Club Email

Below are notes from the Board Meeting and Annual General Meeting held on 28 November 2024

Late Cancellations

The Board and Management often receive feedback about the demand on timesheets, in particular Wednesday and Saturday. Having closely monitored the timesheets over the past 6 months, it's evident that many Members are booked in with no intention of playing.

There have been 18 Wednesday competitions since July where the weather has been deemed reasonable and more than 200 Members played. Each of these days had a waitlist 24 hours after the timesheet opening, yet there was an average of 17 vacancies at the end of the competition teeing off.

As we enter the holiday season, the number of Members wishing to play increases and further pressure is placed on the timesheets. Members often book the regular fourball, aware that a playing partner is unavailable. Please do not book yourself or a playing partner on the timesheet if you are aware that you/them are unavailable. OR cancel as soon as you realise you can't play.

MiClub have recently released a report listing Members who have cancelled from the timesheet and how long prior to their time. The Golf Committee is reviewing this report daily and in drafting a late cancellations policy.

Medical Dispensation for Golf Carts

The medical cart discount was introduced to assist Members unable to walk the course for medical reasons AND with reduced financial capacity. The intention was to assist in keeping those Members actively playing golf longer.

However over time the discount has been too broadly claimed such that at present over 55% of Member carts are hired with a discount claimed.

The Club is reinvesting at a Capital Cost of $580,000 in a new fleet of Golf Carts and needs to ensure the original objectives of the medical cart discount is restored.

Members who wish to receive the discounted golf cart due to permanent incapacity to walk the Golf Course, must submit/resubmit their medical certificate and completed application form and return to membership@lrgc.com.au. The medical discount will only be available to those Members who are restricted to the use of a cart to complete 18 holes. Members who walk some days and ride in a cart other days will be ineligible.

Members who provide the appropriate documentation and are approved will receive an identification on their Member profile only visible to the Golf Shop staff. The staff have been informed that from 1 February 2025, the discount can only be applied to those approved.

Course Renovations 2025

An increase in rounds played over the many years has provided a challenge for the Course staff to carry out seasonal maintenance such as fairway renovations, and in recent years this has become evident in the turf quality. The bi-annual 2 day Course closure in August 2025 will be extended to 5 days, to provide an opportunity to complete a full fairway renovation. The closure is scheduled from Monday 18 August 2025 to Friday 22 August 2025, providing sufficient time for recovering and prime growth going into the Club Championships.

The Club will look at other opportunities for Members during this week.

1A Green Construction

Construction of the additional green 1A at the first hole is nearing completion. Turf will be laid on 10 December and the green will be seeded in the days following. The green will be fenced off and under no circumstances should a player access the green. Walking on the surface in the early stages will cause growing issues.

Clubhouse Master Plan

In November the Building Committee held a pre-lodgement meeting with Northern Beaches Council and the Design Sustainability Advisory Panel. Feedback from both meetings were positive and the Building Committee continue to prepare the various reports required for DA submission in early 2025. A more informative update will be provided to Members once the formal feedback is received from these two meetings.

Safe and Happy Holiday Season

On behalf of the Board and Management, we want to thank each and every one of you for your ongoing support and hope Long Reef Golf Club has provided you with many great moments in 2024. We wish you a safe and joyous festive season with friends and family and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

Keith Warren | President

Note: This document is not intended to be a minute of the relevant Board meeting but is intended to provide members with a summary of the significant decisions made or issues discussed by the Board at its most recent meeting. Certain matters may be commercially sensitive, subject to privacy considerations or otherwise confidential and will not be included in this summary document.

From your Captain

Handiskins

On Saturday 30^th Tony Holley, Ian Perrin, Mark Gilligan and Michael Dennis played for a purse of $1200 in the Handskins play off. Although all four won skins, the winner with the biggest purse was Mark Gilligan (below left) who won $560. Well done Mark.

Snake Spotted on the Course

This Black Bellied Swamp Snake (below right) was spotted on Wednesday 4^th December on the 12^th tee in the mulch next to the blue markers. Just a reminder to be careful if looking for golf balls in the rough as there have been other sightings of snakes around the course!

Upcoming Events

Saturday 14^th December is the Christmas Invitation Day - shot gun starts at 7:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Saturday 21^st December is the annual Christmas Dress up Day - dress up in your best festive attire and join us for a fun day playing a 4-person Ambrose event. There will be a prize for the best dressed!

Saturday 11^th January is the second round of the Stroke Play Cup

As this is the last Newsletter for 2024 I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and I look forward to another great year of golf at Long Reef Golf Club in 2025. I would like to make special mention to the following groups and staff at the Club.

