A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT/MATCH CHAIRMANS REPORT
To be presented at the Delegates Meeting on Saturday 8th March 2008
Firstly as per my greeting at the start of the AGM a big welcome to the ladies attending this meeting and we look forward to a year of cooperation ensuring both Associations have a good year. I remember our Delegates meeting at Pioneer Valley last October when their President, Kay Craig, was amazed that she was allowed to get up and say a few words, not that she is a Lady of a few words, as before she had attended meetings and had been told she could sit there and observe and that was all. The times are a changing.
Well the 2008 season is upon us but I must say that the weather has been playing havoc with everyone. To say that some clubs have been having a bad time is an understatement but I am sure that all the oldies will say that it is just a good old fashioned wet season and we haven’t have one for years so I suppose it is about time. For those suffering if you can put in application for Government funding as per my email then please do and let’s hope for some fine weather soon along with plenty of golf.
As the unification process rolls along you will see that our website now has and will have more of the ladies information available on it. At this stage we have not held any talks or are not looking at unification but we are working together more closely for the benefit of both parties. Guys we all know how effective a communications toll the website has been and as they Ladies get more put one there it can only help. For example you will be able to see what your partner has coming up in events and vice versa. Hope that nobody has been telling fibs now.
As Grant Ward has stood down as junior coordinator it is a shame that the meeting that they had scheduled for Ayr on Saturday 1st March was cancelled due to the wet. There was to be a lot of discussion regarding the juniors for this year and more and it would have been great to have it before this meeting
There is not much that I can add to this report as it has all been covered by the AGM Report and the items I have addressed in General Business.
Wishing everybody all the best in 2008, both off and on the course, when we can get back there and the weather goes back to its normal North Queensland best.
Yours in golf
Bob Platt
President/Match Chairman
North Queensland Golf Association Inc
PRESIDENT/MATCH CHAIRMANS REPORT 2007
To be presented to the AGM on Saturday 8th March 2008
The 2007 Season was another very successful one for the Association with a number of new initiatives introduced both on and off the course during the year.
With Dave Morrison’s move down south we had a new Secretary, Jim Johnson, to break in and duties of all members of the Executive changed. Thanks must go to all for their work during the year and to our Vice President, Steve for taking on the Treasurer’s role. As you will see it has once again been another good year financially and this can be attributed to our sponsorship gained and the work of all on the Executive to keep costs down.
The website has been a challenge to keep up to date will all the results, draws and points for the Trophy Scores but we have got there and thanks to everyone for their help in that regard. The eagerness of our players to see where they are and what’s happening makes the website our major communications point. We have used email as our contact point with the Club’s and I must thank all for their efforts as this proves a very efficient and cost effective means of communication. There should be nobody out there who does not know the website address now but just in case www.nqgolf.com.au is the place to go.
We have been unable to fill the vacant Zone II Representatives job and dependent upon the submission put to the meeting this maybe easier to fill with the expected formation of the Two (2) Zones. The Zones have run well during the year and all clubs have handled any events conducted well. Only sad note for the year was that Ingham Clubhouse burnt down in late October but in true form they carried on and I am sure that they will be back bigger and better in 2008.
The Annual Open Championships at Laguna Whitsundays was again sponsored by Wayne Hennessy of Harcourt’s Mackay and we thank him for this and wish him all the best in his new venture on the Sunshine Coast. The popularity of this event continues to astound me with it only being on the website for a week till no more nominations could be accepted. I am proud to announce a new sponsorship deal for the next three years with Esanda Finance Corporation Limited. We look forward to a long and continued association with our new sponsor, Tony Burke and others, and I urge you to keep an eye on the website for deals aimed especially for our golfers.
Congratulations to all the winners of NQ and Club Opens, as well as the winners of all the Grade Pennants, over the year. To all competitors in any of the events conducted keep up the good work as we are going from strength to strength due to your support. I know that the changes to the Grades for the Open’s caused a few teething problems but I am sure that all is now set in place for it to run smoothly this year. It was decided at the October Delegates meeting to keep the status quo for 2008 so we look forward four (4) grades at the Open’s in 2008. The Inaugural North versus South Matches, to replace the FNQ event, proved to be a great hit with those that competed and I am sure there will be even more interest in this event in 2008. Whilst we may have had some trouble with getting enough players in some grades I am sure now that the event is established and those who competed spread the word it will be a big event for many years to come. Our Inter Associations team also played well and did us proud. I would be remiss in not congratulating our Trophy Points and the Match Play winners as well noting that the Match Play next year will be conducted over the Four (4) Grades for the first time.
To our juniors and the hardworking coordinators a big thanks for the efforts put in during the year. Their Opens and Pennants were all a huge success and we can all look forward to them progressing into our ranks over the years. This one area I would like to see us put more efforts into improving their standard. By this I mean to try to get them to be more competitive in the events that they go down south to compete in. The gap has always been there due to the higher standard of competition and courses so we must look at ways to see if we can get them more competitive down there. As I have said on many occasions they are our future and we need to encourage them in as many ways as possible. Hopefully one day soon one of them will be stepping up into the shoes of one of our Executive positions.
