I recently attended a district delegate meeting ( AGM) at which a Queensland Golf representative indicated that Golf Australia, the State Associations & Golf Link fees would all go up for 2008/09.
Golf Australia raised income in the 17 month period to 30 June 2007 of $6.2 million excluding tournament income ( tournaments run at a small loss).
Of this revenue only $286K went on game and club development and $713K on elite golfer programs.
THE BALANCE OF $5.2 MILLION WENT ON “GA” OVERHEADS, including $5.0 million on wages and admin expenses.
Do we need GA, and do we need increased fees for 2008/09 and where will the money go…more expenses???.
RESIST FEE INCREASES AT YOUR CLUB AND DISTRICT LEVEL
Baz

GA has more current staff than the Australian Golf Union
and Woman’s Golf Australia had at their peak, yet we are
losing club golfers at an increasing rate.

The old thinking was the Elite golfers would draw more players
into the lower levels of the game,we currently have more world
ranked players than we have ever had yet there is less playing
and less watching it on TV so maybe a change in approach is
due.

Another “Did you know fact”.. Golflinks contract with GolfAustralia does not expire, therefore as long as GA is around, GL will be too :-). Well when I say fact, I was told that by a mate who works at Golflink.

It’s very simple…
Golf is still seen as a elitist sport, the money it costs to play golf on the Gold Coast HEADLINES that little bit of information. When average golf courses, in good condition believe they are justified charging a hundred dollars for a round of golf, well stick it up your proverbial. And then their fairways are empty.

The text to the headline is related directly to another thread I started on this forum about how Juniors are treated. Tiger Woods was nurtured as a junior, he was supported every time he picked up a club, congratulated when he won a competition, not spat on (either figuratively or otherwise) and abused, laughed at and told to eff off by the people he associated with. I bet the Club committee where he played as a Junior didn’t try to cheat him of his Monthly medal.

Don’t get me wrong, there is some support for Junior Elite Golf in Australia or we wouldn’t have the presence on the world tours we have, but it has to go beyond the elite. This is my whole point.

The School system MUST be hit hard by GA. Spend some money there morons….

The next paragraph to that Headline is the time it takes to play the game. Nine hole competitions are a great idea, but the whole thing seems a touch half assed to me. It is still aimed at the old 18 hole handicap with a bit of a twist, not real 9 hole competition but just a way of fitting it into the 18 hole format.

The final paragraph is the Clubs themselves. Many are going to the wall in a big way. Canberra is a classic example, they are being bought up by the successful clubs, the footy clubs and managed properly, with a profit. But who loses out? The Members lose out, that’s who because they get shoved to the background and treated as second class citizens, instead of what they should be, in control of their own destiny. Golf becomes a flag that gets waved around, it is marketed to Business, and becomes only about money, not the sport. Maybe this is a necessity, but it seems to me that somewhere along the line the Club Management went seriously wrong, and current Golf Clubs need to look outside their own domains at what is happening with these other poor institutions and learn a lesson, real quick.

What is that lesson, well mostly I believe they need to stop being so insular, focus on the world outside and not how they can attract big money with big membership fees, but how to attract more players in a meaningful way.

Personally, I believe GA to be a white elephant, part of the reason why Clubs are struggling, it is insular as well, and can’t really see the big picture. (see above re Schools)

Why? Well heres a question for you. Why is it I have to join a Club to get a Handicap? With todays computer systems and online everything, I should be able to buy my own handicap, get it by playing at any Golf Course that is Rated, and play in any competition being run by an affiliated golf club. Just pay the green fees and the comp fees and play if there is a spot available.

my 2c I could go on, but then it would be more than 2c

What is the % increase in fees? CPI?

GA probably doesn’t adversely affect the average member (like me) so it’s very easy to be apathetic.

Sorry, I can’t buy the argument that clubs struggle because of GA. My guess and experience with 2 club boards is that they struggle cause they are poorly run or think they have a right to exist because they are the district’s golf club. Times are a changin’ – and it’s not getting any cheaper to mow grass, pay rates and service club facilities.

What is the % increase in fees? CPI?

GA probably doesn’t adversely affect the average member (like me) so it’s very easy to be apathetic.

