Pro Shop Contract
After careful consideration and in line with our strategic plan for 2022-2026, the Board of Directors has agreed with Teed Up Management Pty Ltd to mutually end our professional services contract, effective 31 January 2024. The communication sent to Members on 7 August can be viewed here.

The Board and Management are working on the details of the future Pro Shop structure and will be discussing any suitable opportunities with current staff over the coming months.

Lease offer from NBC
The proposed 30 year lease for the Club is currently under review following the 28 day public notification period. 

A report on the community submissions is currently being drafted by Council to present to the Councillors for the upcoming Council meeting. This report will also be made public and when available, the Club will post the details on the Club website and newsletter for viewing.

Clubhouse Compliance Works 
The construction works that are in progress in the kitchens and functions rooms are expected to be completed by 11 August.

There have been significant upgrades to the kitchen storage areas which will assist in improving the operations of the Café and Functions. These include an additional cool room, freezer room, furniture storeroom and rectifying non-compliant areas highlighted in the quarterly operations audits the Club carries out.

The construction process has been successful and is on track to be delivered under budget. More details and before and after pictures will be provided once the project has been completed.  We will invite Members to tour the new facilities once the team have settled in. Details will be forthcoming.

Bunker Construction
The Bunker Construction has continued to progress without any major interruption, the team currently finalising the 6th hole. Construction will then begin on the 14th hole and then to the 7th hole.

Whilst the primary focus has been on the Bunker Project, we have taken the opportunity to rectify some of the long term issues that have been present on the Course. Areas such as the drainage on the right side of the 18th fairway and low areas that retain water around the 6th green have been reshaped and turfed.

The Quartz Cowra sand continues to have supply issues and is the only factor that has hindered some bunkers returning to play. The quarry is currently supplying to several golf clubs across NSW and the number of deliveries to each Club per month is limited.

Updates will continue to be posted on the Members portal.

Clubhouse Master Plan
A site audit of the entire Clubhouse and its surrounds has been undertaken during the compliance work stage to provide a comprehensive understanding of the condition and structural integrity of the existing aging building and extensions. The Building Report will assist the Building Committee and Board to develop a Clubhouse Masterplan which will assist us to achieve our vision of being "The best beachside destination offering exceptional golf and hospitality experiences for our Members and community".

Proposed Board Walk Replacement
Following three consecutive years where king tides have caused significant damage to the public boardwalk on the track south of the 17th tee, the Council have proposed the redevelopment of the boardwalk.

The proposal includes an enviro tread boardwalk positioned higher than the existing boardwalk which will withstand the king tides that have frequented our coastline in recent times.

The plan will include relocation of the women's and social 17th tees 2 metres further into the Course.

The project is still under Council review and if approved, will take place in 2025. The Council will work with the Golf Club to ensure disruption is limited during the construction phase.

Financial Performance
This has been the most profitable year on record for the Club. A profit of $1.4 million. Total Club Revenues are up 23%, almost all of the growth coming through Food and Beverage. The functions (record weddings of 110), café and bar generated a contribution of $1.2 million up from just $500k last year. Compare that to other North Shore Clubs of similar size who average a loss of around $400k on F&B. We are $1.6million better off.

I must also provide context. We have already spent the profit. The Bunker Master Plan and the compliance works have sucked up all the profit for the year. We also have some significant outlays coming up. In addition to the development and execution of the Clubhouse Masterplan, the course irrigation system is very old and is being held together by the ingenuity of the Greens Staff. Replacement will be in the range of $1.5 million. We don't know when it will fail completely.

It is a huge credit to Ben and the team who have built the Food and Beverage business to levels that will enable us to continue meaningful investment in the course and Clubhouse.

I must also thank you, our Members, for your patience, not only with the inconvenience of the Bunkers and the Compliance works but also being understanding and accommodating of the ever increasing traffic of visitors supporting the Club's financial success.

The Audit of the Financial Statements and preparation of the Annual Report is currently underway and will be available in early September.

Board Elections
The Board election process commences in September and the Board for the following two years will be inaugurated at the Annual General Meeting on 26 October 2023. Information will be made available to Members in early September, however these are the key dates:

• 20 September - Nominations for Board open
• 4 October - Nominations for Board close
• 11 October - Ballot for positions on voting paper
• 12 October - Voting opens
• 22 October - Voting closes
• 26 October - Long Reef Golf Club AGM

We would like to encourage anyone wanting to volunteer to support our Club through an exciting transitional period (golf course renovations and Clubhouse modernization) to get in touch with me, Ben, or any other Board Member. We would like the opportunity to explain what being on the Board entails and how you can make a valuable contribution to your Club.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me if you would like clarification or further expansion on any of the items above.

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.

I am excited by the opportunity that lies ahead for our overall Golf Operations and the service that we intend to offer to our Members and our visitors. I trust as we communicate and roll-out our vision for the space and service, you too will see and enjoy the benefits ahead.

