GOLF and BOWLING CLUB

THE CLONTARF

GOLF and BOWLING CLUB

Annual Reports of Committees

forthe year ended 31 October 2016

HundredthFourthAnnual Reports of the Committees

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT 2016

Meetings

The Management Committee met monthly as required by the Constitution. Additional meetings were convened as deemed necessary to discuss particular matters, such as, the Clanmoyle Road Flood Alleviation Scheme, reinstatement progress, general course and house development, membership and budgetary proposals.

The Club Officers met with and reported to the Trustees, on a quarterly basis, with these meetings chaired by the President.

Meetings, represented by the Chairman and General Manager, were held throughout the year with Dublin City Council in regard to the Clanmoyle Road Flood Alleviation Scheme to progress completion of the contract.

Membership

All membership queries and issues are referred to Club Secretary, Seamus Smith, who works closely with Anna and Michelle of our administrative team. Our Club Secretary constantly monitors the trend of declining membership numbers and with the help of the initiatives introduced by the Management Committee and implemented by him, the Club has been successful in attracting new members in 2016.

The membership numbers are relatively healthy, but it is becoming more difficult to fill Ordinary Membership vacancies. The increased trend of transfer from Ordinary to 5-Day membership continues. Presently there are 493 Ordinary members and 65 Retired Ordinary members totalling 558 with a quota of 630. The 5-Day Ordinary membership is at 258. These trends are impacting on the Club’s finances and they have and will continue to have significant implications in the coming years.

Costs are rising with the changed accounting policy relating to VAT in 2014, insurance costs are up 16% in 2016 with an additional 40% increase indicated for 2017. A 25% rent increase is been sought by Dublin City Council. The primary issues of concern are falling income subscription levels.

The Management Committee and the subcommittee of club officers have committed significant time in 2014/15/16 on these matters. Age and service discount concessions are adversely affecting subscriptions levels and hence the club finances. This arrangement is not sustainable in this current economic climate as the cost of maintaining the club is being borne by fewer. GUI and ILGU membership numbers have significantly declined in recent years.

As outlined in the 2013 to 2015 Annual Reports a significant number of our members do not contribute to the costs associated with the running of the Club. Motions are now proposed at this 2017 AGM, in accordance with the constitution, on membership and related subscriptions to reflect the above.

Course

The Practice Garden was reconstructed and opened in Spring 2016. New bunkers were strategically constructed on the 13th fairway and, together with the introduced internal out-of-bounds and new men’s tee, have alleviated, we believe, golf balls entering the residential rear gardens on Collins Avenue. Following the success of the purchase of the sanding machine for the greens in 2015, a semi-cut machine was purchased for mowing the first cut of rough which now provides greater definition to the course.

Our course consultants, STRI, contribute on a regular basis ensuring that prudent agronomy management is paying long term dividends. The Course Officer’s report refers to the completed and planned course improvements. Great credit is due to our course staff working with our superintendent Darragh under the direction of our General Manager and Course Officer.

House

The main TV room now houses the Golf and Bowling Photograph Gallery for the Club. The house was externally painted in the summer and some lounge chairs have been re-upholstered.

A second defibrillator has been placed at the Toilet Block on the course. CPR and AED training for staff and members took place in October. Four new security cameras have been strategically placed within the carpark and entrance road areas. The snooker tables have been refurbished. The existing smoking shelter was adjusted to ensure compatibility with the Health and Safety Acts and signage has been placed to refrain smoking in the house porch and veranda.Overall the house and environs are in excellent order.

Clanmoyle Road Flood Alleviation Scheme

The Mechanical and Electrical Contract was awarded in March 2015 by Dublin City Council on a design, supply and install basis. Due to the lateness of the appointment of the contractor, the installation element of the contract was delayed, as per my report at the 2015 AGM. Following prolonged discussions with Dublin City Council, this Contract commenced installation in September 2016. Completion of all outstanding works, snag items, and commissioning is expected by the end of February 2017.

The contractors have worked with CGBC management and our course staff to minimise disruption to our members.

Staff

The Club currently employs the following staff:

• Office:General Manager, Accounts Administrator and Receptionist/Administrator (job sharing);
• Course:Superintendent and four greenkeepers;
• Security:two alternating night security staff;
• House and Bar:three house part-time men and one part-time house lady, two full-time and 2 part-time barstaff.