Sorry, I can’t buy the argument that clubs struggle because of GA. My guess and experience with 2 club boards is that they struggle cause they are poorly run or think they have a right to exist because they are the district’s golf club. Times are a changin’ – and it’s not getting any cheaper to mow grass, pay rates and service club facilities.

Clubs don’t struggle because of GA, but they do struggle because of a lack of support from GA.

GA focuses on the wrong things, it needs to look over it’s shoulder more, not to what they believe is the future…

The fact is clubs are run by the members, the members elect boards to run the clubs so it is directly at the feet of the members. The apathy in golf clubs results in poor boards, with agenda other than the health of the club. And ultimately in Bankruptcy.

The members are the bottom line, GA is at the top of the iceberg and CAN’T deny they have some association to the problems with clubs in this country, they do.

All governments have responsibility for the way their community interacts with the rest of the world, and isn’t this what we are talking about? A Government that is run by Administration with agenda other than the betterment of Golf in Australia.

The only way to make Golf Healthy is to fix the disease at Club level. It all starts with GA, it MUST start with GA. If GA took more notice and had more input into our Clubs, maybe the apathy would start to dissolve.

Clubs might stop being so insular, and we might stop being seen as elitist!

I know this sounds sort of ranty and vague, but this is just a forum, there is only so much I can say here before people just get bored.

All I can say to the Clubs is, Take it To the Schools….

Golf Australia sub-contract to GolfLink Partners who receive $2.50 per annum for each handicap registered through a club affiliated with GA.
I think GolfLink Partners is owned and/or controlled by GA although this is not spealt out in GA Annual Report.
Baz

Many, many clubs can do zip about supporting the development of golf in Australia, for a variety of reasons… size, location, expertise etc., etc. It was my understanding that GA’s primary reason for being was to develop and promote golf as a sport. $200k out of $6 million on golf and club development is a joke and it seems they want more money.
The income includes $1.7 in Government Grants, presumably to develop golf…goes in admin, wages etc., makes you wonder.
Proposed fee increases for 08/09 were around 4% for State Associations, a further $1.50 per player for Golflink and GA have not finalised their increase.
GA needs to understand were all watching. Contact your club or district association and let them know if you are dissatisfied with these proposals.
Baz

I wonder how much they’re paying the CEO, he left PWC to join GA and I reckon he’s earning a tidy sum.

286K on game development is a joke.

PT

Many, many clubs can do zip about supporting the development of golf in Australia, for a variety of reasons… size, location, expertise etc., etc. It was my understanding that GA’s primary reason for being was to develop and promote golf as a sport. $200k out of $6 million on golf and club development is a joke and it seems they want more money.
The income includes $1.7 in Government Grants, presumably to develop golf…goes in admin, wages etc., makes you wonder.
Proposed fee increases for 08/09 were around 4% for State Associations, a further $1.50 per player for Golflink and GA have not finalised their increase.
GA needs to understand were all watching. Contact your club or district association and let them know if you are dissatisfied with these proposals.
Baz

This is my whole point, it’s the clubs that have difficulty, for any number of reasons, helping with the development of the game that need the most help from GA…...

I see GA and organisations like them, as being the catalyst that attempts to bring all clubs together into the fold, help them with their problems, ease their difficulties, bring clubs together under an umbrella that makes sense to everyone, not just the privileged few.

Kerry Packer knew about making money and getting headlines, it wasn’t about looking after his mates, unless everyone that was involved with his organisations were his mates! Look after the people and the dollars will look after themselves, and in our case the people are the Members of clubs, Social and otherwise….all golfers….

This is why I bought up the example of wanting to have a handicap without being a member of a club…..!!!!!!! Surely I am not the only one with that desire?

It isn’t because I don’t like clubs, I love golf clubs, I grew up in clubs, golf clubs are my extended family, it’s just that at the moment I can’t be a club member but I WANT my handicap…..

I agree with you Whitednj

Many of the clubs need to take a serious look at themselves as to why they are not attracting new people to the game and are going broke. Lets face it, many of the clubs are run by committees that have no idea what they are doing. Who would be a club manager these days. Very few have any power as every little thing has to be run by the committees just so that they can get power fix.

The sooner clubs are privatised the sooner they will start making money and the game will grow.