With the unification of the Ladies and Men’s at a State and Australian level it has come time for us to look into this at our District level and I am sure that we will be holding talks with the Ladies during the year to see what steps and action that needs to be taken in this area. I am sure that this will be one of the most talked about items and plenty of opinions will be formed, one way or the other.
Once again thank you to everybody for their help and assistance in 2007 and looking to good golfing and happy times both on and off the course in 2008.
Yours in golf
Bob Platt
President/Match Chairman
North Queensland Golf Association Inc
A CHRISTMAS GREETING
I WOULD LILE TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY AND SAFE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR IN 2008 FULL OF HAPPY TIMES AND GOOD GOLFING FOR ALL.
TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE 2007 SUCH A SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR THE ASSOCIATION, A BIG THANK YOU.
FOR ALL THE HELP, ASSISTANCE AND HOSPITALITY SHOWN TO ME OVER THE YEAR, THANK YOU ONE AND ALL - I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THE SAME IN 2008.
TO ALL INCOMING COMMITTEES - ALL THE BEST FOR THE 2008 SEASON. ANY TIME WE CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE.
YOURS IN GOLF
BOB PLATT
PRESIDENT/MATCHCHAIRMAN
PRESIDENT/MATCH CHAIRMANS REPORT
DELEGATES MEETING 06/10/07
Well how times flies when you are having fun as another year has come and almost gone and the events for the year are almost complete. What a year it has been for all concerned so far with the changes to the Grades for the Open’s and here we are now playing the inaugural North versus South event. After a few teething problems I, personally, feel that it has gone well with the interest shown by the players and the format of the new event. It will be my recommendation to the meeting that the points score system remains the same for 2008 with the only change to the Grades being that 19 handicap be moved form B Grade to C to see it that can improve the numbers in that Grade for next year. I think that we must educate the higher handicapped players that they are now more competitive and get them out there playing in the opens. This I feel is not only a requirement of the Executive but Club Members at all levels can encourage any player to compete for selection in these teams.
The numbers at the Opens has been good again this year but of course we live in a changing world and with all the changes to work practises I feel that our numbers must suffer. To all who have made the effort during the year a big thank you and I am sure we have all had a good time and some new friendships have been made.
Attendance at our few meeting that we have a year has again been a concern and that is why we are trying to have our representative players sit in on this meeting. Perhaps at least we will get some feedback and help point things in the right direction. With so few Delegates at meetings it is virtually left up to the Executive to run things with no input from the Clubs and this I would like to see change.
The big news during the year on the administration side of things has been the amalgamation of the Ladies and Men’s organisations at an Australian and State Levels. This will make for some interesting changes in the future and I am sure there will be so things for our GQ representative to present, if not to this meeting, to the next one as they are meeting at the same time as us.
Sorry about the rise in the affiliation fees going direct to the clubs at short notice but with the amalgamation there was nothing that could be done I am told. At this stage we had no plans to amalgamate with the Ladies in this District as we feel that there are too many different things that we do, as volunteers, and it is easier to stay the way we are. After all we get no funding from governments so it is not really necessary we feel but it may have to happen in time. I can assure you that there will be no increase in the fees payable to us and they will remain at $7.70.
To all the Open winners during the year, congratulations, and remember that we still have the washed out Mackay Open to be played on the 27.28th October. Our points score winners are: A Grade – Graham Roberts Trophy – Matt Spilsbury, A1 Grade – Mike Mullins Trophy – Adrian Jackson, B Grade – Wayne Haller Trophy – Richard Kelly and C Grade – John Maclean – yours truly. Match play winners were A Grade – Matt Spilsbury, B Grade Gary Hanslow and C Grade Ken Hervey. Top 4 for the Inter- Associations Teams Event at Goondiwindi on the 10/11th November will be Matt Spilsbury, Michael Dunn, Scott Hendry and Dale Nofz, proving that there is still life in the Bear yet. Congratulations to all and thanks to the others for being apart of it all.
A Grade Pennants were contested recently and the winners were Division I Mackay and relegated to Division II Rowes Bay, Division II Black Springs promoted to Division I and Bowen relegated to Division III, Division III Proserpine promoted to Division II and Ingham relegated to Division IV, Division IV NQ Seniors team promoted to Division III. Congratulations to all who competed and to the winners as well especially our NQ Seniors team put together by Graham Mullins.
Wishing you all the best, for the soon to be upon us festive season and your in golf.
Bob Platt
President/Match Chairman
MARCH 2007 NEWSLETTER
Well 2007 is well and truly under way. It looks like being another hectic year for all concerned.
There has been action, on and off the courses, with plenty of interest being shown in the North v South concept in place this year. This new format for representative golf appears to have created plenty of interest. We hope that it helps boost numbers at the Open’s, as well as providing a great event at the end of the year with the clash between the two teams.
I know that the new Grade Division’s have, and will, cause some comment and raise a few eyebrows, but just remember each year your Executive can look at the split and see how things have gone, and then make any changes that may be required to make the system better.
