GMA Journal (Summer 2022)

Golf Management Australia would like to sincerely thank all our valued partners for their ongoing support of GMA and our members.

MAJOR PARTNER of Golf Management Australia

ELITE PARTNERS PREMIER

In recent weeks, we've witnessed the Fortinet PGA Championships followed by the ISPA Handa Australian Open to fire up the summer of golf. These events are a great showcase for the game of golf and we congratulate all involved including the PGA and Golf Australia, as well as the management and staff of Royal Queensland, Victoria and Kingston Heath golf clubs.

At the recent GMA AGM, Cathy Neagle stepped down after three years as chair and seven years on the GMA board. We thank Cathy sincerely for her terrific contribution to GMA. We also farewelled Peter Busch after five years with much appreciation and welcomed Brenden Ellam and Barb Kelly, who bring with them impressive industry experience.

It was truly an honour to be elected by the new GMA board as its chair and I look forward working with the board and our management team to progress our vision of developing professional leaders in golf and club management.

This vision was no better put into practice than through the year with our various professional development days, our three BMI programs delivered and our major event being the national conference with ASTMA held in June.

After four years of the BMI program, GMA will have its first ever Certified Club Management graduates, to be presented at the CMAA world conference in February. We congratulate the graduates. A report on this is contained in the journal.

The BMI program is the most focussed golf and club management course worldwide for management staff working in the industry. We encourage all members, whether they are a GM with 20 years’ experience, or are in the middle ranks of management, to undertake the BMI courses GMA has on offer. Just ask any of the 109 attendees who have

completed at least one BMI module. Summarising the year in a few words isn’t easy but many of us would agree it’s been full of challenges and a fair bit of pressure on the shoulders of GMA members. The heavy rains and staff shortages have meant a stop/start year for many, even with Covid impacts largely out of the way. The rains have washed away a lot of rounds as shown in a report in this edition. Floods wiping out course infrastructure and equipment has led to significant insurance claims. With the help of Victor Insurance, we’re working on this issue with Golf Australia to do whatever is possible to mitigate risk and improve the sustainability of golf insurance.

Despite the rains, we see lots of indications that the Covid golf boom is continuing, aided by shifts in working from home and the re-engagement with outdoor activities in place. Under the Australian Golf Strategy, the philosophy of “All golf is golf” supports the continual expansion of alternative formats of the game to meet different markets. Part of the challenge for all in the industry at large is to retain the demand for golf rounds played, particularly in the under 35s. There is a lot of work to continue under the strategy and GMA will play a role in supporting its implementation.

Finally, I’d like to say a big thanks to GMA’s corporate partners, led by our major partner, Schweppes/Asahi Lifestyle Beverages. Your support is greatly appreciated in allowing GMA to deliver its program of activities. I thank my fellow board members and the executives of each state for your contribution in 2022, our dedicated management team lead by our CEO, Paul Vardy, which includes Rod, David, Mike, Jodie and Courtney. Finally, I thank all of you, our members, and wish you all a nice Christmas break and a successful 2023.

Golf Management Australia (GMA) is a national body representing the golf club management industry with a vision of developing professional leaders in golf and club management in Australia.

Golf Management Australia Ltd. PO Box 859 CROYDON VIC 3136 www.golfmanagement.com.au

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Aaron Muirhead (Chair) Oxley GC, QLD

Kieran Semple (Deputy Chair) The Coast GC, NSW

Gavin Burt Lake Karrinyup CC, WA

Brenden Ellam Ryde-Parramatta GC, NSW

Barbara Kelly Chirnside Park CC, VIC

Mathew Loughnane Kew GC, VIC

Mark Tan Royal Adelaide GC, SA

GMA TEAM

Paul Vardy Chief Executive Officer

Courtney Flores NSW Ops. Manager, Nat. Programs

Mike Orloff QLD Ops. Manager

Rod Haines VIC Ops. Manager, Nat. Finance

Jodie Alaban WA Ops. Manager

David Brand SA Ops. Manager, Nat. Media & Comms.

Contents may not be reproduced without written permission.

Views expressed in editorial contributions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this publication and it’s management.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & MANAGEMENT

Developing professional leaders in golf and club management • www.golfmanagement.com.au

BRENDEN ELLAM Director

BARBARA KELLY Director

MATHEW LOUGHNANE Director

AARON MUIRHEAD Chair

PAUL VARDY CEO MARK TAN Director

GAVIN BURT Director KIERAN SEMPLE Deputy Chair

Golf Management Australia

AARON MUIRHEAD

From the CEO

PAUL VARDY

Well that’s 2022 done and dusted and, it must be said, it was one hell of a ride. We crammed in a lot and yet there remains so many opportunities to get more done.

It’s not a cliché to say things in clubs are changing at a rapid clip. Looking across to the box on my right we see recent industry movements. These movements are heavily populated with each edition of the GMA Journal. We wish everyone well for their change in scene and thank those who have been long term GMA members, but, who are exiting stage left to smell the roses and prune the petunias.

There are various reasons for the changes but it’s always unsettling to hear individual stories of talented people choosing a different career due to overwhelming pressure placed on management and staff. A recent article from Rohan Clarke in Australian Golf Digest highlighted the issue for superintendents of unrealistic expectations and micromanaging by committees. These issues and more were touched on at the GMA/ASTMA conference in June but much more work is required to shine a light on some of the systemic HR issues in the industry.

Still, the industry is big and robust and packed with great people producing great outcomes. In the course of a year, I am fortunate to have thousands of conversations with GMA members, key industry people, corporate partners and others who are passionate about working in and around this wonderful sport.

Not only does GMA have a modern day feeling of fraternity built on years of connections, there is an incredible corporate knowledge about the association that is alive and well. I marvel that I have access to detailed information on every one of the past fifteen years thanks to an unbroken line of past presidents and executive officersinformation well beyond a set of minutes, and only a phone call away. As keeper of the keys, I consider this knowledge to be very important.

As Aaron mentioned, we farewelled Cathy Neagle and Peter Busch with our appreciation at our recent AGM. We welcome Barb and Brenden and are excited about going into 2023. Anyone who knows Aaron will know the energy he brings to the table and I very much look forward to rolling our sleeves up and working closely together.

A quick couple of thank yous from me. The board for their wisdom, good cheer and support, our wonderful small team of state operations managers with its combined 150 years of golf management experience, to you, the members, including state executives, for making the association the wonderful collective that it is and to our corporate partners that fuel the car to take us on the journey to develop professional leaders in golf and club management. Thank you all.

We wish you all a well-earned rest over Christmas to come back fully charged for whatever is coming in 2023.

RECENT INDUSTRY MOVEMENTS

Richard Tullberg has departed Woodlands with Huntingdale operations manager, Cameron Tortolano, recently appointed as new GM.

Portsea has promoted John Berburgs to GM, replacing Adam Hosie who has moved to the Whitsundays. Alfy Ancayan joins Portsea from Latrobe, as operations manager. Latrobe also loses Jessica Yong, who joins Royal Melbourne's F&B management team whilst head professional, Tony Craswell, has been appointed manager of facilities and places to play at Golf Australia.

Jake Solomon has been appointed GM at Eastwood, replacing Neil Mitchell, who has retired after 20 years in the job. Also retiring is Wayne Lucas after 40odd years in the industry, including 22+ years as GM at Eagle Ridge.

Cheltenham's Callum McCarthy has recently been appointed assistant manager at Commonwealth.

Vijay Kumar has departed Kew to pursue a family restaurant business.

Mount Osmond's new GM, Damian Wrigley, commenced in early December after arriving from South Africa, replacing interim GM, Andrew Gay

New GMANSW chair, Brenden Ellam, has announced he's leaving Ryde Parramatta and moving to Castle Hill.

Michelle Vernon is leaving Marrickville and the industry to work in eco-tourism.

Anthony Dignan has commenced as GM at Wyong, replacing David Lulham who recently relocated to Nelson Bay.

After short breaks from the industry, GMAWA welcomes back Deborah Hopje to Mt Lawley as venue manager and Matthew Criss who has been appointed Geraldton GM, replacing the retiring Sue Douglas. Other WA movements include Melissa Castaldi from Nedlands GM to golf ops manager at Royal Fremantle, Kristie Jones to Royal Perth from The Vines, and Capel GM, Paul Devaney moving to Sanctuary Golf Resort.

NEW GMA MEMBERS

New South Wales

Michelle Carroll (Orange); Renee Rooke* (Orange); Nicole James* (Coolangatta/Tweed); Queensland Brent Hamlin* (Oxley); South Australia

Brayden Wauchope (The Vines); Damian Wrigley (Mount Osmond); Victoria/Tasmania

Tony Craswell* (Latrobe); John Burbergs (Portsea); James Spencer* (Cranbourne); Luke Young* (Northern); Western Australia Alastair Knight (Capel);

* Provisional members

Incoming GMA chair, Aaron Muirhead, thanking outgoing chair, Cathy Neagle.

WE WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

FROM THE TEAM AT ASAHI LIFESTYLE BEVERAGES

Merry Christmas from NSW

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth ... and a year without COVID, fires, floods, rain, drought, or any other disaster set to turn our clubs upside down. Hopefully, and touch wood, the worst is now behind us.

All managers have been through a tough stretch over the last few years. Stress levels have reached new levels, managers are feeling burnt out, and we have even lost a few good managers from the industry. Despite this, we have all battled and leaned on each other to get through. I would personally like to thank all GMA members for openly sharing and supporting each other through these times. It makes me proud to be able to represent you and the association as your chair.

We are currently working through our calendar for 2023. Taking centre stage next year will be the 2023 mini-conference scheduled for around early May. Those attending in 2021 would recall the success of that event, including the fantastic educational content and stories from our speakers, namely futurist, Michael McQueen, Ben Crowe (Nike) and James Sutherland (GA). We will look to build upon the success of that conference, taking what we learnt and ensuring we apply it to our planning. We encourage everyone to place a “Save-the-Date” in their diaries for this event once it has been confirmed.

During the year we will also be hosting professional development days and our networking golf events. One highlight is the re-launch of the opening event at Mollymook. We welcome all members and their partners to attend this event and

kickstart the new season together. The weekend is scheduled for Friday, 17th February 2023. Barry West has been a staunch supporter of GMA, and with other Mollymook officials, he regularly attends GMA events. I am encouraging all GMA members to repay Barry’s support by travelling to Mollymook this time. Keep your eye out for more information.

I would like to congratulate our award recipients for 2022: Kate Shanks (NSW GC) and Lauren Sheils (Elanora CC) - Women In Golf Management Scholarship; and to Kirrilly Hopkinson (Elanora CC) - Future Leaders Scholarship (all pictured above).

On behalf of the board, that being Kieran Semple, Richard Hogg, Cameron Harvey, Daniel Constable, Tony Rodgers and myself, I would like to wish every member, their families and clubs a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

BRENDEN ELLAM • Chair, GMANSW

GMA NEWS • NEW SOUTH WALES

MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT & DEVELOPMENT

Access to member only tools and resources, member surveys and salary benchmarking, webinars and GMA Connect. GMA Connect is an amazing member only discussion thread allowing you to stay updated on issues and questions raised by managers for managers. Want to know from your peers about online voting, hole signage, refund policies, lifestyle memberships, house accounts, golf simulators, senior memberships and dozens of other topics? Become a member.

HEALTH, WELLBEING & BENEFITS

Connecting and networking with colleagues at golf days and social events is perhaps the biggest benefit of membership. GMA Member Directory allows you to know who’s running what clubs and how to connect with them. GMA’s Member Assistance Program offers free phone support for you, your immediate family and your staff. Members also have access to phone advice from GMA’s Honorary Solicitor on issues related to your personal circumstances such as employment issues.

STAKEHOLDER RELATIONSHIPS & INDUSTRY ADVOCACY

GMA advocates for the betterment of golf club management across the broader industry and golfing landscape. GMA contributes to industry initiatives such as Vision 2025, MyGolf and sits on the Australian Golf Industry Council where research is developed for the industry. GMA maintains close relationships with peak golf bodies, and has a range of corporate partners who are integral to the funding of GMA services..

GMA NSW Closing Day at The Coast

GMA NSW held their closing event for 2022 overlooking the ocean cliffs at The Coast GC, and all reports reveal that everyone had a great day out!

The day allowed GMA members to bring along staff and guests to play in the event and to have an enjoyable outing with friends and colleagues. GMA members played for the coveted JB Ferrier Cup, which represents the championship trophy for the year. With just over 20 clubs represented on the day, and deep blue skies above, the scoring was likely to be competitive across the field.