Admin

Thank you to Ben and his staff who have made 2024 another successful year at Long Reef Golf Club. The front office, Bar, catering and events staff have all contributed to making this year such a success.

Pro Shop

Thank you to Jenny and her team for their wonderful support and service throughout the year. They have ensured our competitions, social play and special events have been very successful for our Members and guests.

Course

A big thank you to Kurt, who along with his team, has made significant improvements to the course since taking on the role of Course Superintendent this year.

Volunteer Work Group

I would also like to acknowledge the work of the Course Volunteers who every Tuesday work to improve the course by tidying up the gardens, removing felled trees/limbs and weeds, as well as planting new trees and shrubs.

Archives

To Sandra and the archive team, thank you for your regular articles in the fortnightly newsletter. It is always interesting to read about the people and events that have made a significant contribution to the history of the Club.

Results

Wednesday 27^th November- Single Stableford with a 4BBB and a field of 206.

The winner and score of the day went to Craig Roberge with a score of 45 points.

Full results

Saturday 30^th November - Medley Par - Hudson Shield and 4BBB with a field of 94.

The winner and score of the day went to Richard Spence with a score of +5.

Full Results

Wednesday 4^th December - Single Stableford and 4BBB with a field of 236.

The winner with a great score of 47 points, as well as score of the day, went to Gary Milsted.

Full Results

Saturday 7^th December - December Medal - Round 1 of the Stroke Play Cup with a field of 157.

The winner of the Men's December Medal and score of the day went to Jonathan Moss with a Nett 66.

The winner of the Women's December Medal was Jenni Brown with a Nett 72.

Full Results

Rob Cordaiy | Captain

From your Women's Committee

One tee start

From Thursday 19 December 2024 we will commence with a one tee start. The first tee time will be 6.30am.

4^th Tee

The trial use of the front of the men's tee on the 4^th hole will continue through to the end of January 2025. Remember all those playing from the red tee markers will hit off the front of the men's tee on the 4^th on a Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Christmas Fun Day

The Christmas Fun Day will be held tomorrow, 12 December 2024. The event will be 3 clubs and a Putter - Team Stableford with 2 scores to count on each hole. No sharing of clubs. There will be some standard holes and some fun holes to play. Cards will be used for scoring not your Miscore app with only one person being responsible for filling out the card on the day.

Opening Day - Weekday and Weekend

The weekday Opening Day will be held on 30 January 2025 and the Weekend Opening day will be held on Sunday 2 February 2025.

For weekday players the sheet will be in the locker room from 9 January 2025. Further information about lunch and payment for the day will also be provided on 9 January 2025.

For Weekend players all 6 and 7 day players are eligible to play in the Weekend Opening Day. A sheet will be available in the locker room from 9 January 2025, for you to place your names if you wish to play.

Northern District Pennants

For any women interested in playing pennants next year the draft draws for Silver Salver, Bronze Plaque, Bronze II and Bronze IV 2025 are on the notice board.

Ladies Charity Day 2025

Thank you to all the women who voted in our poll to decide who our next charity will be. It was an overwhelming result with Women and Children First coming out on top. We look forward to raising money next March in our ladies charity day.

Results

Tuesday 26 November 2024 Division 1 was won by Lynne Clayton (18) with 39 points from Jenni Brown (13) with 37 points, Division 2 was won by Gay Mccorby (28) with 40 points from Di Heffernan (27) with 39 points, division 3 was won by Amanda Savage (35) with 39 points from Dianne Muncke (32) with 37 points. Division 4 was won by Libby Cleary (42) with 39 points from Val Hindmarsh (42) with 36 points. The nine-hole competition was won by Mary Payne (38) with 20 points from Kathie Nelson (39) with 18 points.

Thursday 28 November 2024 the Canadian Foursomes was won by Karen Smith and Jennifer Jansson with 67.375 nett from Camilla Lassen and Rachel Buxton with 69.5 nett, third was Chris Perry and Sally Hill with 70 nett, fourth was Clare John and Marilyn Denner with 71 nett and fifth was Ali Gattas and Diana Sier with 71.375 nett. The nine-hole Canadian Foursomes was won by Jeanette Nell and Judy Hore with 40.375 nett.

Monday 2 December 2024 Moira Rowland (27) finished second in C Grade with 37 points.

