A Message from Your CEO
It has been a whirlwind three weeks since becoming CEO of the Heritage Golf and Country Club. Many of you have taken the opportunity to introduce yourselves to me, in and around the Clubhouse, and I thank you. It is great to meet the members of this amazing club!
I am delighted to introduce the latest edition of our newsletter. Each month we plan to bring you news on what is happening on our courses and around the club, as well as flagging upcoming events.
As we move into winter, and hopefully the weather will still allow us to play the game we love, I am looking forward to seeing many more people at the club, enjoying our great facilities.
I wish you and your families good health, and I look forward to what will be an amazing journey at Heritage.
Best wishes,
Brett Nelson
Membership Update
To start, I would like to thank each of our members for their on-going support and commitment to Heritage as we navigate towards what is shaping to be an exciting future.
As members, we already have much to appreciate. The investment to improve our courses has been significant, however it is worth noting that future investment will play a pivotal role in ensuring members enjoy a premium experience, in every sense whenever they pass through the front gates.
To support the financial costs associated with operating a 36-hole facility, and to bring the managing of our membership in-line with all major Melbourne golf clubs, from 8 May 2023, the following changes will take effect.
The option to pause or stop memberships payments for the purposes of travel or any other reason will not be afforded. The practice of this process is not commonplace within the industry and cannot continue in its current form.
The option to pay subscriptions in installments will continue, with administration fees and credit card fees continuing to assist with processing and related costs.
Heritage is one of the best value for money clubs in Victoria and is the premier golfing facility in the region and is currently enjoying membership growth.
On behalf of management, I thank you once again for your on-going support and I look forward to seeing you at the Club soon.
Green Fee Review
In noting member feedback and after undertaking an extensive review of our green fee pricing structure, I am pleased to advise the following reduced fee structure which will be implemented from 1 May 2023.
Guest and Visitor green fees:
Monday to Friday $100.00 – Second Rounds: all second rounds (36 holes) to be charged at 50% of the respective green fee rate.
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays $120.00 – Second Rounds: all second rounds (36 holes) to be charged at 50% of the respective green fee rate.
I encourage members bring their friends and golfing colleagues to the Club to show them how good the courses are and to enjoy the overall Heritage experience.
Cart Barn News
We are pleased to advise the use of golf shuttle carts for the purposes of travel to Henley and back will once again be offered at no charge from 1 May 2023. To obtain a cart to use as a shuttle, please see our friendly golf operations staff who will provide cart access. Members 80 years and above will also be able to use golf carts at no charge from this date.
We are excited to announce that we now have more golf bag storage available for our members. For just $300 a year, you can enjoy safe storage of your golf bag, with the added convenience of having your clubs ready to go before playing and cleaned after your round. To sign up for our golf bag storage service or to learn more, please contact our staff in the Pro shop.
A kindly reminder to all members who smoke during a round of golf, please ensure you remove used cigarette butts from golf carts at the completion of your round as the removal of said items is not pleasant for our employees.
Members hiring golf carts must, in all instances, follow the instructions from the GPS units. Please note, members are not permitted to turn off GPS units at anytime as this has the potential to damage the system.
Club Competition Update
We will now be conducting Mixed Multi Tee competitions throughout the week and encourage members to join the daily competition. Not only does this help to maintain accuracy with your handicap, but also encourages a more competitive round of golf with your friends.
Course News
Members will note works being undertaken on Hole 5 RHS fairway bunker on the St John course. Due to our clay undersoil, the bunkers on both courses are prone to flooding during heavy rainfall in the winter months. To combat this, our course maintenance team are continuing a bunker restoration program to ensure our bunkers drain, are ready for play with 24 hours, or as early as possible. Each bunker requires a three (3) stage approach during the restoration process. First, the bunker is cleaned, and material removed. Second, a unique product is applied to the bunkers base, this is called Capillary which hardens like concrete texture. This material promotes drainage like the natural sandbelt region. The final process being a specific sand used for bunkers on clay undersoil courses is obtained from a Melbourne Sand and Soil company, placed in bunkers – then levelled. The images below show the process of undertaking this task by our course maintenance team. From my point of view, the team is doing an outstanding job and I would like to personally congratulate them all!
To support our greatest assets, our courses, and in discussion with Superintendents Jason and Jordan, a course maintenance program has commenced each fortnight on each course. The main driver for this decision is to provide adequate support to each course maintenance team, ultimately resulting a superior product for members to enjoy. Interesting to note, all tier 1 golf courses in the US adopt a similar approach whereby they close the course every Monday to ensure course maintenance can undertake their duties without interruption. This process will work well at Heritage as we have an advantage over most other courses, we have 36 holes at our disposal.
During the closures, the Course Manager will work their course (the open for play course) with an employee to set up the course for the days play. All other employees will be deployed to the other course to undertake various tasks as set out by the Course Manager.
The resulting outcome will be superior presented courses due to the additional resources completing a range of course care programs.
Upcoming Event
Presentation Day is Sunday May 21st. We encourage members to come along and enjoy the festivities as we celebrate our Champion players for the year. There is a 4BBB Stableford Shotgun start event at 8:30am, followed by Lunch in the Yarra Room at 1pm. Bookings are now open online.
Get to know our new CEO – Brett Nelson
With over 25 years experience in the golf industry, Brett is well versed in Golf Club Operations and has a big vision for The Heritage. He is keen to get started and meet as many members as he can. Here’s a brief Q&A to get to know him better.
What’s the most exciting thing you’re looking forward to about your role at The Heritage?
Meeting members and employees with a view to develop connections with the Heritage family. Heritage is a sleeping giant which is slowly awakening so the golfing world needs to be ready as we drive towards an exciting future.
Do you hold any qualifications?
BMI Diploma, HR accreditation, H&S compliance accreditation, qualifications in Turf Management and sadly, a failed professional golfer who still enjoys playing this great game!
Do you have any mentors in your professional life?
Yes- I am very fortunate to have many influences in my professional and personal life. My father is a mentor who I lean on when needed.
How would your friends describe you?
Good question- not totally sure but I am a very loyal person.
What is your golf handicap?
I am currently playing off 0.8. The lowest handicap I achieved was plus 3 when I was playing Pennant for Yarra Yarra.
Do you play any other sports?
I am an avid runner and enjoy exercise. I am trying to live a healthy lifestyle, but it is challenging during winter!
Which football team do you follow?
The mighty Tigers!
What other interests/hobbies do you have?
I enjoy food with a particular focus on Asian cuisine. I absolutely love coffee and a Pinot Noir from Mornington or the Yarra Valley. Watching the Tigers at the G with family are special moments- well the 2019 Premiership will stay with me for the rest of my life!
What is your idea of a perfect day?
Hanging out with my family which is so entertaining.
What’s your favourite thing to do on weekends?
The perfect Sunday would look like: walk the dogs with my wife early, go out for brunch before settling down to watch Richmond thump the Cats at the G. To celebrate the victory, a glass of Pinot Noir served with anything Asian inspired.
What are three things still left on your bucket list?
Attend the US Masters, visit Japan and play more golf on the east coast of America.
