JANUARY 2024 NEWSLETTER

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Another year has passed us by and we are now well and truly into 2024.  I hope that the year brings lots of good fortune to the club we all love and to all members and families.  A special Cerberus welcome to all our new members who may have joined over the past month or so.  It is pleasing to see the new faces appear including those who may be new to the area.  There is plenty of information for all members located on the club’s website and I encourage everyone to take a look.  I have deliberately left some recent newsletter items in this edition for the benefit of new members.

Victoria’s summer season is proceeding as normal.  Yesterday, temperatures into the 30’s and on Wednesday, plenty of solid rainfall to quench the dry areas of the course – not to mention our yards.  Hand watering has been necessary over recent weeks as some of the greens have been showing the signs of drying. Many thanks to those undertaking the hand watering.

Rainfall: My home rain gauge tells me that about 10 mm has fallen today already.  December was 65 mm and for the month of January so far 71mm has fallen.  This replenishment should keep us in good shape heading into the rest of summer and is well timed considering the completion of irrigation works just this week.

Thanks to our Volunteers:  Huge thank you to all who help out around the course and the club house.  As said often, we could not survive without such loyal supporters.  Don’t forget, if you have time on your hands and feel like helping out either on the course or around the club house please let Pat Foy or our manager, Danny Shine, know. 

Volunteers of the Month – January:  Committee has chosen to recognise the efforts of the volunteers last Monday who facilitated the irrigation works on the 8^th fairway.  The members were: Bruce Thompson, Kevin Anderson, Norm Schmidt, Murray Sells, Mark Duggan, Dirk Rynaard, and Geoff Bell.  Huge thanks to each of you – Bravo Zulu.

Equality Matters Update:  As many members would realise by now the long running VCAT matter that the club has been involved in was finally ended with the Senior Member’s judgement promulgated on 3 January.  The decision is in the club’s favour with the claims being dismissed.  The detailed judgement in full is available to read on the VCAT website.

Shop Bargains:  Good bargains a plenty in the golf shop.  Great shirts and jackets and plenty of golfing hardware for members to spend their hard won shop credits.  Danny does a Stirling job of sourcing apparel and all equipment.  Check out the shop and don’t forget if there’s something you need and it’s not in stock, speak to Danny and he may be able to get it in for you at a very good price.

Private Golf Cart Insurance:  The committee has a requirement that all private carts used on the golf course be fully insured by owners/users.  This is because the respective carts or incidents they may be involved in are not covered by the club’s insurances.  Most members have the carts added to their domestic insurances and this is reportedly a simple process. Members affected are requested to see Danny ASAP to provide evidence of annual insurance cover.

Consumption of Alcohol at the Club:  Committee has recently determined that NO PRIVATE ALCOHOL is to be brought to the club for consumption either in the clubhouse or out on the course.  Committee considers it a reasonable expectation that all alcohol consumed by members be sold by the club for the overall benefit of the club, and to accord with Responsible Service of Alcohol guidelines.  Members should be cognisant of the amount of alcohol consumed, including prior to and during competitions, so that other players are not adversely impacted.

Dress on the Course and Around the Clubhouse – Green Fee Players Only:  Committee has recently determined that green fees players are now permitted to wear shirts without collars. This will not be widely published and will not apply to club members.  Committee has decided to retain current member dress policy.

Non-Wearing of Caps Within the Clubhouse:  Members are advised that the long held tradition of not wearing caps while inside the clubhouse will be continued.  Non Navy personnel may not be aware that hat’s/caps are not normally worn indoors including in messes and some other environments.  The clubhouse is considered our ‘mess area’ and by not wearing headwear we are also paying a ‘mark of respect’ to those who have gone before us. Members are requested to continue to ‘politely’ enlighten green fees players and other visitors when they attend the club.

Holes in One:  Committee has decided that all ‘holes in one’ completed on the course during ‘any club competition’ – nine holes included will be recognised.  This will include suitable mounting of the ball at club expense and details recorded on the club’s honour board.

Repeated Important News – New Defence Housing for HMAS CERBERUS

As part of the most recent Strategic Review Defence recently confirmed intentions to construct an additional 60 new homes in the Cerberus married quarter areas.  This has been spoken about in very broad terms at the past two club AGMs.  The new homes will include an additional 15 in close proximity to the clubhouse, this includes eight homes in the two grassed areas adjacent the current children’s playground.  Parking around the clubhouse will be affected and all golfers will need to use the two formal car parking areas once works begin.  Housing works is expected to get underway sometime in 2024 and run into 2025.

New homes (5) will also be positioned alongside Cook Rd near the 8^th green crossing track; some in vicinity to the 7^th green (17) where housing was removed some years ago; and an additional (20) homes positioned either side of Cook Rd close to the Cerberus cemetery.  The committee has been informed that these latter homes will likely impact directly on the 16^th tee and the green nursery areas.  Once the boundaries of the new homes are confirmed and the full ramifications known, the committee will initiate alterations to the course layout as required.

Repeated Important – Commonwealth Lease Arrangements Set To Change

Many club members will recall me referring to the current Commonwealth Lease that licences the club to operate a golf course.  The current lease was due to expire at the end of January 2024 but this will no longer occur, due mainly to a recently initiated Defence Review of all commonwealth land being used for recreational purposes.  There are nine Defence golf courses in total.  Defence has advised that the current terms of our present lease agreement will be extended for up to one year.  Committee is still awaiting the findings of the review which was due to be completed by end of last year.   

Finally, on behalf of all committee I wish you great golfing during the year ahead!

Regards,

Steve Wright
President CGC