Tuesday 3 December 2024, Division 1 was won by Jeanette Reitzer (22) with 40 points from Gretel Watson (19) with 37 points, Division 2 was won by Jie Cheng (23) with 37 points from Jan Daniel (31) with 36 points, Division 3 was won by Lynne Ashton (35) with 43 points from Margaret Lavers (38) with 40 points, division 4 was won by Heidi Lillyman (41) with 36 points from Susan O'Brien (48) with 34 points. The nine-hole competition was won by Kerry McCallum (40) with 18 points from Mary Locke (45) with 17 points.

Thursday 5 December 2024 division 1 was won by Emma Thurlow (9) with 39 points on a c/b from Rachel Buxton (9), third was Ali Gattas (15) with 39 points. Division 2 was won by Marilyn Denner (28) with 44 points from Julia Deere-Jones (24) with 42 points from Robyn Lyon (26) with 41 points. Division 3 was won by Jo Bellemore (41) with 42 points from Sonya Cordaiy (37) with 39 points from Heidi Lillyman (39) with 38 points. Division 4 was won by Libby Cleary (42) with 41 points from Therese Hettler (46) with 38 points from Chris Perry (48) with 38 points. The nine-hole competition was won by Maryanne Yeldham (51) with 24 points from Ondrae Heiser (40) with 23 points.

Saturday 7 December 2024 stroke round was won by Jenni Brown (13) with 72 nett.

Up Coming Fixtures

12 December 2024 - Christmas Fun day - 3 clubs and a putter
30 January 2025 - Weekday Opening Day
2 February 2025 - Weekend Opening Day (open to all 6 and 7 day players)
Sue Kruse PSM | Women's Captain

This year, we've experienced significantly more rainfall, recording a total of 1248.mm compared to 793.8mm last year. In the past fortnight alone, 45mm of rain has fallen on the course, and our dams are now at 95% capacity.

The last two weeks have been busy period for the course improvements. We've re-turfed the back of the 13^th and 3^rd tees to address wear and tear. These areas are already looking fantastic and should be ready for play by the January Medal. Additionally, we've re-turfed several pathways ends, including on the 13^th,17^th,6, and near the seat at the back of the 18^th green, ensuring these worn out areas are refreshed and ready for heavy foot traffic over the peak season.

The couch tees are recovering well after their recent major renovation. It's been great to see their improvement, and they're performing as expected. We are also working on removing Queensland blue couch from some of tees. While this is an ongoing project, the progress has been promising.

Looking ahead, 1A green is taking shape nicely. Turf was laid yesterday and seeding of the green will take place on Thursday. To protect the area during its establishment phase, our team installed a temporary fence to prevent damage from golfers, dogs, and foot traffic. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated as we ensure the success of this new green.

As we approach the festive season, we would like to wish all Members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It's been a privilege to take on the challenge of Superintendent this year and I've thoroughly enjoyed working with the team to improve the Course for everyone. We excited about what 2025 will bring and look forward to continuing to enhance your golfing experience at Long Reef.

Kurt Schulenburg | Course Superintendent

From your Golf Shop

As we count down to Christmas, pop in to check out our 12 Days of Christmas Sale starting this Friday! It's the perfect opportunity to grab some fantastic deals for yourself or as gifts.

As the year draws to a close, I want to thank you, our Members, for your incredible support throughout the transition of taking over the Golf Shop. Your support has been vital during this transition. By purchasing from the Golf Shop, you're directly supporting your Club, and we appreciate your loyalty. We're also committed to offering you convenience and exceptional service, including price matching to ensure you always receive the best value.

A huge shoutout to my amazing team - Danny, Michael, Wayne, Lee, Oli, Dave, Billy, Will, Lennox, and Sam. Together, we've worked hard to create a solid team dedicated to delivering a Member experience that's second to none. It's been an absolute pleasure working alongside such a committed group of Professionals.

Lastly, I'd like to wish all our Members a safe and Merry Christmas. I'm looking forward to an even better 2025 as we continue to grow and enhance the services and experiences here at Long Reef.

Thank you once again for your support, and I'll see you on the Course! (I promise to get out more!)

Jenny Schulenburg | Director of Golf

Long Reef v Goulburn

A few hardy souls ventured to Goulburn for the annual Long Reef visit to Goulburn on Sunday 10^th November.
Goulburn were too good on the day winning 7 games to 3. Thanks to Long Reef for prizes and to Goulburn for hosting this long standing event.
We are looking forward to hosting Goulburn on the last Sunday in July.