The JB Ferrier Cup is named after John Bennett Ferrier (also known as Ben), who was the secretary manager of Manly Golf Club in the 1920s (1926). He is also the father of Australian golfing legend Jim Ferrier (USPGA Championship 1947 & 18 titles).

The “JB Ferrier Cup” was first played for in 1950 and won by DJ Robertson from NSW GC. It was originally a stroke play event but things have softened and is now played as a Stableford event. Shaun Smith from Beverley Park GC took out the championship, and cup, with an impressive 42 points off a handicap of four. Shaun also captained his group to a win in the team Stableford event.

The dinner presentations also saw a few other achievements celebrated, making it a memorable event for everyone.

Cathy Neagle (Elanora GC) recently stepped down from the GMA national and NSW boards and was now able to make a rare appearance on the golf course - apprently she enjoyed every shot! Cathy was presented with a bouquet of flowers in appreciation for her services from the new GMA NSW chair, Brenden Ellam.

The GMA NSW scholarships were also awarded with Kate Shanks (NSW GC) and Lauren Shiels (Elanora CC) both

receiving the Women’s Management Scholarship. Kirrilly Hopkins (Elanora CC) was also awarded the Future Leader Scholarship. All the women participated in the day and we congratulate them on their awards.

To set the mood before the golf presentations, local Sydney and award winning comedian, Sean Woodland, entertained the gathering with some of his humurous anectdotes, which set the tone for an enjoyable evening.

Special thanks goes to Kieran Semple and the board and staff of The Coast GC for providing an excellent venue, which was well catered across the day. These days don’t happen without the continued support from our GMA partners, and our thanks go to Schweppes, Lion and De Bortoli Wines for keeping everyone refreshed across the day, and to TaylorMade for the prizes. Special mentions to Elly (MiClub) and Courtney (GMA NSW) for their support in administering the timesheets and competition on the day.

We take this opprtunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe New Year. See you all in 2023!

CAMERON HARVEY • GMANSW Board

Top: Cathy Neagle being presented with a bouquet of flowers by Brenden Ellam Above: JB Ferrier Cup being presented to Beverly Park GC's Shaun Smith Below: Beverly Park GC took out the team Stableford event

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2022 Victorian Golf Industry Awards

Congratulations to Barb Kelly for being inducted into the Victorian Golf Hall of Fame at the golf industry awards held in October.

Although Barb does not usually do any public speaking, she spoke beautifully in accepting the award, thanking the Hall of Fame committee for the award, Chirnside Park Country Club, and everyone who has supported her through her career.

Congratulations also to Josh Hall and Carly Jehu from Lonsdale Links. Josh was the recipient of the GMV Excellence in Management award and Carly received the GMV Employee of the Year award.

Congratulations for all the hard work and dedication at Chirnside Park Country Club and Lonsdale Links.

Pictured above: Barb Kelly (left), Josh Hall (centre), Carly Jehu (right)

GMV Women's Management Scholarship 2023

We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Women’s Management Scholarship program for 2023.

GMV are offering two scholarships. The program will provide women with a greater opportunity to build their club management skills, and networks, that will hopefully lead to more women taking on senior positions in golf management, particularly general manager roles. The program will run in the 2023 calendar year.

Two successful applicants will receive up to $4,000 worth of education and networking opportunities to be agreed with the GMA Vic Operations Manager. Expressions of interest for the program will close on 31st December.

For further information, please contact Rod Haines (VIC Operations Managerrod.haines@golfmanagement.com.au

ROD HAINES • VIC Operations Manager

South Lakes wins Schweppes Trophy

DAVID BRAND • SA Operations Manager

South Lakes GC has taken out this year's Schweppes Trophy at the SA GMs & Pros Golf Day played at The Stirling GC in October.

A small contingent of GMASA members and corporate partners took the opportunity to contest the event on a beautiful day at the picturesque Adelaide Hills course, playing in memory of former club GM, Paul Durham, who passed away earlier this year.

Under the event conditions, only full members of GMASA are eligible to win the Schweppes Trophy, and it was the South Lakes pairing of Chris Bailey (GM) and Steve Capon who claimed the trophy with a team total of 39 points (pictured top right).

Fittingly, it was Paul Durham's son, Fraser, only just recently joined as a GMASA Provisional member, who took out top honours on the day around his home track, partnering with event sponsor, Schweppes' Darryn Conway, with a team total of 39 points (pictured bottom right).

A special thanks goes to Fraser, and The Stirling's President, Andy Moritz, for hosting the group on the day and their generous spread of delightful pizzas, and to Darryn and his team at Schweppes for their ongoing support of GMASA.

WA "down south" members meet

JODIE ALABAN • WA Operations Manager

GMA members from WA's “down south” region got together in October to discuss the issues facing each club.

In attendance were GMA members from Busselton, Capel, Bunbury, Dunsborough Lakes and Margaret River golf clubs, along with several staff and committee members.

General manger from Mandurah CC and GMA WA executive committee member, Grant Shortland-Jones, joined

in on the discussions and Andrew Naylor from MiClub made the threehour journey down to update those present on the latest trends. Thanks to Andrew and MiClub for their continued support of GMA.

Following the success of the two recent workshops this group has held in the past 12 months, the “WA South West Chapter Meetings” will now be formally scheduled in the WA calendar of events.

COURTNEY FLORES APPOINTED GMA PROGRAM MANAGER

We’re delighted to advise that Courtney Flores, GMA’s NSW operations manager, will add to her role, GMA program manager.

This role will assist GMA in overseeing the coordination of our professional development and health and wellbeing events in each state.

Courtney has an extensive background including senior roles with Gosford GC and Coffs Harbour GC, and golf tournament events with IMG, in addition to other management and administration roles.

Congratulations Courtney.

Tell us what you think about golf and the golf management issues that are on your mind.

GMA Connect was launched earlier this year and since then, we have seen new member threads appear every few days.

An ideal thread gives some context to a topic and then asks a question to get other’s perspectives or assistance. There’s so many topics that GMA members might like to raise and all members are invited to comment on threads with the normal decorum expected of a chat between managers.

With more contributions, the more valuable gold nuggets are shared, ideas are formed or problems solved. We may even start rewarding people with prizes soon for some of the great content.

And we regularly run polls on the site’s home page that we encourage you to contribute towards.

GMA members can go to connect.golfmanagement.com.au and use your GMA sign-in and password to join in the conversations.

Awards spread across the sunshine state

Winners at the QLD Golf Industry Awards spread far and wide from Goondiwindi in the south west, Tieri in central Queensland, as well as to numerous individuals and facilities in the metro area.

Staged at The Star Gold Coast, almost 400 guests were on hand to celebrate a successful year of golf, as GMA, the PGA, Golf Australia and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Queensland gathered together to celebrate the achievements of the industry as a whole.

In one of the most hotly contested awards of the night, Scott Wagstaff won the GMAQ Distinguished Manager award for his proactive approach to securing the future of Carbrook GC as well as managing the regular flooding at his facility.

“I may be steering the ship (but) it takes a lot of dedication of many people to achieve what we have over the past few years and I thank my team who can certainly share this award with me,” said Wagstaff.

Burleigh GC was the winner of what many refer to as the main award of the night taking out the GMAQ Golf Club of the Year award.

Burleigh GM, Ian Cottle, was clearly proud of the achievement.

“We have been through a lot over the past few years, not only the pandemic (but) also the development adjacent to our course and the unprecedented amount of play on our course,” said Cottle.

“We have laid strong foundations as a club to ensure we can continue the success we have been experiencing and this award validates the hard work that it has taken to achieve it.”

General manager of The Club at Parkwood Village, Luke Altschwager,

won the PGA QLD Management Professional of the Year award for the second consecutive year.

The PGA QLD Club Professional of the Year went to Brisbane GC director of golf, Joe Janison, due recognition for his outstanding and ongoing contribution to the club and members.

Kelvin Nicholson won the Superintendent Achievement award for his efforts in continuing to regenerate Palmer Coolum to it’s former condition, whilst the Virginia and Tieri pro-ams each won their very first awards in their respective Metropolitan and Regional Tournament of the Year categories. Redcliffe GC took out the top tournament honours with their $65,000 two-day tournament winning the coverted PGA Tournament of the Year award.

Keperra Country Golf Club took out the award for Junior Golf Program of the Year.

Grant Field (PGA QLD Coach of the Year - High Performance) and John Collins (PGA QLD Coach of the Year - Game Development) each took out their respective PGA awards back-toback, winning in 2021 and now in 2022.

One of the most heartfelt moments of the evening was the recognition given to stalwart of the golf industry, Peter Castrisos, who received the Services to Golf award. Castrisos who, in addition to being on the boards of Golf Australia, Golf Queensland and Brisbane GC for a total of more than 20 years, has also played a big part in the resurgence of the QLD Open. His love

Above: Burleigh Golf Club GM, Ian Cottle, accepts the GMAQ Club of the Year award.

Below: Scott Wagstaff was presented the GMAQ Distinguished Manager award.

for the rules of golf has also seen him officiate on almost every tour in the world and it was clear the recognition was an emotional one.

“We don’t volunteer and assist our industry for any accolades though to have received it in this in front of this amount of people is extremely humbling and a moment I will never forget,” said Castrisos.

“The game of golf has given me a lot and I hope to have repaid it back as much as I could have.”

A full list of QLD Golf Industry award winners is available here.

GMA NEWS • BMI PROGRAM

On a mission to CCM

“This is not going to be an easy week for you.” These were the opening words of Dr Jason Koenigsfeld, Club Management Association of America’s Sr. Vice President of Professional Development, in November, at the outset of the Business Management Institute (BMI) Review Week to then sit the Certified Club Manager exam.

Content from the BMI weeks studied over four years would need to be recalled from the recesses of our brains. The fun memory bits, like the disco bus to the Hunter Valley only weeks earlier, were of little use to us now. The little Dorothy inside of us all died, “Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.” Instead, we embarked on heavy theory and practice delivered via no less than 900 slides.

We’d heard the stats. If one doesn’t complete the review week you have around a one in three chance of passing the exam to get your CCM designation. We’d heard too that you don’t go into review week cold, instead you read up on things - lots of things. This includes a review of past BMI presenter slides and notes and a systematic read over a series of months of all 17 chapters of the Contemporary Club Management textbook - 727 pages in total.

Awaiting us for the week were four speakers. Their task: delivering the information and explaining it until it’s understood and hopefully retained. Our job was to turn up fresh to concentrate all day, avoiding late nights in between whilst somehow factoring in some bedtime review reading - aka falling asleep with the light on.

Perched up in the boardroom at The Australian GC was the perfect place to spend our six days. If you need a micro-break from the slides, you can

always marvel out the window at the magnificent golf course or tilt your eyes to the ski and count the planes straightening up for landing.

Joining Jason and the students on the Tuesday was Richard Commerford who has a way of making financial management truly engaging. Even with his masterful delivery, eventually there was enough accumulated depreciation of our concentration that we had to find a way to improve our own liquidity (with beer). What better place to go than join the dinner of a golf day sponsored by a brewer. At The Coast GC down the road, GMANSW was holding its Lion Managers & Staff Day and so we headed down there to join in the fun.

The CCM Exam

Day six was exam day; the day that naturally followed cram night.

Keeping up with its reputation, it was a solid exam of 400 questions taking up to 8 hours of which a break could be taken. Most of us needed the bulk of the exam time allocated. Whilst we’d all shared knowledge, interpretations

professional leaders in golf and club management

PAUL VARDY • GMA Chief Executive Officer

Going for the trophy (l-r): Jason Koenigsfeld (CMAA facilitator), Robert Vincekovic (Glenelg GC), Sam Forsyth (Royal Melbourne GC), Andrew Laplain (Cumberland CGC), Paul Vardy (GMA), Barry West (Mollymook GC) and Markus Eschmann (The Australian GC).

BMI PROGRAM

and experiences all week, exam day saw each sit the exam on individual laptops in different topic sections and with slight variations on the questions which are generated from a pool.

The result? Whilst we didn’t all quite reach the required 70% pass rate (with each section also needing a minimum 50% to pass), it was a close run thing. Yet the dream is not dead. There’s a chance for those who didn’t pass to review and re-sit.

Within a matter of days, we’re hoping to have all six get through so all can attend the 2023 Orlando CMAA World Conference in February where the official CCM designation will be recognised.

