo grass which is readily available in turf form) on the worst affected tees and cut squares of bent grass from the practice green to patch the worst spots on the greens. He will trial the black plastic matting (TrueGrid) and will discuss the best use of the two rolls we purchased with the MC, e.g. on the bridge over the water hazard on the first hole.

Some low branches are dangerous and need to be trimmed. Overhanging high branches will need to be cut off by Jason of Mountain Trees. Kevin will go through Gerry’s list of improvements with Graeme in detail at the next Grounds Committee meeting.

Graeme will use soil when available to fill remaining irrigation trenches, rather than sand.

16.     General Business. 

·       Future parking needs should be considered in the master plan being developed by the MC.

·       TrueGrid. See above.

·       Stratco Shed. A tradesman is needed to erect it and Shane Macmillan was suggested.

·       Toilet and shower for Greenkeeper’s Shed. Tim Kerr will connect these free of charge except for fittings.

·       Car Park signage. Signs are needed for the Club Professional and Committee members, with three slots available in the top carpark and more in the lower car park.

·       Grant application possibilities will be considered at the next meeting.

17.  Closure and Next Meeting. The meeting was declared closed at 3.45 pm. The next meeting was set down for August 20 at 1 pm.

Minutes prepared by John de Jersey, Secretary, TMGC.