New handicap split for the Open’s only are:
0-12 A Grade 13-19 B Grade 20-27 C Grade.
A Grade will then be split into two grades, 0-6 and 7-12 for point scores, to have four Divisions playing off each year. No more trips to Cairns and beyond, so I know the players from the South Division should be happy with that. Let’s hope you really get behind the new initiative and make it a real winner. Remember it is open to all members of NQGA, and all you have to do to be eligible for the points to make the team, is pay the $10.00 registration fee to the starter or NQGA official at any Open event to start collecting points. Full details are available on the website under Items of Interest and under Trophy Point Scores, or any Executive member can also answer any questions you may have.
Please note that those of you worried about playing in your beloved B & C Grade Pennants, that the Handicap Divisions have not changed. B Grade stays at 11 to 16 and C Grade 17 to 27. Just a reminder that these pennants will be conducted over the weekend of 12-13th May, with Division’s I & II at Townsville, Division III at Lavarack and Division IV at Magnetic Island.
The NQGA Open will once again be held at Laguna Quays over the Queens Birthday weekend, with Wayne Hennessy of Harcourt’s Real Estate in Mackay our sponsor. This will be Wayne’s last year of sponsorship as he is moving south. We thank him for his sponsorship and are now on the lookout for a new sponsor. If anyone has any ideas please contact me. Nominations for this event should go on the web site the first week in April, so keep an eye on the web and let’s fill the field. Remember due to buggy and accommodation restrictions, the field is limited to 180, on a first come first in basis.
For those of you who don’t know by now, our hard working Secretary Dave Morrison is moving south after three years in the job. His comments were that the idiot from Home Hill, Peter Dale, got too much for him. I always thought is was me giving him too hard a time. . However, Dave will remain as the QGU Delegate for the NQGA and will keep us up to date on developments through the QGU Delegates page on the web site. He will be sadly missed by me, all on the Executive and many club Executives and members alike. On behalf of all NQ golfers, I would like to wish Dave and Lyn all the best in their new life down south, and thank him once again for a great job.
Jim (Johnno) Johnson from Lavarack has put his hand up to replace Dave. We are splitting up the job a little, so please be patient for the next few months while we sort things out and settle down in the new work. I did the Secretary’s job for 5 years so I know what is involved, though it will be a new learning curve for us all.
See you all during the year.
Yours in golf
Bob Platt
President/Match Chairman - NQGA
JANUARY 2007 NEWSLETTER
Well here we are again. The festive season and the New Year are now up and away, so soon it will be all hands on deck as the golfing season gets into full swing again. Isn’t it good that I now finally have most of the chores done around the house and yard, just in time you might say, so bring it on again with golf, opens, friendship, and more golf.
We have a big job in front of us this year attempting to match the success of last year, but I am sure with the new innovations that the Executive have introduced, you will see that we are trying to make this year even better than 2006. I am sure that with your help we can make 2007 a year to remember. That help should not only come from the members of the Executive, but from Club Committees and all members of the Association from all golfing levels. Remember that it is a game that should be enjoyed by all, so let’s make it that way for all of us for the year.
The only disappointment at the end of last year was that we were unable to field a team for the defence of our Inter Association crown at Barcaldline. This was due to a number of factors that we must look at this year, and rectify both at our level and with the QGU.
I think that our new format for the North versus South matchplay event within our Association will be a real winner. We look forward with great interest to this event being conducted at Pioneer Valley in October. We have split the clubs from Home Hill north and Bowen south, with representative players in four grades from both regions pitted against each other, a format that so far seems to be very popular with the Clubs and players. We have done away with the Annual matches against FNQ to try this event, so please support it. The logistics and costs of the trip up north have been causing problems for both officials and players ever since I have been on the Executive, and after last years event, it was decided to break with tradition and try a new format for representative players in the 2007 season.
Before closing, I would like to thank Peter Anderson for his three years as Zone II Representative, and hope his replacement keeps up the good work this year. Even bigger shoes to fill will be those of our very hardworking and efficient Secretary, Dave Morrison. Many of the changes and improvements for the Association over the last three years have been due to Dave’s hard work and dedication, with the website being a testament to that. As President, Dave I can assure you that you will be sadly missed, with my job becoming a little more difficult. Thanks again Dave, and we all wish you and Lyn good luck in your new location.
To all the Club’s, I look forward to catching up with as many of you as possible during the year, to keep the lines of communication open, and also to meet new and old committee members and players. Here’s hoping that we all have a good year and that we get some rain soon to refresh the courses and get them back into tip top shape.
To all members, if I don’t see you beforehand, I will catch up with you at the first Open for the year on the Island, followed the next weekend by the Fourball and Foursomes Championships at Ayr. Just a reminder to all that the AGM will be held at Ayr on the Saturday night of that event, 24th March. We are always seeking input from members, so if you have any ideas that might make for a better Association, please attend the AGM and present those ideas for evaluation.
See you all and good golfing in 2007.
Bob Platt
President and Match Chairman
North Queensland Golf Association Inc.