The same argument is directed at the PGA by many their own members. What do they do for us? They take our fees every year and they do nothing. Any pro that says this is a budger and does not deserve to represent the PGA badge. It because of the PGA you have a right to earn a living teaching and run a business. So get off your ass you lazy pricks and stop blaming the governing bodies.

It is not the role of the GA to be bailing out the clubs. I personally think they are doing a very good job. They are certainly better than the old guard thats for sure. And as for CEO being on a good package, what do you expect to pay a guy like this. AFL boss is on 1mill plus.

This is why I bought up the example of wanting to have a handicap without being a member of a club…..!!!!!!! Surely I am not the only one with that desire?

It’s called Golf Access mate. I don’t have the time or money to be a club member yet I’m still able to play the occasional comp and maintain a handicap through this program.

I think it’s a bit of a stretch that you expect GA to be absolutely everything to the game in this country. You can do all the right things, but if people aren’t willing or able to help themselves, what’s the point?

Phantom’s point in the previous post is right on the money. Attitudes need to change at club level before a wave of change ripples throughout the game at a national level.

This is why I bought up the example of wanting to have a handicap without being a member of a club…..!!!!!!! Surely I am not the only one with that desire?

It’s called Golf Access mate. I don’t have the time or money to be a club member yet I’m still able to play the occasional comp and maintain a handicap through this program.

I think it’s a bit of a stretch that you expect GA to be absolutely everything to the game in this country. You can do all the right things, but if people aren’t willing or able to help themselves, what’s the point?

Phantom’s point in the previous post is right on the money. Attitudes need to change at club level before a wave of change ripples throughout the game at a national level.

I didn’t say I expect GA to be everything to everyone, or anything like that, I do believe it’s up to Government to take a hand in problems that effect the growth of our sport at such a basic level.

You can make all the excuses you like, you can blame grass roots membership all you like the fact is, it isn’t working….change needs to happen, and change can ONLY come from the top down. Base grade clerks, or members in this case, CAN’T change the very structure of an organisation like Golf in Australia. That is TOO much to ask, and the very fact that you expect it is symptomatic of what is wrong with this game in Australia.

Golf is dying, it has been dying for many years, don’t contradict me here, it’s obvious, the symptoms are plane as the nose on your face…

GA is the ONLY organisation that can make a difference, it’s the only structure that is small enough to be usable to have any structural influence on what is happening….it seems that the only thing they are interested in is their bloated bellies, what they can get out of a once very rich sport….

Stop burying your head in the bunker and put pressure where it might work, and DON’T GIVE UP ON THE MEMBERS SO EASILY! They deserve better…

Oh yeah, and Attitudes at club level WON’T change, if they had ANY chance of changing they would have, and clubs wouldn’t be going broke and being sold to the lowest bidder at bargain basement prices.

Maybe you are suggesting that is a good thing? Maybe we should look at restructuring from the ground up? Sell all the struggling clubs to the Rich Clubs, the Football Clubs with the nouse to make big dollars by squeezing the Poker Machines….

Just because an organisation pays a lot of salaries doesn’t mean the money is being wasted. It could be exactly the opposite … someone’s actually doing some work.

I believe there could be good savings to be made in efficiencies and productivity, as in any organisation. Golf in particular has an “old boy’s network” image that needs to be shaken off, and the last thing you need is for a job to be seen as a sort of reward for service rather than a fair contract.

But to say that GA is a “white elephant” is an over-reaction. Someone’s got to be the governing body, and to run national championships, elite programs, the handicapping system and be the rules arbiter. By the way, State Associations take about as much of your golf dollar as GA, so their work, efficiency and focus is just as important.

As for handicaps being applied outside a club, Golf Access fills this role. Golf Australia is the owner and copyright holder of the national handicapping system. It costs money to operate … why on earth would they want to make it free? More importantly, who would that really benefit? People who want a free ride without commitment to any golfing organisation? We’ve just invested ten years in getting GolfLink to a reasonable level of acceptance.

Phantom’s point is also relevant … if you are looking for GA to promote your club by promoting golf, what do you expect for a few dollars per player? That wouldn’t even pay for a column centimetre in your local paper.

If the members “lose out” in a golf club, it could be because they either don’t want to pay what it really costs to run it, or are not willing to give their time and effort to make the club a better place.

