04/03/2016
Over the last 5 years our golf club has undertaken some major changes and redevelopment. The Board and myself, along with Steven Oliver have ensured that all members are kept informed of our progress and not hidden from our failures as we encounter them. No plans are kept secret.
As you are aware, our club is a very solid club and with great help from our membership, sponsors and the Bendigo Bank we are again, a financially secure and very viable business. We are intent on improving and developing a club that many more people will want to join.
Over the last 5 years, we have not been risk takers or in any way undertaken anything, that will be detrimental to our club.
We have worked on our facilities, with the great help of Bruce Arthur and Les Dixon and a volunteer crew too many to name. The facilities are far better, our playing numbers are double those from 5 years ago, our running debt, is half of what it was then, even though our expenses have almost doubled, due to extreme water costs, we are running a very good program and have many more plans for the future.
As President, I appreciate your support very much.
As you have been fully aware, from June 2013 since we began first discussions with the Eaglehawk Golf Club, we are not careless or secretive, we are open and transparent and very determined to make our golf club, a great club, one that you are very proud to be a member of.
We have refrained from spending money on our course as previously discussed, until a time that we are in a very secure financial position and that is coming soon.
When we do it, we will do it properly and with much consultation.
You gave your backing as members for the Board to investigate the merger option and we followed that path. That didn't quite work as planned! We honoured, our part regardless.
You gave a very big welcome to 126 fellow golfers, those who had lost their golfing home and made new friends by doing that.
You gave me as President, in a full members vote, the go ahead, to try and secure the land back from the liquidator and with the Bendigo Bank, we did it.
The reasoning was, that the opportunity of a lifetime was a possibility and we would never, ever, get ahead, without taking a chance like this one.
We have done all these things, for the good of the Bendigo Golf Club and the City of Bendigo, to make a better golf club for the future generation of golfers.
We knew the rezoning issue was going to be slow, time consuming and frustrating, but we have patience and we have determination and we have member support.
This week, we had optimism and hope, that a "visionary" City of Bendigo council, as they continually call themselves in their meetings, would see and understand, our "big picture" plan and offer to use their power and vision to help us get our plan on its way, a little quicker and a little more easily, they had the chance and the vote to do that.
Stick up your hand for the golfing community councillor, please, help, please.
We don't even want any money or handouts from you we just want your help to make Bendigo a better place at no cost to the ratepayers.
You will read media releases this week that show the Council didn't see our "big picture" and voted us down. For your information Councillors Cox, Lyons, Fyffe, Weragoda, Campbell, Ruffell & Williams all voted against our inclusion, Councillor Leach voted to amend and include us and Councillor Chapman was unable to vote due to a conflict of interest
Next time, they said!, You will be right.
I am shattered with this result as one paper quoted.
True, but not broken or finished!
I am shattered, for all our members who keep waiting, I am shattered, for the whole community, who are still waiting for a great destination golf course.
I am shattered, for the Eaglehawk people, those that had hoped a much loved 100 acres, one that is getting vandalised and destroyed would create a much bigger legacy for Bendigo.
I am also shattered, for the business hub of Eaglehawk, those working out there running businesses that would have witnessed a huge benefit with up to 1000 more people close to their shops, spending money with them once new homes were built on the golf course land.
What next?
Plan B of course! We are working through the Councils final recommendations and what they mean to us and what options come from that, but of course as we do at Bendigo Golf Club, we will listen and consult and keep you informed once it is determined where we are heading.
I would also like to thank the many members who took the time to express their views to the individual Councillors over the past week, by email, phone and in person. These were well delivered messages which has certainly awoken a passion in the club. The Councillors are now very aware of the "visions" of our members and the desire to create something special at our Club for the Greater Bendigo community.
Our message and plan has not changed and we will see this through please keep strong and supporting your club and playing as much as you can.
Good golfing
Bendigo Golf Club Management.