From The Bar & Cafe

Our Café Christmas & New Year Hours:

24th Dec Xmas Eve 9:00am - 3:00pm

25th Dec Christmas Day CLOSED

26th Dec Boxing Day 9:00am - 3:00pm

31st Dec New Year's Eve 9:00am - 4:00pm
Note: Limited menu & seating, the terrace will be closed. Members area will be open. Coffee and snack items will be available for purchase until 4pm.

1st Jan New Years Day 11:00am - 3:00pm
(coffee available from 9:00am)

Rules with George | Question

Question: Alan was playing in a stroke round and had started at the first hole. After he putted out on the 6^th hole he became aware that he had 3 wedges in his bag and when he counted his clubs he saw that he had 15 clubs in his bag. He was not sure which of his clubs he had used , and was not certain of his penalty.

Which is correct?

A) Alan is penalized for the 6^th hole so must adjust his score for that hole adding 4 strokes penalty.
B) Alan gets 4 strokes penalty for all six holes he has played.`
C) Alan gets 4 strokes penalty for the first holes at which he had 15 clubs. The first hole.

Will Gobbe | Mechanic - Greens Team

Tell us about yourself
Hi. I'm Will and I'm the mechanic at LRGC. I grew up in Mona Vale and I did my apprenticeship in marine diesel mechanics working on Pittwater on pleasure boats. My father is the golf course mechanic at Wakehurst Golf Club. I have a sister and 2 nieces. I enjoy working with Kurt and the rest of the team here at Long Reef.

What are your hobbies, what do you like to do on your days off?
I like to surf/ relax at the beach. and projects at home. I like to see my mates also a few times a week.

How long have you worked at LRGC?
I have worked at LRGC since November 2023 and absolutely love it!

The Friday Club will return in February 2025.

From the Archives - Thank you and Happy Christmas 2024

It is time to say a big thank you to all those who have contributed to the Archives over the year. The aims of the Archive Committee are pretty simple as we try to preserve all we have, learn more about our history and all the people that have made it happen, inform, and record the now for the future.

The Archive committee, a special group of enthusiasts include Life Members Judy Hore, Les Browne, Mick Snell and Steve Twigg. There are also the worker bees Joy Reece, Pam Burke, Kerry McCallum and Kimberley Conaty. Special duties and responsibilities are shared as we all squirrel away. We are thankful for those members who make donations to the memorabilia collection and make themselves available for interviews with stories to tell.

The newsletter has become an historical record of the club and I thank all the contributors and Ben, Kim, Ian and Mitch for compiling it every two weeks. Lilith Gollan often comes to mind when I read it. As a member of the Women's Committee and the Board over 20 years ago she was responsible for reviving the Reef Breezes, which had ceased publication. For years she spent every Friday afternoon putting together the few pages of the weekly printed newsletter acting as our "Editor in-Chief." She would be so proud to see how far it has come with contributors from all areas of the club and illustrated with colour photos and released fortnightly on-line.

It is always gratifying when comments are received from members who have moved away but have a lasting interest in the club. The emails and comments from Life Member Sandra Gillies, Sue Hardy from Queensland and Pam Robison from Ballina are gratifying. It is also gratifying that Lilith's name will be heard every year when the Lilith Gollan trophy is held.

The Women's committee do a wonderful job of photographing all events and winners creating another resource for the archives and newsletter articles. There is always a photographer on hand, but I thank Veronica Bertram particularly as she has provided so many photos for our records this year which have been archived by Kerry McCallum.

Lilith was also responsible for making sure we were going to be ready for the centenary celebrations in 2021 and that the old ledgers that we did have in the back cupboards were preserved. The unelected committee grew from this idea in 2011.

Part of what we have done is to remind the present day members of the past achievements and the club's special "birthdays" - for example:

the day it all started in 1921
when our professional won the Stonehaven Cup in 1930
the year we became an 18 hole club in 1932
when we nearly lost it all in 1943
when the Wetlands project started in 1996 and took until 2020-21 to complete
who is the youngest, oldest most frequent Champion etc.
With this in mind it is with apologies I realised this week that I have missed a special anniversary! 60 years and a few months ago on 21st August 1964 Life Member Les Browne (above left) joined Long Reef.
Congratulations and thank you Les for all that you have done for the club over all these years as a player, and an administrator. Thank you for being the Archive's living book of knowledge and sounding board!
As the new year approaches the main aim, without a doubt is to invite new blood to the Archive committee. We would love to hear from anyone who would like to help and become a guardian of our past and a record keeper of the now for the future. Please speak to any of the members listed above or the helpful elves in reception!
Happy Christmas everyone.
Sandra Mellowes | Archives Committee