Appreciation

A big thanks to Jason Koenigsfeld for flying out to conduct the week. A week earlier he’d been in the Canary Islands and Spain yet acclimatised and delivered an amazing amount of material to the small group. Thanks to Richard Commerford (Financial

Management), Ian Fullagar (Legal, Compliance and Regulation) and Chris Davies from Remuera GC (Food & Beverage) for excellent preparation and presentation delivery.

We also appreciate the fantastic hospitality of The Australian GC and in particular, its GM, Steven Shearer, and our own BMI host, Markus Eschmann, who managed all the one percenters. We were very grateful to be there.

Future BMI Review Weeks and CCM Exams

With 109 participants in the BMI system, there is likely to be a continual stream of CCMs into the future as people complete the full program. To sit the exam, one has to meet a criteria set by CMAA which includes a range of club and related experience, education, association activity credits and four core BMI weeks of study that all adds up to 300 points.

Whether you choose one BMI module or go all the way, the BMI program is designed to be practical and relevant

for existing club general managers and those aspiring to be one. In 2023, we’ll be encouraging more GMA members, particularly general managers, to undertake a BMI week. We’ll have bursaries available and continue to support women in club management to gain the benefits of the program.

In 2023 we aim to have BMI Leadership Principles in May and BMI GM/CEO in July.

For more information on BMI in 2023, click here to visit the BMI page on the GMA website.

GMA NEWS • BMI PROGRAM

BMI Food & Beverage Management hits Sydney and the Hunter Valley

We don’t all come from a formal culinary background yet a sound knowledge of this important member amenity, and the business mechanics behind it, is important for any club general manager’s toolkit. Opening our minds to ask the right questions and drilling down into key areas we need to know is what BMI Food & Beverage Management is all about.

BMI Food and Beverage Management was held in October. Spending a week with enthusiastic BMI participants from clubs around Australia, in the presence of food and beverage training experts, passionate about their craft, was a rare treat.

Doing all this on a TAFE’s Ryde and Ultimo campuses, with seemingly endless hospitality training rooms and equipment, gave us an insight

into the large training machinery for a vital sector of our economy.

TAFE hospitality departments are the engine room in developing the next generation of chefs, service staff, baristas, wine makers and restaurateurs.

The week emerged for participants in the areas of catering operations, service standards, F&B purchasing and costing, service management, cost control, waste control, security of stock, procurement, menu planning,

PAUL VARDY • GMA Chief Executive Officer

NSW TAFE’s Linda Larcan, a former restaurateur, takes the group through service standards.

Ramping up their skills (l-r): Craig Skimming (13th Beach GL), Ruchi Hewagallage (Woodlands GC), Dan Carty (13th Beach GL), Scott McCaw (The Grange GC), Barry West (Mollymook GC), Allan Forsdick (Future Food), Andy Curtis (Green Acres GC), Paul Vardy (GMA), Bec Rawlins (Marimion Angling & Aquatic Club), Michael Williams (NSW GC), Craig Ridge (Lake Karrinyup CC), Nick Whitehouse (TAFE NSW), Markus Eschmann (The Australian GC), Murray Paul (Lakelands CC), John Stamp - GA/GMA (absent on phone calls).

coffee making, cocktail making, legislation, cold room procedures, technology, hospitality trends and hospitality financial management and club benchmarking. We even had a couple of hours on visual merchandising, so look out pro shops, here we come!

The group came from a variety of roles in clubs and, for the first time, we had a person from a non-golf club. In future, we would encourage more people from other types of clubs as the learning material is most relevant.

There were 101 small tips, or hospitality life hacks, along the way to reveal issues not commonly understood. What’s the best way to deal with a customer who wants an extra hot flat white?

Standing at the espresso machine, Linda Larcan, TAFE NSW’s coffee masterclass presenter, grabbed the cup flipped it over and poured boiling water over the handle for five seconds. “It’ll taste like hot coffee now.”

“But what does it all mean Basil?”, a famous quote from Austin Powers. The week started with hospitality in a bit

of club context. Where does food and beverage sit in the overall picture? Jeff Blunden had the stats, key metrics and answers on its contribution to total available cash.

In board rooms we often fend off common misconceptions that clubs can trade their way out of financial problems with more food and beverage. Statistics in clubs worldwide show that the higher the club goes up in the exclusivity rankings (facilities & amenities), the more that food and beverage becomes a pure amenity, not a profit centre. Yet, at the mid and smaller price range of clubs, there are plenty of clubs that make high food and beverage turnover an important part of their business by opening up to more people and getting the benefits of scale. Yet despite where it fits, food and beverage remains one of the most debated and critiqued areas of club operations.

Never far from the discussion on club food and beverage is menu engineering - developed by Professor Donald Smith of Westin Hotels to rate menu items for their profitability and popularity to influence decisions about what to do with each dish. There are items on menus that consistently fly out the kitchen door with a nice little profit margin, others are your staples and high profit but low popularity.

Applying this matrix to a member’s club is an interesting exercise as members have such a diversity of tastes. Opening up a dining room each Tuesday for lunches of open smoked salmon sandwiches is where profit makes way for member amenity.

The cold hard facts. Everything you need to know about cellar operations, air compressor operated beer pumps to reduce beer wastage, reduced gas consumption, through to issues keeping everyone safe with ventilation. Emmanuel helped to write the safety standard (AS 5034) on installation and use of inert gases for beverage dispensing. At 55 pages, we’re glad Emmanuel gave us the summary version!

Our bus driver on the trip to the Hunter Valley, Dmitriy, must have automatically switched into Hen’s Night mode. We were quickly confronted with disco lights and music.

Some of us were more natural baristas than others. I’d buy a coffee off Andy Curtis.

Emmanuel Gabriel takes us through how to make the most popular cocktails. And yes, we put them to the taste test

Road to the Hunter

The highlight of the week was Wednesday’s tour north to the lush and green Hunter Valley via a tunnel out of Sydney, which at 9km, seemed to go for ever. Our bus driver, Dmitriy, must have automatically switched into Hen’s Night mode. We were quickly confronted with disco lights and music.

A change of scene arriving at De Bortoli. We were greeted by state manager, Warwick Brook, who had prepared a tour of Gundog Estate to see how wine is made from vineyard to bottle.

What followed was a delectable lunch of five courses where Warwick took us though a range of De Bortoli wines with discussions on what varietals

match what meals.

The day on the road also included a quick visit to Hunter Distillery where we tasted some spirits before heading home on the disco bus, but not before a quick visit to Harrington’s Irish Pub to remind ourselves of what beer tasted like.

With the week’s study over, it was time for the exam. But, not before a delightful three course lunch was presented by TAFE NSW cookery students. Our BMI has never referred to body mass index, but by now we were starting to draw the connection.

Thanks to all our wonderful speakers - Jeff Blunden (GBAS), Allan Forsdick (Future Food), Nick Whitehouse (TAFE NSW), Will Tuckfield (TAFE NSW), Joe

Turnaturi (TAFE NSW), Emmanuel Gabriel (TAFE NSW), Linda Larcan (TAFE NSW), Nichola Stewart (TAFE NSW), Warwick Brook (Debortoli), plus thanks to TAFE NSW’s management who allowed us to utilise their facilities and speakers. This includes Karen Doyle (Head of Skills Team - Tourism & Experience Services), Fiona McLean (Team Leader - Hospitality Sydney Region) and Adam Worrell (Account Manager).

Thanks also to the amazing group of participants.

We were greeted at De Bortoli by Warwick Brook (NSW/ACT state manager) who had prepared a tour of Gundog Estate to see how wine is made from vineyard to bottle.

Warwick Brook took us through an amazing lunch complimented by Bob the chef and his barbeque skills.

IN FOCUS

BARBARA KELLY: IN HER OWN WORDS

Continuing our series of “In Focus” profiles of GMA members, GMA Journal special contributor, Karen Harding, spoke with Chirnside Park CC general manager, Barbara Kelly, to discuss her experiences within the golf management industry over an extensive and successful career spanning nearly 35 years.

What year and in what capacity did you first start at Chirnside Park Country Club before later being appointed General Manager?

BK: I started in 1990 as an admin assistant to the previous manager. I had done a tiny bit of hospitality but not a lot. I’d worked most of my married life before I had children for McEwans and they were big on accounting and balancing, so when I got here the manager gave me the responsibility of putting some policies in place to get our procedures working properly in the bar. I started looking after that side of the hospitality as well as rostering. It was just the manager and the person in the office, so you did a bit of everything. I was officially appointed General Manager in 1995.

What was the size of the membership then compared to now?

BARBARA KELLY GENERAL MANAGER CHIRNSIDE PARK CC

BK: The club was a lot smaller back then. In 1995 we had 290 golfers, about 150 bowlers, 120 tennis players and about 500 social members. We now have around 850 golfers, for bowls and tennis we have about half as many as we had back then, but we have over 5000 social members.

Developing professional leaders in golf and club management

In days gone by, the traditional route was that a person started in a junior position and then worked their way up the ranks. It is more common nowadays to see people get a qualification - degree or diplomaand then enter at middle management. Do you feel that your route, working your way up, informed you more because you now have a better handle on all the different areas of the club?

BK: Yes. I think that when you live through it, it’s different to coming into it. When I started here, the club was tiny, the bar opened at 4pm and we still had the odd volunteer bar staff. Since I’ve started, the club has added gaming in 1993, we did renovations in 1997 when we built a 150-seat bistro/function room, a new kitchen and new

locker rooms. In 2012 we sold the original course and built Gardiners Run just five minutes away.

So, yes, growing with the club for me has been good…I knew nothing about golf, tennis or bowls and I was fortunate I had great Captains and Boards over the years that taught me what I needed to know to get through. So, the whole journey has been a learning experience.

Have you had mentors along the way?

BK: I’ve spent a lot of time chatting with John Stamp about things and through the construction of the Gardiners Run golf course, Paul Ryan and Phil Reeves were a constant source of knowledge and help (I had no idea about how to build a golf course!).

In 2012, Barb oversaw the sale of the original golf course at Chirnside Park and construction of the new Gardiners Run course located five minutes away.

There’s been lots of managers along the way that I’ve contacted and built relationships with, so it’s hard to say there was just one person because there’s been a lot of people I’ve called on to help along the way.

In your time at Chirnside Park CC, you’ve developed a reputation as an innovative thinker. Do you think that was something inherent in you, that you had imagination and foresight, or do you think it was a response to the needs of the community at that time?

BK: I think probably a bit of both. I like to think about different ways to do things and how to do things better. The staff are really good, we talk about everything. An idea could come from anywhere. Also, when I see something working elsewhere, I think about how that could work here.

Speaking of the staff, what are the changes and challenges in staffing now compared to your early days?

BK: It’s hard to find workers today. When I started here, we probably had a dozen employed between ground and house staff. We would have around 90 now and we are not fully staffed.

Since Covid we’ve had a big pool of casuals, but these days you need more people to cover the hours as a lot don’t want to do as many shifts as they did before. So, we’re probably short a dozen staff.

Thankfully I’ve got a great team in admin and when push comes to shove, they stay back and help with bistro, bar and function shifts. But I don’t think I’m alone in having staffing issues; every venue is feeling the pain.

Traditionally, you get busier from October into November and then December and you

think, we just have to get to Christmas and we’re done with needing so many staff. But there’s no light at the end of this staffing shortage tunnel. It’s not like we can say, oh, June next year we’ll be able to get staff again. I think I’ve probably spent more time worrying about having enough staff in the last year than I ever have before.

Unlike some of the big metropolitan clubs which can draw their members from all over the place, in regional areas and outer metropolitan area the local community is a big part of your membership, isn’t it. Is part of what you’re offering specifically aimed at the demographic that surrounds you and do you draw ideas from them as well?

BK: Yes, the local community is a big part. And we think it’s really important to keep engaged with that community.

I’m not sure if we draw ideas from them but when we’re making change, we’re constantly thinking about how the various demographics will react to that.

One of the things of which we’re most proud is that we’ve been able to build this beautiful facility for the community and still offer them pricing that they had before; we haven’t built something that the locals then can’t afford.

Each time there was a lockdown during the pandemic, we would flip our venue from eating-in to take-away, and we could do this within two hours. We would just move our POS into admin, we’d have a call centre for

orders, and we would have up to two dozen staff on every night, and that not only kept us engaged with the community, it kept our staff engaged as well. I think the ones that worked together through Covid now have a different bond to what they had before, as a result of working together in a different way.

Given that you view this facility as being a community, I imagine you see GMA as something of a community as well?

