11 Jan 2013

That the Ipswich Golf Club finds itself in financial trouble will surprise few, especially those familiar with the club’s recently ‘upgraded’ Wayne Grady golf course. Golf clubs across southeast Queensland have been struggling in recent times due to the economic downturn in the state, and it seems there are a number in strife around the Ipswich area.

The club’s chairman Paul Morris wrote the following to members in December.

‘As you all know, we invited the Bank to come in and look over our business and with the help of BDO Accountants they are continuing to analyse our business and work out a better business plan. These things take time, but I never envisioned they would take this much time… In the meantime, we will attempt to continue to trade under financial stress until a way forward is resolved.’

Interestingly, he added that the club had appointed a professional grant writer, in the hope that meager operating budgets, particularly that of the maintenance staff, could be increased.

‘Chris Fletcher (superintendent) and his team continue to do a fantastic job with little funding, but we hope to change that shortly as the club has employed a professional Grant writer and we have been working hard on supplying him with information for upcoming grants. We have applied for two grants so far which close at the end of December. So here’s hoping that we get a good result from the grants and that we get a better result from the bank.’

Chairman Morris is correct that businesses across Queensland have been struggling of late, and discretionary spending is down across a number of leisure sectors. He laments the fact that fewer people are playing golf, or playing poker machines or eating in the clubhouse and points to the global environment as the key driver. He also believes the club (the golf club that is) needs to diversify to succeed, and to offer another sport – ideally ‘a night sport’ to supplement their income. Apparently Morris has been in discussions with a ‘growing sport operator’ that would only cause ‘minor disruption’ to member golf.

We look forward to learning which new sport will be available to IGC members, but strongly believe that a large part of the club’s current problems were caused by the golf course, which always seemed inappropriate for the circumstances in that it requires significantly more maintenance than the previous layout. The superintendent relies on volunteer labour from members to maintain certain areas of the course and has further been hamstrung by apparently shoddy construction. Government grants would help, but should never have been needed.

When the club sold off part of its property to build this new course they wouldn’t have expected things to end this way. It’s a great shame, because the Ipswich Golf Club is 100 years old and the new piece of land is actually quite good. There is no doubt this could, and should, have been a terrific, low maintenance golf course. (Read our review)

We wish the golf club the best in these difficult circumstances and hope that together with their accountants they can find a workable solution moving forward.

Back to News
0 Comments


 

More News

Report reveals golf's $3.3 billion contribution to Australia

AGIC report reveals total annual benefits to the Australian community, economy and environment from golf.

Cape Wickham Links – The Inside Design Story

Co-designer Darius Oliver reveals the truth behind the design of Australia’s premier modern golf course

Have your say on the future of Moore Park Golf

Golfers unite – another one of our cherished public access golf courses is under threat

Cameron John wins The National Tournament by two strokes

Victorian claims breakthrough professional victory at The National Tournament presented by BMW

Tags and Countries

ipswich golf club, wayne grady, Australia