As the year draws to a close I would like to pass on to you and your family our best wishes for the festive season on behalf of all of the staff and officials of Golf NSW.
2015 was a year of challenges and successes both on and off of the golf course. We saw two of our elite amateurs in Cameron Davis and Shelly Shin claim the Men’s and Women’s Australian Amateur Titles. Englishwoman Holly Clyburn was victorious in the Women’s NSW Open, and Victorian amateur Ben Eccles win the Men’s NSW Open Championship. To cap off a wonderful year of golf in NSW, PGA tour star Matt Jones took out the Australian Open title on his home course, The Australian Golf Club.
Away from the course we are at a time of great opportunity. We have the building blocks in place to capitalise on the opportunities that present themselves. Not only do we have the skills in our management team and staff, but we are equipped with the financial resources to undertake the programs that we believe will benefit golf across the State.
I am keen to see a major initiative to assist the growth of golf for both the men’s and women’s game. To that end we have put in place some exciting plans for 2016.
Golf NSW is constantly investigating new ways by which we can assist our member clubs across the State. Recently we initiated a Club Buddy Program to bring together clubs that can assist each other. This assistance can come in many forms, it could encompass advice in club operations, or with green keeping knowledge and skills. It could facilitate making equipment that is redundant for the use of one club available for use by another.
It's no secret that many country clubs face increasing challenges. We are hopeful that through the Club Buddy Program we can offer a new dimension of assistance.
The Club Buddy Program is a win-win for all involved and provides critical assistance to those clubs that most need it. I would like to urge all clubs to consider how they may assist other clubs across the State.
2016 will be a year full of exciting challenges and opportunities for Golf in NSW, and we look forward to sharing that exciting future with you.
All the best for the Festive Season,
John Robinson
Chairman, Golf NSW.
The Golf NSW offices will be closing for the year on Thursday December 24, and reopening for business on Monday January 4, 2016.