BK: Absolutely. The relationships that we build with other managers through GMA are lifelong friendships. Even when they stop managing a golf club, we try to stay in touch with them and catch up for coffee or lunch. We’re a very close and positive group. When managers get together, we talk about the various issues we are facing and we learn from one another how to solve some of them. Often if you talk to someone outside the industry, they don’t quite get it. There’s a lot of balls we have to keep in the air, looking after staff, members, committees and the list goes on, it’s everything to do with a sporting and hospitality business: we’re big businesses. In other businesses this size they have a HR manager, someone looking after OH&S, and so on whereas the GM is the person that everyone is coming to, saying ‘how do I deal with this’.

You’re the ringmaster of the circus, aren’t you!

BK: Yes, it can be a bit like a circus at times!

Developing professional leaders in golf and club management

The decision to sell off the land that was the original golf course and build a new course was strategically brilliant as well as financially savvy. Do you consider this, of all the things you’ve done over your 30 years, to be your biggest success?

BK: I think so.

And was it also your biggest stress?

BK: (laughs). It took 10 years to get that land re-zoned from special use to residential with some setbacks along the way, so it was stressful but at the same time, I think I was really determined, I wasn’t going to be beaten. I just kept at it and eventually it worked out.

The developers we had, CSR Products, were amazing. They were so supportive to both me and the club. Really, they drove the planning side of things and they kept us informed all the way along, but it was a challenging time.

There were lots of times I thought, we’ve taken two steps forward and then something would go wrong and it was three steps back but when the re-zoning was finally approved, it was an amazing feeling and it took a bit of pressure off, but then you’ve got to build a golf course! The land we purchased from CSR was a quarry, with no infrastructure at all on the site, so not only did we have to build the golf course, we also had to bring in all the services, build a maintenance facility, driveway, car parks and clubhouse.

We settled with CSR on December 1, 2011 and started construction at Gardiners Run the beginning of January 2012. That same week my eldest daughter gave birth to a 26-week premature baby, so my days were hospital, golf course, and still keeping the business at the country club operating as well. It was a busy time!

Was the idea of creating a community as well as a ‘pool’ from which to draw ongoing members and patrons a factor in your original thinking or was it mostly financial considerations?

BK: In the beginning it was definitely financially driven. We had some debt and the money we owed the bank was on interestonly payments; the bank was wanting some debt reduction and we had no capacity for that, so we knew we had to sell something or we would be gone. We looked at a couple of small parcels of land around the course we could sell. That would clear debt but we would still have the same issues with the golf course and because 17 fairways had houses backing onto the course, we would still have weekly neighbour damage claims.

At the end of the day, just selling off a bit

of land and paying down the debt would still leave us with an old, tired clubhouse and a golf course that was built in the 1960s. The course only had irrigation on the back nine, it had no proper drainage, and it was hilly. In winter it was mud and in summer, it was dirt.

How trailblazing an idea was it to sell the whole course and then rebuild five kilometres away from the main facility? Historically, other clubs, including the large metropolitan clubs, have relocated but it’s not as common now.

BK: It wasn’t my idea, it was borrowed from Waverley Golf Club. I had been chatting with the manager there and he told me that their members had voted to sell the golf course and move to Lysterfield, and I was intrigued. A few nights later, the board had a meeting with local real estate agents to talk about a couple of areas around the course that we might sell and I said, what if we sold

the whole golf course? You can imagine the look I got. It was like, she’s finally gone mad! After that meeting the Board put together a list of options for land sales. Selling the golf course of was initially option (5), but after the next board meeting, option (1) was sell the whole golf course.

Since we announced moving our course, Sunshine, Croydon and Eastern have done the same thing, so Waverley was really the trailblazer of this era. Ironically, Waverley has still not been able to get its land re-zoned, which is a bit sad.

You were the main driver behind the new mini-golf facility, Puttz. How did that come about?

BK: The idea for Puttz came from Curlewis. On a visit to the area in 2019, I called in there and they had a very similar set up to us with a large hospitality venue leading into mini-golf and they have a driving range

as well, which is separate to Curlewis Golf Club. I walked in there and I thought, ‘we could do exactly this’.

So, I spent a bit of time investigating the possibility, had a few chats with the manager over there about numbers. Then I spoke to Paul Reeves and Phil Ryan from Pacific Coast Design who had designed Gardiners Run and they put together a plan for us and got it costed. During Covid we spent that 18 months or two years working out the best way to do the mini golf. We then started construction in January and it opened in July.

How has it been received by the community and the members of the country club?

BK: It has been received extremely well by all sporting and social members. Many of them bring their kids and grandkids for a game. A couple of times when the weather has been bad, a few of the lady golfers have played mini golf if it is too wet at Gardiners Run for carts. Puttz has also been built to take a wheelchair and we’ve tested it to make sure anyone in a wheelchair can get around and play, so it’s able to be played by All Abilities.

Do you envisage some of the players at Puttz transitioning to ‘real’ golf at Gardiners Run? Is it potentially a pathway?

BK: We’d like it to be a pathway, especially for juniors and women. We created a new role this year, Community Liaison Sports Officer, and employed a woman who was fantastic. Her role was to go out into the

community, to local schools and government and find ways for us to encourage locals to use the mini golf and then work with the Golf Professional at Gardiners Run to move them into golf.

Unfortunately, she and her partner have now moved to England. She was only with us for a few months, but she made contact with all the schools, and we’ve already had several schools use the facility and use the bowls as well and we have schools booked to come in December.

We make it very affordable so all schools can afford to bring kids on an excursion for mini golf, bowls or tennis. We even donate the mini golf facility to some of the schools and community groups. It’s really just about getting a club in the hand of the kids, golf’s not a school sport, kids can take a footy or a netball to school to play at lunchtime, but golf misses out.

Marketing has really changed in your time here. How much of your marketing strategy now involves social media?

BK: Really the only place we advertise is social media. We did a little bit with a local newspaper in the Yarra Valley this year. I think we booked every second week for six months to see whether we should look to going back to mainstream advertising, but no-one’s come in saying they saw our ad in the paper.

95% of what we do is through Facebook, Instagram and now TikTok. Through Covid, the only place we advertised our takeaway was through Facebook. We had a Facebook post every day and we ran different daily

specials. I drove one of the cars for takeaway deliveries and I was amazed at some of the places I went. Even though we only did Lilydale, Chirnside and Mooroolbark postcodes, we went right into the back blocks of those suburbs. I often wondered, how they even know we exist!

You’ve mentioned that you’ve had very supportive board members all through your tenure. Alana Killen was recently appointed to the role of President of Chirnside Park Country Club, the first female president. Is having a female President helpful to you or does it make no difference?

BK: Over the 30 years, I’ve only had a couple of women on the board. Women can be tough on other women, but it’s been the complete opposite with Alana; she’s been amazing. When it was decided that Alana would take on the role of president, she’d only been on the board a few months, but she’s worked as a CEO for a not-for-profit and been on NFP boards, so she ‘gets it’ as much as you can get it when you haven’t actually worked in a club environment. She has been very supportive.

We’ve just appointed a second woman to the board, so now we have two out of five.

When you first started, there weren’t a lot of women in senior roles in business management and not even as many coming out of tertiary education as are now, so are you seeing different candidates now?

BK: Yes. I think we are seeing more women in club management now but there were always a lot of good women around, I just don’t think they got given the opportunity, and I feel fortunate that I did and have lasted as long as I have.

What are the personal qualities and skills that a good GM needs?

BK: Patience, although I’d say there are a lot of times, I don’t have it! I still need to work on that. I think after 30 years, you’ve got to still love it. At the end of the day, no matter what flies at you, you’ve got to still just want to come back tomorrow and I think that’s the most important thing. I never wake up and think, ‘Oh no, I’ve got to go there’. Also the people you work with make all the difference and I have some great staff.

Is it hard to still have creativity and innovation after that length of time?

BK: No, I don’t think so because creativity doesn’t have to be ‘big’. It can be just getting a new menu or wine list together and there are also operational things that we want to

Developing professional leaders in golf and club management • www.golfmanagement.com.au

change. We’re always thinking of new ways to do things and ways to stop doing the dumb things we do! Sometimes you do something for so long and then someone asks, why do we do this like this, and we realise we don’t know why!

What’s in the pipeline now?

BK: We’ve just signed an MOU and have called a General Meeting of the members to vote to sell some land to a childcare operator. They will build it and operate it separately to the Country Club. But it still fits into our strategic plan.

One of the objectives in our Strategic Plan is finding ways to make things better for the community. The new housing estate that has been built on the old golf course land has no childcare at the moment. This will provide a childcare option for the local community and also for our members playing sport and our staff.

So, our main focus at present is getting our members to vote in favour and then for the childcare operator to get their planning approved, which will probably take a year. Nothing happens fast.

Even more recently you have been elected on to the board of GMA. This is your first stint on the GMA board although you are currently still on the board of GMV, having now served seven years there.

What would you like to work on as a GMA board member?

BK: On the GMV Board I am involved in the Women’s Scholarship Program and I’d like to see that rolled out through all the states. I’m passionate about not just educating women but helping women realise there are these opportunities for them. If we can help get just one woman a year into a GM role or into senior management, then I think that’s great. There are so many great women working in golf clubs.

I think it should be the best person for the job and Boards need to consider women for roles the same way they consider men. It’s just about making sure women get the opportunities and we’re getting there.

This has been a year of awards for Chirnside Park Country Club, with the club winning the Community Clubs Victoria ‘Best Social Inclusion Club’ award in August and the Bowls Australia ‘Community Service Award’ in October. What does this recognition mean for the club, its staff and members?

BK: The members and staff are so proud of what the club has been able to achieve over the past few years, even through Covid, and these awards recognise all their hard work and dedication to the club.

At the GMA Conference in June, you were given a Distinguished Service Award. Also, in October this year, you were inducted into the Victorian Golf Hall of Fame. What does this mark of respect from the golf industry at large mean to you?

BK: It means more than you can imagine. It was a very special night and I got to share it with my three children. I sometimes get a bit emotional when I talk about it. It seems crazy because I don’t play golf and never have. I think in the early days there was this perception that if you work in a golf club, you should be able to play. I think I was determined to prove that you can administer a sport without playing it.

Luke Bower, who works for the PGA, came out to tell me I was going to be inducted. That was really special. He started playing golf as junior around the same time that I started working at the club. When he was old enough, he started working at the club and worked his way up from washing golf carts to our Head Professional. He then moved to Eastwood as Director of Golf and is now at the PGA. It was very special that he was the one that gave me the news. The worst thing was I knew I would have to make a speech and I’m not a speech maker by any means. I didn’t sleep for a week. I wish Luke had told me the day before, so I didn’t have time to think about it!

Joining Barb Kelly (centre) at the Victorian Golf Industry Awards night were the some of the recipients of the GMV Women's Scholarship Program: (l-r) Tegan Bennett (Eastern GC), Jess Wood (The Dunes GC), Sally McKenna (13th Beach GL) & Inoka Rasanhai Gamage (Royal Melbourne GC).

The Management Journey: People want to know YOU!

GREGG PATTERSON FOUNDER & PRESIDENT "TRIBAL MAGIC!"

People want to KNOW people and places

People want to know because they need to make decisions, quickly.

Do I have anything to talk about with THIS person? Do I want to have coffee with THIS “online unknown”? Do I want to work for THIS supervisor? Do I want to work with THIS employee? Do I want to join THIS club, eat in THIS dining room or play on THIS course???

People want to know if their values, personality, wants, needs and expectations are in alignment with another person, a particular place, a club culture, or an experience

But figuring out who-you-are or what-they-are “ain’t easy”.

And figuring out “who you are” and “they are” is critical to Right Choice and Proper Alignment.

Guidance is needed. Questions need asking.

The BASIC Three questions

If you want to know or to evaluate a person, place or thing, or if you want

to “dive deep ” into who you’re with or where you’re at, or if you want others to better understand who YOU are and why you do what you do, you’ll need some simple, easy to remember, easy to use “focus questions”. This is applicable most anywhere at any time with most anyone.

The questions you’ll need—The BASIC Three—can be twisted and tweaked to fit most anyone you meet, place you’ve visited or thing you’ve done.

What is the ONE word that you’d use to describe this person, place or experience?

Fill in the following. “You’ll know you’ve met this person, visited this place or done this thing because……”

If you had only ONE PHOTO to show others that would capture YOU, another person, a place or experience, what would that photo be?

The BASIC Three will provoke, energize and stimulate conversation and will lead to a deeper dive into people, places and things.

professional leaders in golf and club management

There are LOTS of opportunities to ask The BIG Three. Staff about other jobs. Members about other clubs. Members about area restaurants. Kids about kid programming. The BASIC Three can be tweaked to address most anybody or any situation.

