President Update
September 2023
Spring has arrived!! Recent weeks have given us beautiful sunny days with a reminder that summer is just around the corner. The course, as usual is in magnificent order; Course Superintendent Ben Simons and his team continue to do a wonderful job.
At a recent management committee meeting we had updates on the course and food and beverage, and I take the opportunity to update the members on some interesting matters.
~ Irrigation Replacement Programme. As reported in Membership Matters, the 17th hole was completed, and it is the last fairway to be upgraded, at this stage. The exception were holes 2, 3, 4, 5 & 18 which are identified to change with the proposed development. There will be some further work in 2024 but this will not impact course availability. Overall, for the whole installation there has been 14.5km of pipe laid, along with 467 irrigation sprinklers.
~ The course capex replacement plan is a live document that is addressed annually to replace the club’s older units and we are grateful for the local funding authorities that have contributed to the cause. This year we have been fortunate with some applications and not so fortunate with others.
~ Two pieces of equipment that are identified next is a Greens roller and a Greens mower, which interestingly, will be a hybrid unit.
~ The irrigation has been the priority which means the slash piles have been left and the burning of these will now be a winter of 2024 task because of a risk of re-igniting.
~ You may have noticed the drinking water is coloured and tainted, (not harmful) - mainly holes 8, 13 and 16. The problem was aged water lines and we have confirmed replacement, at a $14,000 cost, to be completed as soon as possible with hot weather looming. Unfortunately, they couldn’t be linked to the irrigation lines in any way as the irrigation lines are untreated and that water is unsafe to drink.
~ We are without a chef/cook again temporarily. We have secured another who is serving out notice at a current job, before starting with the club. The hospitality industry is very tough, and Grant and his team do one heck of a job to ensure the service and quality is of a high standard.
~ Besides golfing days, they have been promoting the café with Rugby World Cup breakfasts, luncheons for both Mother’s and Father’s Day and a Winter Solstice. These have been a great success. Thanks to members for supporting these events.
Personally, I believe Grant has built the club’s food & beverage offering to the highest standard I have seen at the Hastings Golf Club, excellent well-trained staff working very hard in difficult circumstances. A big thank you to Grant, Acacia, Becs & Crystal.
A thank you also to the team in the pro-shop. Brett, AJ, Sean, Harvey, Jasmine and Mat. We have had a busy year on the course – the influx from Napier and Maraenui was demanding but the pro-shop team managed the course well, at peak 264 players per day! Your contribution to the overall operation of the club is appreciated.
The budget for the 2023/2024 financial year was a part of the agenda at the Management Committee’s recent meeting.
Bearing in mind the constitution allows for a subscription increase of CPI + 5%, members will notice the overall sum paid this year will decrease in the new coming year. As the irrigation is complete to this stage, the levy, which was $115 each year, is no longer required.
The management committee moved the fairest increase to subscriptions would be the current rate of CPI, which is 6%.
We are fortunate that we have an outstanding General Manager in Michelle Campbell, who, along with the management committee is responsible for ensuring the finances are exceptionally well managed.
I take the opportunity to thank the management committee for their dedicated input and to Michelle and her team of Ben, Grant and Brett and all the club’s staff for ensuring the Hastings Golf Club, is a club, it’s members can be proud to be a member of.
Wayne Mudgway
Club President
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