Hi Members

Another year has come and gone, and it has certainly been a challenging one.

With four positions open for election to the Board this year, I know many of you spent time considering who you believed would best serve the club, over the next one to three years. I would like to thank every member who took the time to come to the club and cast a vote.

I would also like to thank the 99 members who attended the AGM. Your presence shows genuine commitment and engagement. Let’s aim to have even more members involved next year.

 

Transparency and Communication
It has come to our attention that some members feel the Board is not being fully transparent about certain matters occurring around the club. I want to address this directly.

Transparency is a core value for us, and we take these concerns seriously. Our goal is to ensure that all members feel informed and confident about the decisions and activities of the Board. To that end, we will:

  • Provide regular updates on key decisions and initiatives through our official communication channels.
  • Offer opportunities for questions and feedback at upcoming meetings and via email.
  • Publish summaries of Board discussions where appropriate, so members have visibility into the reasoning behind decisions.

A few members have asked us to consider introducing electronic voting, believing it may increase participation. The Board reviewed this during our strategic planning meeting earlier this year and determined the cost of implementing such a system, including the constitutional changes required, would be significant.

While we continually explore ways to improve our processes, it’s important to note that electronic voting has not yet gained full confidence at local, state or federal government levels.  Given this, it is difficult to justify a substantial investment from a club of our size into a system that has not been clearly proven to be more effective than our current process. Additionally, in-person voting encourages members to visit the club, share a meal or a drink, and stay engaged with our community, which is an important part of who we are.

Our priority remains ensuring fairness, accuracy, and accessibility in all voting procedures.  We will continue to monitor developments in this area and revisit the discussion if evidence shows clear benefits for our members and the club. 

 

Strategic Planning
As reported in the Annual Reports and reiterated by our CEO at the AGM, the Board has actively pursued strategic planning throughout 2025.  At our Strategic Planning meetings held on 4 April and 23 September 2025, we had presentations from:

  • Harrison Golf
  • Hopkins Consultants
  • Commonwealth Bank.

In addition, the Board has engaged Cara Dale (C2Hills Consultancy) to assist with the development of our strategic plan, grant applications, and council liaison.

These steps reflect our commitment to ensuring the club’s long-term sustainability and growth through expert advice and collaborative planning.

Key Approvals from the meetings

  • Proceed with DA for five new holes and new dams (see further information below)
  • Engage consultants for possible future development
  • Agreed in-principle an MOU with Arura Holdings for development opportunities.

Why Some Information Isn’t Shared Immediately
When the Board considers a new idea or project, there is a strict process we must follow. Before anything is announced publicly, we must:

  • Investigate the idea properly
  • Get accurate costings
  • Obtain plans
  • Seek quotes from multiple contractors
  • Ensure the proposal is realistic and beneficial

Sharing ideas too early, before we have confirmed details often leads to misunderstandings, rumours, or unnecessary concerns. In some cases, information has been leaked before we are ready, and we are then criticised for not being “transparent.”

Announcing ideas without proper investigation will only lead to greater frustration, if they later prove unviable. Our responsibility is to present members with projects that are fully considered and achievable.

 

Example:  The New Halfway House
A good example of this process is the proposed halfway house.  Over the past six months, we have been:

  • Identifying and engaging the right operator
  • Secured drawings
  • Negotiating the structure of the agreement
  • Obtained contracts drafted by our lawyers
  • Ensured both parties were fully satisfied

Had we shared this publicly before completing these steps, and the deal ultimately fell through, the backlash would have been significant.

As it stands, we are awaiting final plans before giving final approval. If successful, the halfway house will be located where the old driving nets are, with a deck surrounding the café. A contractor would run it, not the Club as we do not have the staff nor the desire to operate it ourselves. They will build and install the facility at their cost, operate 7 days a week, sell food and continue selling club-owned alcohol at no cost to us. It will initially run as a trial.

 

Feedback on the 7th Hole Redevelopment
Some members have asked why they were not consulted on the planning of the new 7th hole.

  • We engaged a highly regarded course architect to ensure the design meets professional standards
  • Competitive tenders from six development companies to deliver the best value and quality outcome.
  • Consulting all 1,500 members on design would have made the process unworkable. Everyone plays golf differently and has a different idea of what a hole “should” be.

The Board’s responsibility is to deliver a professionally designed, well-constructed golf course, not a committee-designed experiment. This approach ensures the integrity, playability and long-term sustainability of the course.

 

The Five New Holes
The same process will guide the upcoming development of the five new holes.

Some have asked whether this project needs member approval. This was already put to members in 2012, and the proposal was approved. A DA was lodged and secured shortly after, and early work began such as clearing between the current 2nd green and 3rd fairway and constructing the tee on the current Par 5 5th.  If this work had not been done back then, the DA would have lapsed.

Today, obtaining a new DA would be nearly impossible. Environmental regulations are tightening rapidly, and there is a real risk the government could revoke or restrict our existing DA in the future. Completing this project is not only beneficial, it is critical.

Some may ask, “Why change anything? Our course is great.”   Yes, but only because Steve and his team have worked miracles. Many of our greens are over 50 years old, with inconsistent turf species, shallow root systems and insufficient drainage. Our fairways look beautiful from a distance, but closer inspection reveals invasive carpet grass spreading rapidly. A species that cannot be removed without harming the surrounding turf.

Other clubs that failed to future-proof their courses are now struggling, and some have deteriorated to the point of being called “goat tracks”. We will not allow Port Macquarie to reach that point. The Board’s responsibility is to protect the long-term health of the course and that includes making decisions that safeguard the next generation of members, not just those of us here today.

We must begin somewhere and members chose the starting point back in 2012. If we delay any further, the cost of maintaining the course will rise dramatically and the club will eventually become too expensive to run.

 

Social Media Platforms
If at any time you have concerns about a decision, or if you hear rumours about what the Board is doing, the right and respectful approach is to speak directly with Ian or myself. We will gladly arrange a meeting to explain the reasoning behind our decisions and the direction we are taking. We are always open to discussing any concerns or grievances you may have.

Posting complaints or attacking Board members, management, or fellow members on social media is not only inappropriate and cowardly – it can lead to disciplinary action, including possible suspension. The club has a strict social media policy which applies to all members.

We fully support open communication and constructive feedback.  However, derogatory comments or personal attacks about management or board members on platforms that can be linked to Port Macquarie Golf Club will not be tolerated.

Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful and positive environment for all members.

 

In Closing

Thank you for taking the time to read this, for your support, and for your ongoing commitment to the club. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

If you have not yet booked your New Year’s Eve celebration at the club, please do so soon — seats are filling quickly.