Organisation

The bulk of our approx. 1300 members, their guests and visitors use the Club and have access to its facilities on a day-to-day basis. The Club is the most active in Dublin and a day rarely goes by without significant numbers enjoying its facilities. The Club Officers, Chairman of Management and General Manager, deliberate on a regular basis across a range of matters, to ensure that the needs of those using the Club are met.

The commitment required to continue to improve the service is a credit to all who continue to volunteer across a range of activities.The Club would not function as well without the significant voluntary effort put in by so many of our members.

The President, Captain, Lady Captain and Bowling Captain, working with the other Club Officers, members of the Ladies’, Men’s and Bowling Club Committees, members of Course, House and Social sub-committees, ensure that all the core elements of the Club are well organised. The organisers of competitions such as Bunnies, Midweekers, Nine and Dine Mixed and team managers for golf and bowling, all add greatly to the sporting and social experiences. From Snooker to Bridge Club, Book Club to the Choir, Lotto, Christmas Draw, Santa Day, Carol Service, Indoor Bowling and Poker nights we have a vibrant and well entertained membership who appreciate your voluntary efforts. Our thanks also to Eamonn O Dulainn for organising the annual mass for deceased members.

Communications

A monthly update on the activities within the Golf and Bowling Clubs was written and emailed to members. Hard copies were provided in the clubhouse. Our thanks to our President Sean for his contribution to the monthly news.

The texting service operated by our General Manager provides timely information to members and is a helpful communication tool.

Sponsors

Sponsors are a crucial group that add enjoyment to all members of the Club. The Management Committee thanks all sponsors for their generosity. Captain Ian and Lady Captain Mags thanked the sponsors of the various competitions at a very enjoyable function in October 2016.

Members interested in sponsoring a competition in 2017 should contact incoming Captains John and Dolores.

Outgoing Members of Management Committee and Staff

Captain Ian, Lady Captain Mags and Bowling Captain Dennis, made significant contributions to the management of the Club during their tenure in office and we thank them.

We will see our popular and efficient receptionist/administrator Anna retiring in February 2017 after nearly ten years of service and we wish her every happiness in the years ahead.

Arthur, our long term serving General Manager of over 18 years, is retiring in March 2017 and we, the members of the Club, wish him good health and happiness in the years ahead.

Through his dedication, commitment, work ethic and managerial skills,Arthur has positively guided the Club through general development and many difficult issues during his tenure. He has been instrumental in the culmination of the Clanmoyle Road Flood Alleviation Scheme and the delivery of our much improved new three quarry holes.

I have enjoyed working with Arthur and would like to personally thank him for his countenance and friendship throughout the last 4 years.

Finally, on behalf of all members I thank the Management Committee of 2016, who unselfishly gave of their time and expertise for the benefit of all in Clontarf Golf and Bowling Club.

PETER E. FAGAN, Chairman of Management Committee

HOUSE COMMITTEE REPORT 2016

On behalf of the House Committee I am pleased to present this report for 2016.

Last year was a quiet year on the House front.

We finished the refurbishing of the dining room with a very smart service hatch to replace the old serving sideboard that had become an eyesore.

Four new security cameras have been fitted to cover the Club entrance and the carpark.

The house exterior was fully painted.

The House Committee again, under the leadership of Ray Williams, took on the running of the Christmas Draw and as always it went like clockwork.

I would like to thank Ray Williams, Joe Sheridan, Claire Maguire and Patricia McCrossan for all their efforts.

The Social Committee gave us a wonderful and varied programme throughout the year. There were so many brilliant and successful nights that it would be difficult to choose a winner!

Under the direction of Peggy Vather and her committee of Jean Farrelly, Liam O’Donohoe and Tony O’Toole they succeeded in bringing many ‘old nights’ back to the members.

Again this year, as every other year, there are many volunteers that beaver away on the members’ behalf and they seem to go unnoticed. These include the many members that run the Kiddies’ Santa Party, Christmas Carols Night, Men’s Choir, Poker nights, and the weekly Lotto Draw. On your behalf I would like to thank them all.

Many thanks to all our staff in the Bar, Catering and Office for all the support they give to the Committees.

The House and Social Committees will look forward to serving you all again in 2017.

DAVE DALTON, House Officer

COURSE COMMITTEE REPORT 2016

On behalf of the Course Committee I am pleased to present to the members our end of year course report for 2016.

I would like to thank the course committee,Sheila, Donna, Tommy, and Jackie for their time and effort this year.

