Bush T May16

Myself (Captain)
Malcolm Fick (Vice-Captain)
Graeme Winterbach, John Allan, Tony Pitham,
Holger Peens, Vimul Valabjee, Alex Loizides,
Gesi Graham (Lady Captain) and Annece
Winton (Lady Vice-Captain).
It is always easy to sit on the fringes and
to criticise what is being done but it takes
a big person to stand up and be counted
and to improve things for all, without any
remuneration. I think they deserve a huge
round of applause.
I would like to thank them all for their
willingness to stand for committee and to give
of their personal time to make this course what
it is and better still. We have lots of work ahead
of us this coming year.
Yes committee work can be frustrating as it
all seems to take such a long time. The more
people there are the more view-points. If I look
back however we have made lots of progress
this past year.
To highlight certain aspects, some of which
came up at the AGM earlier today:
• We held a terrific Men’s Invitational Golf Day
where Members got to show off their course
to their friends and colleagues. I regularly have
members asking what the date is for this year
which is the 21st September for your diaries.
We will do even better this year.
• The Men decided that the Ladies could not
have all the glory with their very successful
Open days. Ladies you set the bar high for us.
• We saw what the “bunker committee” did
by uplifting all of the bunkers on the course
and improving the design and drainage. Huge
changes were made on some holes like the
12th, 13th and the 17th. The 17th was washed
onto the 16th and after the repair the 17th,
which our Insurers mostly covered, turned out
better.
• We have commenced some remedial work
on the 15th but this is the next big hole to
improve. DWAF has slowed our plans down
but this will be overcome and eventually we will
finish off this hole.
• This upcoming year will see our Landscaping
Team do more of the work like they have done
on 1, 2, 10 and 11. We see it in our own
gardens how the trees and plants need to be
trimmed and cut back or they will just close in
over you. We need to maintain the character of
the course and allow the golfer the views of the
holes they are about to play. I think the work
we have already done helped us improve our
rating that Golf Digest gave us this year. Whilst
this is not the only criteria for improvement, it
is important for the wellbeing of the Estate that
we remain a top rated and quality golf course
and in demand by both golfers and investors
alike. All your opinions are welcome and any
suggestions you make will be taken seriously,
as it is your Club and Golf Course.
• Whilst we are talking Club it seems as though
we will commence with major changes to the
Cub House in the not too distant future. This is
an area I am impatient to get going with and the
whole Cloud Berry saga is frustrating us all I am
sure. You all presumably got the latest update
from Richard Bryant on the current status
as well as Syd Kelly’s summary at the AGM.
Hopefully ZEMA will get this right soon and
with their support the funds will be available,
for us to make this a facility we can again be
proud of, setting a new bench mark for Club
facilities. The working committee under Steve’s
guidance will do the right thing for us. Mike
Hellen, who is here tonight, is passionate about
improving the facility and he is making all the
right noises and doing the tough negotiations
for us at the ZEMA level.
• The Members fund is in a healthy state and
is used to fund competitions and other items in
support of all members. This fund is overseen
by the Vice-Captain Malcolm Fick who assures
me everything is securely held.
I thank you for entrusting me with the task of
being your Captain and I will honour you by
doing my best.
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