Who Are You - As a Workplace?

You’re advertising for new employees. You know they have a thirty second attention span—they’ll review one page, short and pithy. They want to know Who You Are as a workplace.

Your club’s answer to The Big Three will tell them lots about “alignment”: When our staff talk about Our Club, The ONE word they most frequently use to describe US is……….(FUN? BORING? CRAZY? EXCITING? After which a LONG conversation can be had as that one word is examined in detail.)

Our staff tell us that you’ll know you’ve worked at THIS club because ……..(Each day is different and never boring OR it’s never ending high energy OR The Manager knows everyone’s name and loves talking to the employee team OR you’ll be working twelve hours a day EVERY Saturday and Sunday during the summer season—and you’ll NEVER be given vacation time in June, July or August???)

When we want people know “who we are,” we show them this one photo…..(The entire employee team laughing during the monthly staff meeting in the main dining room OR the big Fourth of July celebration with employees, members, their children crowded together waiting in line for a camel ride OR the beautiful 17th fairway with loves of old people playing slow golf?)

Who Are YOU - As an Employee Prospect?

You’re interviewing an employee prospect and you want to know THEM. You ask a couple of questions that’ll stimulate a lot of in depth conversation:

What’s the one word you’d use to describe yourself? (Books? Talk? Laughter? Silence? Each of which allows the interviewer to explore who the interviewee is by asking more follow-up questions.)

Fill in this sentence—“You’ll know you’ve met me because…….” (Because I’ll say HI to you before you say HI to me? Because I’ll ask you a ton of questions? Because I’ll want to talk about computer games?)

What’s the one photo in your camera that you’d like to show that says “this is The ME I want the world to see and know”? (Me drunk on the beach with my friends? Me talking to The President during his visit to our golf course? Me riding my bike through the French countryside?)

Do I really want to hire YOU for this job at this club?

Who are YOU - For the Membership Applicant?

There are lots of clubs “out there” for you to join. You’re the sort of person most clubs would want as a member. After visiting the club, you ask yourself three questions.

What’s the one word you’d use to describe this club after your visit? (Fun? Stuffy? Formal? Family? Golf?)

I knew I visited THAT club because……… (They greeted me in the parking lot? The G.M. high-fived my five year old son? Members and staff in the pro shop made a point of speaking to me? None of the staff looked me in the eye?)

The one photo I took that captured the essence of this club’s is…… (The dull and unsmiling team in the pro shop? The crowd of twentysomethings in the swimming pool? The empty parking lot?)

Do YOU still want to join this club?

Who Are YOU - For the Existing Member?

Asking the Members The Big Three will give the Board and Manager a deeper understanding of member wants, needs and expectations and will guide their efforts to deliver “The Stuff” needed to translate that ‘visionof-the-good’ into reality.

What is the one word you, as a member, would use to describe the club? (Cheap? Expensive? Fun? Boring? Golf? Gym? Food? Booze?)

How would you as a member fill in the following sentence:

“You’ll know you’re at this club because………” (The staff all know my name, my spouse’s name and my

kids’ names? The staff don’t know my name, my kids’ names or my spouse’s name? You never see the same employee twice?)

What is the one photo you’d show a non-member friend that captures the essence of this club? (A photo of your favorite 50 year employee and her team? A gathering of members and staff on the first tee on Saturday morning? Kids locked into the basement storage room during cocktail hour?)

Are YOU delivering the club experience the members want delivered?

Who Are YOU - As a G.M.???

What do members, board members, guests and staff think of YOU?

What might an abbreviated Three Question 360 reveal about YOU?

What’s the one word you’d use to describe the GM to someone who’s never met the GM? (Clever? Dumb? Exciting? Boring? Lazy? Energized?)

How would you fill in the following sentence:

“You’ll know you’ve met the GM because…………..” (She’s always visible? He’s never visible? She’s looks professional? He looks like a slob?)

What picture would you show of the GM that would let others know “this is our GM”??? (Directing traffic on a busy Sunday in the parking lot? Opening the front door for arriving members? Invisible in his back office? Greeting wedding guests in the lobby? Speaking to each table in the dining room?)

Are YOU as G.M. leading THIS club the way the members, the staff and the Board want you to lead?

Discovering “YOU”

Everyone wants to know—who are YOU? As a person, manager, employer or club.

Everyone wants to know—if “who you are” and “what you’re offering” are in alignment with what they want and how they want things done.

They need tools for going deep.

They need—The Big Three.

Ask the questions. Ponder the answers. Decide what’s needed. Start doing. Create alignment. And……….

Enjoy the journey!!!

WHO WE ARE

Empower Golf is a not for profit making it possible for people with disabilities across Australia to access golf services, facilities and equipment. We are passionate about improving inclusion, growing the game and teaching thousands more how to play, but we need your help!

HOW IT WORKS

We are expanding our national network of golf facilities, where we work with all stakeholders to help improve access, offer golf coaching and adaptive equipment to people with disabilities in your local community. We work with golf venues and coaching staff to promote All Abilities services including group clinics, private lessons, on-course and tournament support to players. As the only national NDIS registered golf provider, we support individuals with insurance planning and to access ongoing funding. For our venues and coaches, we help with further disability expertise, grant support, administration, marketing and training.

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Club Car joins forces with Walkinshaw Sports in support of Empower Golf

A little over a year ago, the team at Club Car, the world’s leading manufacturer of golf and lightweight electric vehicles, spotted an article in the GMA Journal around Walkinshaw Sports support of Empower Golf. A conversation soon followed between Club Car, Walkinshaw Sports’ Jon Perrett and James Gribble from Empower Golf.

Empower is a full service disability recreation not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to facilitate and promote the world's most inclusive sport for people living with disabilities. They do this through the provision of lessons and on course support along with helping with access to adaptive equipment, clinics, events and facilities consultation.

“Having read the story and spoken with Jon and James, I was confident we could find a way to help out what is a great cause,” said Kevin Gates, Club Car’s Vice President for the region. “I saw the story in the GMA Journal and between the three of us we’ve identified where a little help from Club Car may make a pretty big difference.”

“Club Car has a strong culture of supporting those organisations and causes that share the core values of our company and of our customers. We do it every day here in Australia and throughout the world. Our ongoing commitments to inclusivity and holding ourselves accountable for a better future help set us apart from other manufacturers,” Mr Gates continued.

After a number of exploratory discussions, Club Car signed on to help encourage golf clubs and golf professionals to provide coaching services and clinics to Empower Golf. “When Kevin told me about Empower and his plans to help, we were all on board straight away,” added Club

Car VP Global Marketing & Product Management, Jeff Tyminski, from Club Car HQ in Augusta. “Empower embodies everything we should be trying to encourage in golf - we’re only too happy to be able to play our part.”

Full details will be released early in January but suffice to say that a lucky club or golf pro will take home a brand new Club Car just for providing lessons or a clinic through Empower Golf.

Empower Golf’s James Gribble is excited about the new collaboration. “Whether it’s women’s golf, junior golf or the cause of accessibility in golf, Club Car is invariably the first manufacturer on board to help out. We’re excited to have Club Car working with us - this will be fun.”

Club Car is an Elite Partner of GMA and has been a sponsor of the organisation for over 25 years.

For more information on Club Car, visit their website - www.clubcar.com.au

Wild weather and wild swings in competition rounds

Australia’s a big wide land and getting a handle on what’s happening in golf requires grabbing whatever key data you can. One indicator of the game is, of course, competition rounds. The GolfLink system has to be one of the most comprehensive calculators of golf rounds in the world.

Most countries don’t submit scores for handicap at nearly the rate that uber competitive Australian’s do. We have it hardwired into our DNA and it can be both a blessing and a curse.

So, what is the data saying? The headline data to the end of October sees rounds down compared to 2019 by 4.6%. If you said that’s got to be the weather, you’d be right. The weather in most of the east of Australia has been wet and well, rubbish. Apologies if you’ve been included in this gross collective statement and your weather has actually been pretty good.

We know that we started the year with much cheer and optimism. The month rounds data tells a story. Things started to go pear shaped in NSW and Queensland around February while golf boomed along elsewhere. March was worse again and by now these two states had more than wiped out the solid gains experienced by the remaining states - kind of like a State of Origin conspiracy.

By April, Queensland was cleaning up its act whilst NSW continued raining, but by May, Queensland inserted an even bigger shower head and outdid NSW on the carnage. At this point in time, NSW was down 21.2% YTD from 2019 and Queensland was down 12.2%. Elsewhere, every other state was up between 7% and 16%. Its kind of like

the big blue chips dragging down the All Ordinaries.

With Victoria and Tasmania’s heavy and cold spring, these formally healthy round states that were up around 6% and 7% to September, started to lose much of their gains. By October, Victoria was up a mere 4.9% and Tasmania up 3.9% whereas South Australia was up 12.5% and WA 7%.

Of the 17.2% decline in rounds in NSW to October, most had been in Sydney. In fact, Sydney sits at 24.2% lower than 2019. If you don’t like 2019 as a comparison, due to, say, massive statewide bushfires, you may find it interesting that Sydney is down 34% on 2020 and 35.5% on 2021. No wonder it hasn’t been easy for the Sydney GMA members. Queensland by the end of October was down 5.3% but having fought back from being down 12.2% in May.

One fascinating statistic lurking in the numbers nationally is the complete trend across all states - metro and regional - on women’s round numbers being disappointing compared to men’s. When the weather is good and the numbers are up, they are not as up in the women. When the weather is bad and the numbers are down, the numbers are more down in the women’s. So nationally, whilst rounds are down by 4.6%, the rounds are down by 3.2% for men and 11.0% for women.

In NSW, with numbers down 17.2% compared to 2019, they are down 15.5% for men and 30.7% for women. What has happened to women’s competition golf? Will this decline be borne out in membership numbers. Let’s hope not. There’s a lot of work being undertaken to grow women and girls participation.

Thanks to Matt Chesterman and Golf Australia for providing the rounds data.

AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

The GMA Green Book:

The Essential Guide to Strategic Planning for Golf

Clubs

The GMA Green Book is produced by GMA with corporate specialist Tony Sernack.

Copies of can be obtained for $29.95 each (or $250.00 for a pack of 10).

To order your copy, please contact GMA CEO, Paul Vardy: paul.vardy@golfmanagement.com.au

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!

To assist us in better informing and educating our members, we need your assistance to continue providing relevant, interesting and unique stories from within the golf management industry that we can share in this journal.

If you would like to write a piece for the GMA Journal, we’d certainly love to hear from you.

Please send your material to our Media & Communications manager, David Branddavid.brand@golfmanagement.com.au .

PAUL VARDY • GMA Chief Executive Officer

17 Years (and counting!)

Inside Golf is celebrating 17 spectacular years as the go-to golf magazine for Australian golfers and Industry professionals.

As Australia’s Most-read Golf Magazine, Inside Golf would like to thank you, our loyal readers and our 400 plus golf clubs, golf driving ranges and retailers for your ongoing support. We love what we do! So sit back, relax and enjoy our latest edition of Inside Golf.

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Virtual Golf Centre Ballina

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Developing professional leaders in golf and club management

How important are your clubs insurances?

Golf clubs face a mounting challenge to maintain quality insurances at a price within budget. Golf Australia and Victor Insurance recently hosted a webinar to explain the dynamics of this challenge.

To appreciate the current landscape of golf club insurance and the tenuous positon it holds within the greater insurance market, you may watch the webinar using the below link. A lack of understanding of the current insurance environment may have detrimental effects on the immediate and future business of your golf club.

Employment risks

Golf Management Australia was part of a collective effort along with Victor Insurance, Zurich Australia and law firm Wotton & Kearney to present a webinar on employment risk. This is a fast growing risk exposure for golf clubs that includes harassment, bullying, discrimination, unfair dismissal and adverse actions. This webinar provides examples of how golf clubs can best avoid incidents of this nature.

In a nutshell

The insurance market is looking for a better balance between;

1. the level of risk exposure at golf clubs

2. the level of cover provided / required by golf clubs

3. the level of premium charged to golf clubs

Changes to premium, up or down, directly relate to the level of claims. Claims are most often affected by two factors;

1. The level of cover. If a policy doesn’t cover much then not much can be claimed.

2. The level of risk. As a general rule, low levels of risk result in low claims and vice versa.

Likening it to reducing your handicap, to reduce premiums a golf club can choose either a strategy of reducing the quality of cover so not much can be claimed (buying a cheaper set of irons) or taking action to reduce your clubs risk exposure (more practice on the range).