Unsure of what GA is offering? or for that matter your state or regional association? then go over the annual reports of all of them and attend the AGM as you are rightly allowed to do.. got some questions on spending, expenses or the like then go ahead and ask there..

Like any company within Australia they are bound by corporations law, reporting guidlines, and audits..

If your worried go ahead and hunt away at them…dig and you’ll find if they are in a mess.. then go and argue specifcs if you find any excessiveness or discrepancies..

GA has more current staff than the Australian Golf Union
and Woman’s Golf Australia had at their peak, yet we are
losing club golfers at an increasing rate.

The old thinking was the Elite golfers would draw more players
into the lower levels of the game,we currently have more world
ranked players than we have ever had yet there is less playing
and less watching it on TV so maybe a change in approach is
due.

The harder I practice the luckier I get. Gary Player.

Time to change!

Well, whilst the CEO of GA would not necessarily get excited about my whip as he is a bean-counter (then again I could be wrong and many of my clients are such and are real animals), what he’s introduced and changed in his time I feel is in the right direction.

Yes spend money on the next “Adam Scott’s or “Ms Webb’s”, as long as we keep producing great players, golf will continue to go from better to better.

GA in my mind is doing a wonderful job….

Mistress..

You should just ask…..I hear all CEO’s love the board table!

you can’t argue the facts – 5.2 million on overhead is a shit load to justify. where does it all go…...... i think they need to be a little more transparent if they want the support of the golfing public

ask them to strip down and I’ll apply the whip and get them in order….

CEO first (without those glasses).

I think certain people on this thread – baz37 , whitednj to name a few have an agenda to push or axe to grind.

Publish you make a lot of sense.

Golf Australia have a tremendous role to play in Australia as the governing body.

I don’t think people appreciate the work that goes on behind the scene, The Aussie Open, National Amateur, State Amateur, Development Squads, Media, etc etc. 6 mill would be so easy to burn.

As for people who want a handicap without being a member, seriously how is this suppose to work. Golf access is just a token way to offer a social handicap.

Mistress – if you got noting sensible to say – piss off

Mistress – if you got noting sensible to say – piss off

Is that the extent of your two cents worth?

I think certain people on this thread – baz37 , whitednj to name a few have an agenda to push or axe to grind.

Publish you make a lot of sense.

Golf Australia have a tremendous role to play in Australia as the governing body.

I don’t think people appreciate the work that goes on behind the scene, The Aussie Open, National Amateur, State Amateur, Development Squads, Media, etc etc. 6 mill would be so easy to burn.

As for people who want a handicap without being a member, seriously how is this suppose to work. Golf access is just a token way to offer a social handicap.

So what? I have been playing golf since 1972, I don’t give a damn about the “behind the scenes work” they do on the HIGH PROFILE stuff, it doesn’t cut it does it!!!!!! It isn’t attracting people to the sport!!!!! Is it? This was the whole point of this thread…..

GA NEEDS to REFOCUS particularly if they continue to spend money the way they do, on themselves and crap that doesn’t work, ie bad decisions, poor management and bad managers should go work in the Public Service where they can get a job and keep it….

As for “Golf Access” what the hell are you talking about? I want to get a handicap without joining a golf club, as far as I can see It CAN’T BE DONE! IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER TELL ME WHAT IT IS! STOP SCREWING AROUND WITH VAGUE INNUENDO LIKE IT’S MY FAULT! IF GA HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER ME WITH THIS PROBLEM THEN TELL ME ABOUT IT AND STOP BEING A WANKER!

Cliffmanley

You are a tosser. Instead of screaming at everyone why don’t you suggest a few things.

I would like to know how can you possibly implement and police and handicapping system outside of the golf clubs.

Lets face you are an idiot with no idea.

For the record, I have no agenda, barrow, axe etc., I simply take issue with the percentage of GA’s revenue which actually goes to golf and/or helping the game develop…around 5%, excluding tournament revenue or 1.3% of gross revenue, take your pick.
In the end you get what you pay for and if the pending fee increases accross all levels go to develop golf or are spent for the benefit of golf then that may be fine.
We will find out in twelve months or more but I have my doubts.
The issue at the end is out in the open and that can’t be bad.