Greens

This year we continued with the programme set out by our agronomist from STRI. It was also agreed by the management Committee that we would increase STRI’s visits from 3 to 4 a year. On these visits we walk the course with the agronomist checking condition of the tees, fairways, rough, bunkers, and p greens. It was felt that with the traffic on the golf course now we needed to upgrade our greens program. As well as our normal walk of the site we will also be doing a lot more testing of our greens for; firmness, trueness, smoothness, speed, and moisture content. The analysis of those tests will inform us better of the extra work required on the greens to maintain to the high level that we as members expect.
The new practice green in the garden opened in April and has provided an enhanced facility. Some members have made a few suggestions to me regarding improving the practice area and it’s something the course committee will consider early this year. The putting green has improved again this year and will continue to do so. With all the extra work going into improving the greens it’s very disappointing that again I have to mention the massive problem we have with Unrepaired Pitch Marks which cause scarring damage to the greens. We know lots of members do repair them but every member is responsible for repairing their own Pitch Marks and any others they see.

Fairways

This year the fairways were cut at 15 mm during the summer playing season and we brought up the height of cut to 20 mm for the winter. We do this over the winter months to maintain good grass cover on the fairways. Again I would like to thank the members for their help in repairing divots by using the divot mix fill in the sand bags provided. It’s a huge help to the course staff in maintaining and presenting the fairways in the best possible condition while offering good lies for members and visitors. Just a reminder that the proper way to use the divot mix is that you should replace your divot first and then use the divot mix to smooth over.

Rough

The rough was cut at 50 mm during the summer months and we dropped the height of cut to 40 mm for the winter months to aid drying and make it easier for members to find balls and to keep play moving. During the summer we introduced a semi-cut rough and we have had favourable comments from members and visitors.

Bunkers

The bunkers played well this year and most bunkers are due to have the sand replaced for the new season. We regularly lose rakes to ‘uninvited visitors’ to the golf course. Members finding a bunker without a rake are requested to advise a member of course staff or the General Manager. It's very important that bunkers are left in the condition we would like to find them. Unfortunately, this year I again received lots of complaints regarding bunkers not being raked properly or in some cases not being raked at all. It’s very important that all members take on the responsibility of making sure bunkers are raked properly after playing our shots.

Tees.

The new tees on the 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th and 16th came into play this year and held up well. In line with the course plan we hope to upgrade the men’s 10th tee and medal tee on the 11th and also the ladies 18th tee. Again your help with the divot mix boxes on the par 3’s and the short par 4’s have been a great help to the staff in maintaining the tees.

Course Capital Expenditure

The heavy investment we made in the upgraded irrigation system for the greens and tees again paid huge dividends during the prolonged dry and droughty spells this summer and it was even operational in November ‘16 during a prolonged dry spell. The quality of playing surfaces benefitted enormously as a result.

Main items of capital equipment expenditure this year were the purchase of a Truturf Greens Iron at €15k which, when used, improves both the roll smoothness and ball speed of putts. In order to improve course presentation and also to reduce the punitive lies experienced from a ball rolling a few feet from the fairway into high rough, a Toro Semi-Rough mower was purchased at €24.6k, and is used to provide a lower height first-cut run on both sides of fairways. Our Hannix mini-digger went down on us in early season 2016 which we reconditioned at a cost of €9k which will see us get many more service years from it. The cost of safety alterations to the 13th hole came in well under the budget of €25k, at a cost of €14.5k. Course signage at €4.4k completed our 2016 capital programme.

The main items of capital equipment expense for 2017, subject to available revenue, is a Toro Gator, carried forward from our 2016 plan, and a replacement Greens mower at €37k net. The Course Capital programme also seeks to further tidy up some of our trees whose roots or crowns are affecting turf quality.

Bowling Green

The green performed well throughout the season. We plan to carry out more maintenance work early in the New Year. The goal is to ensure that the bowling green is treated on the same basis as all the greens in the Club.

The green suffered from a few problems this year due to; the re-emergence of Pearlwort weed, typically associated with droughty sections, and bird pecking damage. The winter maintenance programme is in place and the green will be presented at its usual very high standard for the coming season.

Conclusion

I would like to thank the members for their comments during the year regarding the course. I would like to thank General Manager Arthur for all his help and advice to me over the last 4 years and wish him well in retirement. I am looking forward to working with Superintendent Darragh and the course sub-committee again in 2017 and I hope all the members of the club have a great golfing year. The course committee, Darragh and I will make sure the course is presented to you in the best condition possibly.To help us do that please remember the 3R’sRepair Divots, Repair Pitch Marks, andRake Bunkers.