The strategy of reducing risk exposure takes a long term view and involves a number of steps. Your broker is one source that may be able to assist you. Victor Insurance, Golf Management Australia and Golf Australia will also be working in 2023 to assist clubs embark on this strategy.

Victor Insurance Pty Ltd (Victor Insurance) is an underwriting agency and an Authorised Representative (No. 403803) of Marsh Pty Ltd ABN 86 004 651 512 AFS Licence No. 238983. This publication contains general information, does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs and may not suit your personal circumstances. For full details of the terms, conditions and limitations of the covers and before making any decision about whether to acquire a product, refer to the specific policy wordings and/ or Product Disclosure Statements available from Victor Insurance on request. Victor Insurance makes no representation or warranty concerning the application of policy wordings or the financial condition or solvency of insurers or re-insurers. Victor Insurance makes no assurances regarding the availability, cost, or terms of insurance coverage.

Victor Insurance and Australian Golf Insurance are partnering with Golf Management Australia and Golf Australia to educate golf clubs on the need to consider insurance in a broader context.

© 2022 Victor Insurance Pty Ltd. All Rights reserved.

Click above to watch the Golf Australia & Victor Insurance webinar

Click above to watch the GMA & Victor Insurance webinar

VIEW WEBINARS

Year in review: Electricity contracts and price rises

Under Construction: Chirnside Park Country Club solar installation, Dec 2022

As La Niña hopefully ends (it’s a prolific google search this year!) and fine weather returns to courses across the country this summer, we can expect an ever-growing number of solar installations to bring huge benefits to golf courses and their members.

Given the dramatic rise in the cost of electricity this year, I thought it might be a good time to review electricity contracts and examine if they can protect you from the coming price hikes.

Energy contracts: SME vs C&I

The answer depends on how the retailers define you as a business customer. The fundamental difference between the Small Business Energy (SME) and Large Business Energy (C&I) customers is the amount of annual electricity they consume - C&I customers are defined as:

• NSW/QLD - 100MWh+

• VIC - 40MWh+

• SA - 160MWh+

• TAS - 150MWh+(per annum)

If you’re not sure whether you’re a large or small business energy customer, simply check whether your bills are bundled or unbundled. If you can see unbundled, detailed Network and Environmental charges, then you’re a C&I customer. SME is simple ‘bundled billing’ and is exactly the same as residential.

If you are defined as a SME consumer of electricity, your rates will automatically adjust on the 1st July each year. These changes will reflect changes to wholesale markets and any network charges.

C&I customers can tender on the wholesale energy market to benefit from forward purchasing at advantageous rates. These forward contracts for energy are typically 1 to 5 years in length. These contracts protect you from changes to wholesale cost of raw energy (i.e. Peak & Offpeak energy) but not network charges.

Therefore, SME customers are fully exposed to market changes in wholesale energy on an annual basis while C&I customer are only exposed every 1 to 5 years. Both C&I and SME business can benefit from solar installations.

2022 Chaos

2022 has been the most tumultuous year on record for Australia’s electricity prices. A combination of factors, outlined by Enervest in the winter GMA Journal include war, weather and failing generators that led to sky rocketing prices and a suspension of the market. While this has settled somewhat, wholesale electricity prices are still more than double this time last year (as shown in NSW wholesale electricity prices from Dec 2021 to 2022 pictured above).

2023 and 2024 electricity prices

The Australian Energy Regulator has warned of continuing financial pain due to high international energy prices. “… forward markets continue to indicate high domestic gas and electricity wholesale prices continuing into 2023 and 2024.”

Be prepared: If you need to contract your C&I electricity sites in the next two years, you may experience significant price increases and

Developing professional leaders in golf and club management

JASON DOWNES • Business Development Manager, Enervest

reduced offer periods. Your review and acceptance period for signing a new contract is likely to be much shorter (1 - 2 days vs 7-14 days) than you’ve been used to. Be prepared to accept new offers quickly before they’re retracted by the retailer.

Taking action now

There’s no avoiding electricity price rises in the future, either by default mechanisms (SME & C&I Network costs) or at the end of your contract period. Enervest is an electricity broker who works with our retailer partners to get you the best possible price for your electricity contracts at the time we run your tender. Here are some actions you can take now:

1. C&I customers: Enervest can work with you on a plan for re-contracting your electricity. We can help you collect data, create a site list and finalise your contract. We can provide information on market prices and set expectations for your business so that the tender process is seamless.

2. All customers: Solar - get it if you don’t have it! If you have existing solar, ask for a review of your energy usage to consider the addition of a battery and/or additional solar. Solar PV is the cheapest form of electricity generation in the world.

As the east coast moves out of the La Niña weather pattern and (hopefully) into more stable, sunny weather, it might just be the best time to review your club’s electricity spend and see if there’s any low-hanging fruit to pick.

New Commercial Business Manager for Toro

Toro Australia recently consolidated its business into the three business units of Garden and Trade Irrigation, Residential Landscape Contractor Equipment and Commercial Equipment and Irrigation.

Toro is now very pleased to announce the appointment of Anthony Lonergan to the Business Manager Commercial (Equipment & Irrigation) position.

Anthony commenced on Tuesday, 25th October.

Anthony joins Toro from the First Five Group where he was Chief Operating Officer. With a career that began in sales & marketing, he has worked across a wide range of industries and functional areas including large and complex tender projects, mergers and acquisitions and strategic planning along with prior experience of large scale grounds maintenance through his time with Spotless Group. He is looking forward to working collaboratively with Toro customers.

Anthony’s team will look after all

Toro Golf, Sports Fields & Grounds and Agriculture customers as well as Toro Service Centres.

Further to Anthony’s appointment, the following Toro team members have transitioned into the roles of Regional Sales Managers, looking after irrigation and commercial equipment customers and projects:

• Sheldon Simmonds, Regional Sales Manager QLD

• Mark Johnson, Regional Sales Manager NSW/ACT

• Patric Soussan, Regional Sales Manager VIC/TAS

• Chris Linklater-Williams, Regional Sales Manager WA/SA/NT.

For more information from the Enervest Team, please contact:

Consulting: Jason Downes on 0499 198 320 (jason.downes@enerest.com.au)

Brokering: Chermene Akaruru 0438 399 860 (chermene.akaruru@enervest.com.au)

Royal Sydney course redevelopment receives DA Approval

The Royal Sydney Golf Club has confirmed that the New South Wales Land and Environment Court (the Court) has upheld the Club’s appeal concerning its Championship Course Development Application (DA).

This follows the completion of the conciliation processes with Woollahra Council established by s34 of the Land and Environment Court Act. Development consent has been granted by the Court.

The Club has worked very closely with Council over the last six months or so and has made a number of changes to its Championship Course DA to incorporate Council and Woollahra Community feedback on the landscape and ecological aspects of its golf course restoration project. With the benefit of these changes, the DA clearly identifies how biodiversity across the course will be vastly improved by the enhanced course restoration plans and provides further details on important water management and drainage solution improvements (which are not possible under the current course set-up).

The DA offers the opportunity to implement, complementing its new Championship Course design, a native landscape restoration program that will transform Royal Sydney into one of the most important sanctuaries

of native flora and fauna in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs – a previously unimaginable outcome.

The new landscape plans will more than triple the Club’s current floral diversity to over 100 different native species, as well as increase the total number of trees onsite by nearly 1,600. Some 14 hectares of fertilised mown turf will be restored as areas of natural coastal heath, endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub and naturalised native grasslands, allowing the Club to reduce annual water usage by 20 percent.

Royal Sydney President, Chris Chapman, said that, while the DA process had been lengthy, its comprehensiveness had ultimately delivered a very positive outcome for the community.

“In working extensively with Woollahra Council and heeding the feedback of the local community since the original DA lodgement in late 2019, we have produced what can be considered the most exhaustively detailed golf course renovation plans in Australian history,” Mr Chapman said.

“At more than 1,000 pages and including numerous expert reports on matters ranging from ecology and horticulture to flood planning and the extensive civil works involved, no stone has been left unturned and absolutely nothing has been left to chance - nor will it be. Given the comprehensive nature of the DA, all the environmental benefits promised by the restoration will be delivered.”

Mr Chapman accepted that the extremely rigorous process was absolutely critical, given the important role the Club serves in the local community and ‘the lungs’ that the course acreage represents.

“In addition to being a social and sporting club and a host for local and international sporting events, we recognise that we are custodians of the largest area of managed landscape in the Woollahra municipality,” he said.

“That is why a clear objective of the landscape restoration has always been to make the Royal Sydney property a most vital haven of native flora and fauna in the area. By planting a wide diversity of native plants, some rare and endangered, we will act as a wildlife corridor for birds, insects and other fauna, and intend to act as a seedbank for wider native restoration programs throughout the eastern suburbs community over the longer term.”

“In putting to one side all the additional time and costs involved, Royal Sydney has led by example in taking the most environmentally beneficial and sustainable approach to golf course management and tree and ecology master planning.”

Royal Sydney plans to commence the renovation of the Championship Course in early 2024, which will be overseen by its designer, the world-renowned Golf Course Architect, Gil Hanse, assisted by our Landscape Architect, Harley Kruse.

professional leaders in golf and club management

LIV Golf set to rock Adelaide and The Grange

The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide is set to host the world's best golfers in April 2023 when the LIV Golf League comes to play in the debut Australian event.

LIV Golf announced in November their move into Australia with The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, South Australia, set to host the country’s debut LIV Golf League event in April 2023.

Many of the games biggest stars are set to descend onto the fairways of The Grange, delivering golf’s exciting new global team competition to fans down under.

“Passion for sport is at the core of Australian culture, and LIV Golf is proud to bring its global league to a country deserving of the world’s top competition,” said LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman. “This is an opportunity to grow the game with generations of Australians while connecting them with star players like Cameron Smith who are building a new platform for golf around the globe. There is massive potential for Australia to play a bigger role in this great sport, and I couldn’t be more excited to showcase Adelaide for our league’s debut year.”

Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, was delighted to make the joint announcement alongside Norman at the famed Adelaide Oval, saying “Securing the first Australian LIV Golf tournament is an exciting coup for South Australia. As Premier, I am determined to lure more major events to South Australia, which means more visitors, more economic activity and more jobs. This is exactly what our economy needs as we emerge from the pandemic, in particular our hospitality sector which has done it tough over the past couple of years. LIV Golf will bring some of the world’s best (golfers) to SA for an event the likes of which

our country has never seen before.”

The Grange Golf Club is one of South Australia’s premier sporting venues, having previously hosted the 2019 and 2016 Women’s Australian Open to record crowds, and a score of other major professional and amateur events including the World Amateur Teams Championship and the Australian Amateur Championship. Norman claimed his first professional victory at The Grange in 1976 and has subsequently been involved in the design and redevelopment of the East Course.

Nicole Rantanen-Reynolds, recently elected as The Grange’s first female President, said the announcement “is recognition of our excellent facilities and our ability to hold world-class golf tournaments. We are looking forward to working with LIV Golf and the SA Government to deliver an outstanding event.”

The Grange is renowned for negotiating to host big tournament golf with the club, and GM, Barry Linke, playing a fundamental role in successfully bringing the Women's Australian Open, co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour, to three of Adelaide's top courses including Royal Adelaide and

Kooyonga, from 2016 to 2020, with The Grange hosting the event twice in 2016 and 2019.

The LIV Golf coup is another reminder the tireless work that has been undertaken by Linke during his impressive 35-year career at The Grange, culminating with receiving a GMA Distinguished Service award at the recent national conference, and being presented with the GMASA Distinguished Manager award at the SA Golf Industry Awards night in October.

Major winners including Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickleson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Patrick Reed and Louis Oosthuizen will feature in LIV Golf’s international field, alongside the reigning Open Champion, Smith and his fellow Australians, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones.

The event is scheduled to be played from April 21-23 as part of the 2023 LIV Golf League schedule.

Tickets can be purchased from the LIV Golf website.

GM David Rootham lured to Kiama Golf Club

Weekands on the South Coast were the perfect catalyst to lure David Rootham away from Sydney.

And Kiama Golf Club, one of the busier clubs on the South Coast of NSW and its happy bunch of members fitted perfectly into his plans.

Like most clubs, Kiama has enjoyed a revival of interest in golf with both membership numbers and rounds of golf at unprecedented levels.

The club currently boasts just under 1000 golfing members but it’s a sign of the club’s popularity that there are almost 3000 social members.