Success on the road
Congratulations to Lennox Cleary who won the Boys 14 & 15 years old age group at the recent Greg Chalmers Junior Masters at Shelley Beach. In addition to winning the nett prize, with rounds of 77 and 78, he came third in the gross event for his age group and finished a very creditable 12th out of an overall field of 90 boys. Well done Lennox!

Home success...but only just!!
Sunday 30th July saw the annual visit from our friends at Goulburn and it was good to see a few more younger guys making the trip up as that will ensure the ongoing success of what is the longest running inter-club competition in Australia. Long Reef did come out on top but only 5.5 to 4.5, which was too close for comfort around our own track.

For those of you perhaps interested in the return match at Goulburn please get in touch with Greg Dousset. The dates are confirmed as Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November.

Short Course
The observant ones amongst you have noticed black discs on all the fairways with the letters "SC" on them, To encourage beginners and give them the opportunity to ease their way into playing the full course, we have set up a "Short Course". The black discs will be the teeing area on each hole with holes ranging from around 100m (par 3s) to 270m (par 5s).

Congratulations to Vanessa Murphy and Nan Crump who played in the final of the Women's Captain's trophy on Thursday 3rd August. Vanessa gave Nan 14 shots. The game was close and both players played some great golf, with Nan getting to 3 up on the 11th hole, and then the score went up and down for a few holes and by the 17th the game was squared. Vanessa's drive on the 18th was very impressive and Vanessa went on from there to win the match 1 up.

Weekday 
Division 1: Diana Sier | Division 2: Cath Piper and Jie Cheng (Joint winners) | Division 3: Sonia Cordaiy

Weekend Winner
Jenni Brown 

These players now have the opportunity to play in the Metropolitan final at Liverpool Golf Club on Friday November 3^rd. 

Congratulations to the winners on Thursday 27^th July - Division 1 Gilda Severino (18) 36 pts, division 2 Fiona Bone (26) 38 pts, division 3 Helen Cregan (40) 38 pts. Gold Tee Fran Candrick (42) 36 pts and 9 holes Ann Henderson (37) 20 C/B. 

On Saturday 29^th July, congratulations to Janet Atchison(15) who won with +1. 

On Sunday 30^th the winner was Debbie Hankey (27) 36 C/b from Chez Hickman (31).

Thursday 3^rd August, congratulations to the winners - division 1 Helenka O'Connell (21) 38 pts, division 2 Julia Deere-Jones (28) 37 pts, division 3 Janine Banks (35) with an awesome score of 44, gold tee May Yeng (42) 34 C/B from Jeanette Black (45). 9 holes was won by Ondrae Heiser (38) 19 pts. 

Saturday 5^th August saw Jane Hagan (21) win the women's monthly medal with a nett 73.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy spending time with friends and family, cooking, Pilates, going on coastal and bush walks and have just taken on the challenge of learning to play golf - I'm really enjoying it but I definitely have A LOT to work on and learn! 

How long have you worked in LRGC?
I've worked at LRGC for almost 3 years now, I started in the Receptionist position which I loved as I got to regularly see and get to know all of our lovely Members. I now manage Membership and Marketing which I'm very much enjoying.

Fun Fact about our next 'Meet the Team' staff member Mel & I is that we both started at LRGC only a month or so apart and since then we have been frequently mistaken for each other around the Club - Next time you're saying "Hi Kim!" it might be Mel so double check!

"How many blondes does it take to write a good blonde joke? Apparently two and it still isn’t funny!"

Eric asked Terry to lift his ball as it was interfering with his stroke. Terry marked his ball and lifted it. Eric played his shot to the green and Terry replaced his ball just off the green. Before Terry putted a sudden gust of wind caused his ball to move and it moved onto the green ending on a spot about a metre from the hole.

Which is correct?

A) Terry must putt his ball from its new position.

B) Terry must replace his ball in its original position off the green

As Championship time approaches over the next four issues of the Reef Breezes Archive Committee member Mick Snell looks at our Champions from 2000 to the present. Mick is thanked for his research and for writing the articles. - Sandra Mellowes | Archives Committee

The next 3 Champions all won 2 titles each and between 2013 and 2018 dominated the Honour Board. Matt Saad won in 2013 and 2018. He relocated to Newcastle for employment opportunities and still plays regularly and very well. The oldest Champion is Geoff Cranfield. Geoff was successful in 2016 and 2017. His golf gets better with age and he was a member of the Australian Senior team in 2017 and 2018. He joined the Club as a junior and has been a regular member of our Representative teams. Geoff is a regular player whose dedication is a fine example to our younger members.

Mick Snell  | Archive Committee

Because Terry's ball had been lifted and replaced off the green, and been moved by the wind, a natural force, and ended in a different area of the course, the green, the ball must be replaced on its original spot. 

Rule 9.3  Exception 2 applies.

If the ball had continued to roll, ending in the general area off he green it would not be replaced.