Dear Members
It is with great excitement that we write and distribute this November e-newsletter to Members and Former Members regarding a number of changes, updates and developments at Heritage.
Our progress and shift in thinking has been inspired by our new Management team – which is focused on making significant changes and improvements. We have a new Managing Director Dr Cher Coad, a new-old General Manager Terrence Cooley, new Marketing and Events Manger Will McLean, new Marketing and Communications Manager
Ann McAllister.
Importantly, we now have an additional dedicated mobile phone in the Pro Shop.
The number is: 0437 525 770
We are completely mindful of the issues this problem was causing members and the added safety concerns and for this, we apologise. The new mobile will be kept with the person in charge of the Pro Shop each day. Please feel free to use it as required, particularly in emergencies. The mobile number will add to the service provided by the Pro Shop and will ensure that Members can contact the Club House as required. Telstra has been less than professional and refused to visit to assess the problem with the phone lines during COVID restrictions. We were encouraged to buy a package and self-install the system, and then the product required for the package they recommended was out of stock. As a result, we are now investigating the services that alternate providers might provide.
Proshop: back orders will be delivered to the proshop during the next few weeks. Due to COVID supply problems, we are expecting a large delivery of stock. As a result, we are offering 20% off selected clothing items and up to 40% off shoes. The Pro Shop has been rearranged to create a more even flow through to the desk. We have carefully spaced the items for sale, in keeping with COVID regulations and have ordered new stock for Spring and Summer from brands like FootJoy, Taylor Made, Daily, Sporte Leisure and Titleist. We have new clubs and putters. For more information email: proshop@hgcc.com.au
In addition, we know that many of you have been asking about the Pro Shop management. Let us confirm, the Pro shop has been restructured to offer a more professional service and it is our intention to create a warm and engaging environment. The Pro Shop is central to the golfing experience.
Marketing: A Social and Corporate Golf advertising campaign has been approved and will be running in the December and January 2022 editions of Golf Australia Magazine and Inside Golf.
Keep a look out for our full page ads and the impressive photos of St John take in April by Gary Lisbon. Please feel free to gather your friends, family and colleagues and access this great opportunity. You can email bookings@hgcc.com.au for more details.
Bridge repairs: The bridges are twenty years old and have served us well. We have assessed all twelve bridges and will begin work on five during the next few weeks. All are timber and some need a facelift and others need replacing. We will not be changing the design. Priority will go to the bridges that stop or alter play – because golfers can’t cross the lake. At The Henley, the bridge on the Second tee will be completely replaced – due to damage by floodwaters – and repairs will be made to the bridges on the Seventh and the Eleventh. We plan to start this work at The Henley next Monday – at the same time as the scarifying, to ensure there is the least amount of inconvenience to our Members.At St John, the three main bridges will be repaired. We expect the project will take around a month and be complete by mid-December.
Members incentive bonus: every Member that introduces a new Member to Heritage will receive a 10% discount on the following 12 months Membership fees. A ‘new’ Member is a person who has not previously been a Member at the Heritage Golf and Country Club.
Drones: We are in discussions with Jack Nicklaus to re-instate his Signature on the St John course and are excited to be moving forward with the support of the Jack Nicklaus team. Due to COVID restrictions, the Nicklaus people cannot come to Australia or visit Heritage just yet, so as a compromise – and at their suggestion – we will be providing video details using drone footage. Our drone operators have the required CASA approval which might require minor adjustments to play. Expect to see these drones over the course next week.
Coring is complete: The greens will be mowed down from 5ml to 3ml soon and will be running faster.
The Henley Bunkers: Work is about to recommence on The Henley bunkers. For some time, due to the movement of water on the course, the clay under the bunkers has been rising to the surface – which means silt has been forming and the clay has been blocking the water drainage back to the lakes. We expect to begin this process soon.
During COVID restrictions, St John staff worked on a drainage project to improve the turf quality in the surrounding area of the putting green. We installed drainage, which will improve the long-term aesthetics of this space. Previously, in the winter, we could not even get a mower through the area to maintain it, and this would lead to weed infestation and disease.
Scarifying on St John: We will be commencing scarifying; doing nine holes at a time to accommodate play on St John and to ensure Members can access the alternate nine holes. We are very aware that Members are excited to be back and playing after COVID restrictions, so while we don’t want to inconvenience Members, there will be no golf on those holes concerned during this period.
Flood gates: Our flood mitigation program is well underway and has proven itself last week during a major flood event. Our dam wall is working well and within 36 hours, the course was playable. We are the only course in the Yarra Valley where players can be assured they can play soon after a major rain event. Given these events are expected to become more frequent and prolific, we are planning to make additional improvements.
We will be adding a sensor activated flood gate down on the dam wall that will automatically check the water flow and open the gate; reducing the pressure and allowing exact amounts of water through the course and into the Yarra River. The system will be remotely controlled and will require underground drilling from the lakes down to the dam wall to run power to the gate.
The best for last . . .
The Retreat: The Management plan is to have The Retreat open before the end of November and we are working diligently to get this done. We are still waiting on some approvals from Yarra Ranges Council on the mechanical systems. We have certificates of approval for the swimming pool, the safety fencing and the doors. We envisage a staged opening and will have more news soon.
New Website and MiClub management system: We have signed a contract with MiClub for a completely new website. Our first development meeting is next Monday and the website will be launched by the end of January, 2022. In addition, we have purchased the MiClub management system and this is due for implementation around March, 2022. This will replace our current management and invoicing system, which we are sure will please all Members and our accounts team – as we have all struggled to make sense of the current system for many years.
Greens nursery: Many members have asked about the temporary fencing up near the Fourth on St John. Last year, we used the COVID period to fix the irrigation system and since then, we have sown the seed for our Bent and Fescue grasses. When a green is badly damaged, we typically have had to wait 13 weeks for it to grow back. By growing it ourselves in the new nursery, we can use it like turf and lift and replace it. Our plan is to be completely self-sufficient and to eventually rebuild our fairway nursery as well.
Twilight golf last Friday night – photo with thanks to Dana McLean