Rootham explains that the town of Kiama has also undergone some significant changes and progressed from a sleepy seaside town to become a busy weekender/day trip destination.

“Our club has had to ensure we offered products and services to match that tourist influx,” says Rootham.

“We think our members are a pretty happy bunch – and yes, they enjoy their golf at Kiama.”

Rootham’s journey began when he studied hospitality management after finishing school and he began working in some Sydney hotels before choosing

a different pathway.

He took an entry-level position at Kareela GC in Sydney’s south, which turned into a perfect move as he stayed there for 15 years and worked up to become the GM for the last four of those years.

“My wife and I spent most of our weekends during this time on the South Coast, so when the GM role at Kiama GC came up is seemed a great fit,” he said.

“I began at Kiama in 2011 and commuted from Gymea for the first six months to make sure it all worked.

“It turned out to be a really great role, so we moved the family down to Berry and we have been there ever since.”

Kiama has an interesting history.

The club was originally situated in the Kiama CBD and only moved to the site of an old dairy farm (the current site) in the 1930s.

Since that time, it has expanded from a nine-hole course to 18, developed the clubhouse from the proverbial tin shed to a modern, thriving hospitality venue with a 120-seat restaurant, a sports bar and main lounge and outdoor deck with postcard views back over the Illawarra escarpment.

Superintendent Mark Yates and his team utilise an improved maintenance

fleet to keep the course in top condition all year round. The club has continued to improve with the addition of a new GPS-managed cart fleet, improved warm-up facilities, extended cart paths and an improvement of the use of recycled water for irrigation.

The recycled water program continues to provide great water security for the club and helps keep the course in perfect condition, regardless of the weather.

“We are fortunate to have had a number of dedicated golf pros in our golf shop headed by Elle Sandak,” says Rootham. “Our pro shop has become a real go-to for golfers in the area.

“While we don’t have a waiting list, we will look at various tools to help ease pressure on our timesheet.

“For our next membership cycle we will look at things like joining fees, ‘rejoining’ fee and a wait list to ensure we can offer existing members the best possible experience.

“Some of the pressure on our time sheets comes from one of our key members’ benefits which is that they are able to play social rounds for free.

“We’re seeing a large percentage of our total rounds as members’ social rounds. This has been a great benefit to our members and the club during the pandemic, but there needs to be a balance with fee-paying rounds to ensure we can generate enough revenue to maintain the course to the right standard.”

So, how does the future look for Kiama?

“I would like to see the club continue to increase its role in support for the Kiama community in the Kiama Tourism market and improve our ability to bring larger golf events to Kiama,” said Rootham.

“To do this we are looking at some major clubhouse/pro shop renovations as well as several projects on the course to continue to be competitive with our neighbouring courses without losing the underlying charm of playing at Kiama GC.

Developing professional leaders in golf and club management

MICHAEL COURT • Inside Golf Magazine

BUSY BOYS: (l-r) Club president Jim Cooper, GM David Rootham and superintendent Mark Yates on the first tee at Kiama GC.

“These projects include, increasing our cart fleet, extending our cart path network, improved water security, improved teaching facilities, continuing greens renovations and improving general presentations of the course.”

“We’re not as long as some courses but this often lulls golfers into thinking the course is a pushover. It isn’t. While there are very few below-par rounds, I think our members take pride in the fact that visitors look at the distance of the course and think they will crush it, but it actually takes some cunning course management to get round in a good score.”

Rootham says golf clubs are great places to work.

“For me, the variety in all aspects of the club is what makes it so much fun,” he says. “Golf clubs draw a wide variety of people as members and they all have something to offer. It’s what keeps me thinking and keeps the staff on their toes.

“I also love the variety of work. To have to move from high-level strategic discussions with the board to dealing with equipment maintenance then out to inspect the course then back to deal with suppliers provides a great challenge and certainly is never dull.”

Yet Rootham says the best thing about Kiama is the camaraderie of the members and the friendliness of the club.

“We really benefit from being part of the Kiama Tourism Hub.

“More and more Kiama is used as a weekender or a base to explore further around this region and we certainly play a part in providing a draw for tourists to our region.

“We also benefit from being a little separated from the main CBD, we act as the ‘local’ for the Kiama Downs, Minnamurra, Gainsborough area.

“Our challenge is trying to provide a facility that will draw people out of the Kiama CBD.

“In terms of tee time sharing, we were grateful to have a number of clubs around us who graciously agreed to share some tee times for our members who could not get to our course.

“It was a great example of the industry looking out for each other and the golfers of the region.”

Jason Patterson takes helm at Wantima CC

Wantima CC, the home club of champion Australian golfer Cameron Smith, has a new general manager.

Jason Patterson was appointed to the top job in April this year.

Patterson’s experience and background started in Brisbane at Indooroopilly GC and was followed by stints in the Middle East and Maldives where he worked for Four Seasons and Millennium Copthorne Properties.

In Bermuda, he worked for an independent five-star hotel for eight years before shifting to the Caribbean for 10 years.

“I worked at two five-star properties, my last property included an 18-hole championship golf course where the Shell Wonderful World of Golf was held

on a number of occasions,” he told

The course was restored under his supervision over the last two years of

forward to taking Wantima Country

His goal is to continue improvements to the golf course and clubhouse for the benefit of members, social

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Grace Kim inspiring the next generation of girls

The Australian Golf Foundation (AGF) Girls Golf Scholarship program has recently delivered it’s 2022 scholarship recipients with some very special and unique experiences …

“How old were you when you got your handicap?”

“What is the best mindset to have when playing?”

These were just a few of the questions girls asked Grace Kim, one of Australia’s top ranked women golfers on a recent zoom call.

The session, which enabled girls from across Australia to tune in, was set up to inspire the next generation of girls to pursue and enjoy their golf. With 683 girls part of the 2022 scholarship year, there is a lot of inspiring to do!

Tiffany Cherry, Head of Women and Girls Engagement at Golf Australia relays the importance of lifting the profile of women’s golf and connecting girls with role-models.

“The power of connecting teenagers with a relevant role model such as Grace, will help us retain more girls in golf.

“This online experience enables all girls, from Gove Golf Club in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory to girls at Bunbury Golf Club, Western Australia the chance to connect, learn and be inspired.”

Whilst girls living across the country were treated to a session with Grace, a few lucky scholarship recipients met their idols at the recent WPGA 50th birthday celebration at Kingston Heath Golf Club.

The who’s who of women’s golf were together in one room for this milestone event including Hannah Green and Minjee Lee (photographed with the girls).

Karen Lunn, CEO of the WPGA was thrilled to have the AGF scholarship girls involved.

“The event was a true celebration of women’s golf and what the WPGA has accomplished during its 50 years. To have the next generation of women golfers in the room and meeting their idols, was just the icing on the cake.” With advice such as ‘one shot at a time - and one hole at a time is the best mindset to play good golf’ being offered by Grace Kim, the future of women’s golf is looking very promising.

GMA is a proud contributor to the Australian Golf Foundation Junior Girls Scholarship Program.

Above: A screenful of girl golfers hear from Grace Kim (bottom right).

Below: Minjee Lee with AGF scholarship girls at the recent WPGA Tour of Australasia 50th anniversary celebration.

WHAT IS THE AUSTRALIAN GOLF FOUNDATION?

Australian Golf Foundation is the national foundation for golf in Australia. The AGF supports Golf Australia’s vision to grow golf by investing in targeted initiatives to inspire all Australians to enjoy and play the game. Visit australiangolffoundation.org.au for further information. Australian Golf Foundation is thrilled to partner with NEXTGEN Group as the principal partner of the AGF Scholarship Program, with significant further support provided by Golf Australia, Golf Victoria, Victorian Golf Foundation, Golf Queensland, Golf South Australia, Golf Tasmania, Golf Western Australia, Western Australian Golf Foundation, Golf Northern Territory, Jack Newton Junior Golf, Golf New South Wales, Golf Management Australia, WPGA Tour of Australasia and PGA of Australia, as well as a number of additional generous private benefactors. The scholarship program has come to fruition thanks to the foresight and generosity of Bonnie Boezeman AO, Director of the Australian Golf Foundation, who originally established the program at Killara Golf Club, NSW.

CEO Josh the right fit for Moruya GC

Josh Prowse is happy to admit he thought he might feel like a fish out of water when he accepted the position of chief executive officer at Moruya Golf Club on the New South Wales South Coast.

After all, he was a Victorian, who loved the Collingwood Magpies and the Melbourne Storm and knew he would find plenty who disagreed with those loyalties.

Yet the Moruya golfers accepted him without hesitation.

Sure, they love to argue about the football, but they also help Josh with his other great love, fishing, and take him out chasing a big catch whenever possible.

In fact, the only thing that has suffered for Prowse is his golf handicap.

“Yes, that has actually gone backwards,” grins Josh.

“One would be excused for thinking as the CEO of a golf club, you would have a great handicap.

“Mine is the opposite.

“When I left Albury, I was playing off single figures and now I am out to mid-teens.

“I blame that on not enough time on the course and too much time in the office.

“I do hope to change this in the future and get my handicap back down.”

Moruya Golf Club has become the perfect fit for Prowse, who left school in 2006 and intended to have a gap year off from work but instead wound up working at the Commercial Club in Albury.

“After 12 years working there I thought I had what it would take to be a general manager, resulting in me looking further afield for such a position.

“Moruya Golf Club was advertising for

such a role and it’s worked.”

For those who have been unlucky enough not to play there, Moruya Golf Club was opened in 1925 as a nine-hole sand green course.

In 1966 veteran golf course architect Al Howard redesigned the existing nine holes and incorporated grass greens.

During the redesign process the golf club was able to access extra land for more golf holes.

So, three extra holes were added to the course between 1982 and 1984, followed by a further six holes in 1988, which created the 18-hole championship course we see today.

This work was carried out in conjunction with long-term club member Jim Marsden and officially opened on October 1, 1988.

Fast-forward to 2022 and the course continues to evolve to provide the best golf experience possible.

“There is no doubt that Covid was great for golf and membership rates, but the floods that have followed have been devastating for golf here,” says Prowse.

“From November, 2021 through to July, 2022 we didn’t get to play much golf.

“We had two floods where half the course was under two feet of water and continuous rain never let it dry out.

“Our greens staff had to set up temporary bridges to get through wet/ boggy areas.

“But through all this the members have just been happy to get out and play some golf.

“Yes, our numbers are down on previous years because of this. Not everyone wanted to slog around in the wet, including myself.”

In 2019, Moruya began a refresh of the clubhouse and pro shop, which had been slowed with Covid and floods.

“We are still working through the upgrades and improvements as shown with the opening of our new pro shop

in July this year,” said Prowse.

“While there is still work happening in conjunction with the new shop including seating, putting green, wash down bays and cart parking, it is nearing completion.

“Once the pro shop upgrade is completed, we are moving into the clubhouse.

“We have some great plans for the internal improvement which will kick off in November this year.”

Prowse explained that those who had been to Moruya and played their golf course understood the quality of what they offered.

“In the past two years this has been put on show by the events we have hosted,” he said.

“In 2020 and 2021 we hosted the South Coast Open and the 2021 and

Developing professional leaders in golf and club management

MICHAEL COURT • Inside Golf Magazine

2022 PGA Australia NSW/ACT State Associate Championships.

“The quality of our greens, fairways and other facilities are as good as you will find at any top tier venue.

“Moruya is one of those clubs that is always welcoming.

“Our members love to see visitors in the club and always have some fun banter with the staff.

“Moruya has many long-term staff which is testament to the club being a fun and friendly place to work and frequent.”

Prowse says that one of the reasons members love Moruya Golf Club is the fact they are happy to introduce change and move with the times.

“From small club upgrades to genderneutral tees being introduced, our members are happy to see the change and give anything a go.”

Prowse said when he left Albury and moved to this small coastal town he thought it might be tough to fit in.

“Yet, everyone here has been so welcoming and it didn’t take long to meet some fantastic people,” he said.

“Having my outlet hobbies such as fishing and having so many members who are happy to take me out was a great part of the move.

“Now we are settled in to the coastal lifestyle it will be hard to move back inland in the future.”

Online ordering that’s best by par

their order during a break or when completing the course.

With summer in full swing, there’s no doubt golf enthusiasts will be spending even more time on the course. Alongside this, keeping players well hydrated is also important for any golf club, particularly in the Aussie heat.

Help players keep cool and maximise play time by enabling them to order food and beverage ahead of time, directly from the tee or whilst in the golf cart with SENPOS OrderToGo.

Once tailored to your club, players can simply scan a QR code found around your venue and at key locations around the course to order onlinesuch as at the 9th or 18th hole.

When the order is ready to collect a text message is automatically sent, so players can conveniently collect

Online ordering can also be available within your venue using QR code table beacons to provide all members and guests simple, mobile ordering from their table.

SENPOS OrderToGo online ordering system is one of the many solutions that golf clubs can benefit from with SENPOS Point of Sale.

For over 30 years, SENPOS has been pioneering point of sale technology in Australia, to maximise operational efficiencies, business profitability, and customer engagement for golf clubs. Plus, it can be fully integrated with MiClub for a seamless member experience.

Alongside online ordering, SENPOS specialise in creating tailored point of sale ecosystems which include terminals, member kiosks and tablets.

Make your golf club a whole-inone experience for members and guests with SENPOS Point of Sale and OrderToGo: www.senpos.com.au/online-ordering

Southern Golf Club: the quiet achiever

Nestled in the heart of the famous sandbelt, Southern Golf Club’s general manager, Brad Robb, understands the club is surrounded by a very competitive region of golf courses.

“We have 15 other courses within 10 kilometres of us as the crow flies and if you increase that to 15 kilometres, the number increases to 21. And three of those have 36 holes,” Brad says.

“That’s a lot of golf courses.”

So Southern is happy to fly under the radar and be the quiet achiever while others in the area battle it out for bragging rights.

“We try and not get too involved with what’s going on around us,” Robb added. “You can get easily distracted with what everyone else is doing and take your eyes off what you need to do. It isn’t that hard.

“Members want a golf course that is in excellent condition that they can play on as much as possible, a happy

and vibrant club and good value for money.

“Golf is an expensive sport but in comparison to the rest of the world, we know it’s well priced in Australia. But we can’t benchmark our facilities off courses in America or Singapore or even Sydney for that matter. We are in the south-east of Melbourne with a lot of other clubs around us.”

Without putting too fine a point on it, Southern does not want to get caught up in what its astute GM refers to as “an arms race in the region”.

“Clubs are spending big money on their courses to enhance them and try to improve their ranking. The reality is, once we all do it, not much will actually change from a ranking point of view. We will all end up back in the same position on the list.”

That’s not to say that Southern is not a club always striving to be the best it can. But it refuses to get sucked down an unnecessary and impractical vortex by trying to compete with its neighbours.

The club has a brilliant masterplan

in place by leading architects Ogilvy, Cocking, Mead (OCM) and will continue to chip away at it within its budgetary parameters.

“You certainly need a plan for the future and to continually invest in course improvements. But whether or not we are going to make massive changes in a short space of time remains to be seen. I think not,” Robb says.

Membership at Southern is thriving and time sheets are busy. Put simply, members just love playing golf at Southern.

“So that would suggest that the product is working and you don’t need to make big changes just because everyone else is,” Robb says.

“I joked with someone recently that we could turn the place upside down and embark on a huge restoration of the course and we will shift up significantly in the Australia wide rankings.

“But in terms of what is around us, we might move up one or two spots. We have world-class golf courses within

Developing professional leaders in golf and club management

a stone’s throw – Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Metropolitan, Yarra Yarra, Commonwealth, the list goes on.

“It will be hard to get ahead of such amazing courses that have such strong architecture and rich history. Just look at Peninsula-Kingswood, I think it is the best facility in Australia, hands down. Both courses are world class but they weren’t able to get ahead of Royal Melbourne in the rankings. It’s all subjective anyway. We will just keep doing what we are doing.”

Mind you, Southern has hardly been sitting on its hands.

The club has come a long way in the past 15 years. Robb started there in 2007 as assistant manager and at the time it had huge challenges.

“We were in debt up to our eyeballs, interest rates were high and golf was going through a downturn,” he said. “It was a challenging time. We had an annual interest bill on the clubhouse loan of $350,000.

“We had a golf course that was tired and the fairways and greens weren’t in great condition. Then we had the drought years in 2007-’08 which made everything worse.

“The club was in a precarious position. It was a real fork in the road moment.”

Some bold decisions were made in the latter part of that decade.

The club bought a verti-drain and a new tractor and cored and sanded every fairway. It had wanted to scarify them but too much thatch had built up on them.

“We needed to get some roots down into the profile before we were able to scarify them.

“That was a massive project … coring and sanding over 16 hectares of fairways in-house took a lot of time. But it turned them around. Our fairways are now as good as you will see anywhere,” Robb says with pride.

“Santa Ana is such a great grass. I know there are some other blends being used at the moment. But I don’t know why club’s move away from Santa Ana. It is like carpet at its best. It’s easy to manage and can handle drought. We now scarify nine holes each year and punch solid holes into the other nine at the same time to open them up. It works well.

“We had a superintendent come and visit us a few years ago – I won’t name the club – but it was a well-known tier one club not far from here. He wanted to pick our brain and look at our renovation practices and said these were the best fairways in Melbourne. We thought that was pretty cool.”

The fairways weren’t the only issue at Southern.

Older greens had been starved of proper renovation for years and they

got that bad that the club cored them 12 days before hosting Division 1 pennant. The GM says he remembers it as an extremely low point for the club.

“It was rock bottom for us,” he said.

But rather than wallow in self-pity, another bold call was made to prevent the greens deteriorating even further.

“We had no choice. We couldn’t wait another day, the greens were going backwards before our eyes,” Robb says recalling Southern’s nadir.

“Those years were tough. We had to do two big renovations a year, coring, verti-draining and a heavy top dress. The members weren’t happy but we had no choice.”

Southern’s management was almost at the point of digging up the putting surfaces and starting again from scratch. But the club just didn’t have the finances to do it.

Finally, the club is back to one full renovation a year complemented by monthly dusting, grooming and keeping the soil chemistry right.

But while the course improved dramatically, a new set of challenges was emerging. The financial pressures of the early 2000s came back to bite Southern.

“We had a ‘new’ clubhouse in 2003 but by 2012 things were starting to get tired, assets were breaking down and needed replacing, we still had debt in excess of $3 million and finding spare

Developing professional leaders in golf and club management • www.golfmanagement.com.au

cash to fix things was a challenge,” Robb explains.

“We also needed to spend money on our maintenance facility. It was third world type of stuff down there. We didn’t own anything. We rented the lunchroom, the office and toilet block and even the locker room. We leased all our machinery, and it wasn’t kept in great condition, we just kept it going.

“I think all we owned was chainsaw, a few whipper-snippers and a tractor – that was it. Everything else was on a long term machinery lease and those are very hard to move away from once you are in them.”

To add to the woes, the place flooded every time it rained.

“We had to keep our walk behind greens mowers two inches off the ground in case it rained. I recall getting two new fairway mowers as part of our machinery lease. We loved them, brand-new, shiny Toro units. But we couldn’t store them inside because they didn’t fit under the roofline. It was just so bad.”

But how different things are at Southern these days!

The club finished its new maintenance facility in 2018. It now owns all its machinery and employs its own mechanic.

“The team is doing a great job, we have the best Superintendent in Melbourne, and he loves working for the club, I can’t speak more highly of Shaun Taylor and his team.”

The future is looking bright for Southern, but the club does not suffer from delusions of grandeur.

“We know what type of club we are, and I think that is really important, not getting ahead of yourself and knowing exactly what the members want,” Robb adds.

Southern is proudly debt free having cleared its final commitment early this year.

“Being debt free helps. That was a massive burden on our club and we were able to pay that debt off earlier this year, a few years sooner than planned. It’s ironic, but a worldwide pandemic probably helped our club, we consolidated, made sure the members were looked after and put all our spare cash into the clubhouse debt and were able to pay it off.

“I don’t think there would be too many clubs in Melbourne that can say they haven’t increased their annual fees since 2019, but we can.

“It was another way of giving back to all our members who stuck with us through Covid. We won’t ever forget that support. Without the members you don’t have a club. So you need to look after them and I think our club and our board of directors did an amazing job of it.”

The club was proud to announce midyear that they obtained the hosting rights to the Australian Master of the Amateurs for the next three years. “That’s huge news for our club. We are hosting this event in January 2023, 2024 and 2025 and couldn’t be more excited.

“It is an unbelievable tournament when you look at its history. It’s the biggest Amateur golf tournament in Australia – bigger than the Australian Amateur Championship and Riversdale Cup.”

“While some of the names won’t be household names at the moment, they will be in years to come. You have players like Rickie Fowler, Cameron

Smith, Jason Day, Will Zalatoris, Marc Leishman, Sahith Theegala, Bryson DeChambeau, Tommy Fleetwood and Jason Day who have played in this tournament.

“We are so excited. We know it’s not the Presidents Cup, but it’s our ‘Presidents Cup’. We are treating it like it’s the Presidents Cup.”

“We are excited to show off our course, our members are excited, our staff are excited and it will be a lot of hard work but the team is so engaged and looking forward to the challenge of hosting a major event.”

For now, Robb and the team at Southern will continue to move forward.

“Things are working, we have a great club and an amazing golf course that is easy to join and great value for money.

“I love this place. Every day is a challenge when you turn up at work. We have some exciting things happening and I am proud to be part of it.”

Editorial supplied by Southern Golf Club and edited by Inside Golf.

Protecting Your Business From Cyber-Attacks

A series of major hacking events have hit some of Australia’s largest businesses in recent months highlighting how important software and systems security is now.

Gaining customer information and IDs is as significant an income source for hackers as a one-off ransom demand. As clubs must hold members’ personal information, protecting that data is critical. Here is how Secom’s end point protection solution can help.

Are clubs a target for cyberattacks?

The main motivation for cyberattacks remains money. On this score, many clubs believe they are not a high potential target, but the Australian Signals Directorate and the Australian Cyber Security Centre have highlighted that small and medium businesses of all types are significant targets.

Safeguarding your business

In Australia, Secom Technology is a specialist IT company for the hospitality industry focusing on IT security for club gaming systems. To ensure clubs have the maximum protection available, Secom utilises a multi-layer protection approach. First, starting at the perimeter with an approved application aware firewall device with intrusion detection and geo-filtering. The firewall solution is designed to protect its customers by managing outbound and inbound IP connections, stopping potential attacks and malicious software delivery potentially leading to the hacker having a dedicated connection back to the business.

In addition, the firewall’s integrated routing filter using Cisco plugin maintains suitable employee and guest internet access and prevents unintended access to potentially dangerous addresses on the internet.

The combination of perimeter security layers aims to protect the

sensitive data of the business including customer information.

The firewall’s intrusion protection targets the remote hacking, the firewall’s Cisco plugin protection targets unintended linking to dangerous internet addresses, and the firewall’s webpage filtering and application filtering maintains a suitable internet access policy for employees and guests.

The end point device PC or server protection and intervention is the last level of protection as the potential hacker or ransomware/ phishing email has reached the end point device on the network circumventing the businesses email and firewall protection. Previously, this relied on the traditional end point antivirus protection to stop

any potential software or operating system compromise, but with zero-day attacks, traditional antivirus protection was not enough.

The next stage in cyber protection is end point detection and response for PC’s and servers (continuous monitoring and responding to internet threats for end point devices). This solution is designed to continuously monitor your machine’s normal activity preventing dangerous software installation and phishing attacks being executed on the machine.

FIREWALL / EDR SOLUTION

Managing your network and ensuring every device is adequately protected can be a complex and costly task. Secom’s approach to layered cyber protection utilising the latest firewall technology and AI based end point protection simplifies network security with a single, modular, software platform designed specifically for hospitality related businesses.

Both the firewall and EDR products provide a dashboard that can make available indepth reporting or live webpage alert screens with custom widgets for fast visibility. Advanced content filtering ensures the business can set specific acceptable internet access policies for both staff and visitors. Advanced threat protection and VPN connectivity ensures all remote access is multi factor authenticated and logged. Application-based shaping for bandwidth optimization ensures maximum utilisation of internet bandwidth., The firewall delivers a comprehensive, enterprise-grade network security platform.

Features of the firewall include:

• Protecting purchases and customer information, both online and in person. for mobile payment systems such as Apple Pay

• Safe and secure Wi-Fi

• Ransomware and virus prevention

• Firewall that filters traffic based on IP address, protocol, and ports, which enables administrators to designate which systems and services are publicly available.

• Phish blocker that protects internal users from email phishing attacks and fraudulent pharming websites.

To investigate how Secom can assist you with your cyber security, please contact Secom Technology Group - Phone: 1300 781 224 or email info@secomtech.com.au