On behalf of the Committee, I warmly invite you to renew
your membership of The Barwon Heads Golf Club for the 2025/2026 financial year.
This is a landmark moment in the Club’s long and proud
history. After 18 months of careful and considered work, our 100-year-old
Clubhouse will reopen in September—refurbished, revitalised, and ready to
welcome members, their families, and guests into a new era for the Club. This
once-in-a-generation project marks a significant milestone, and we hope you
will be part of it.
The full annual subscription for the upcoming year has been
set at $3,830.00, representing an increase of $365.00 (approximately $7.00 per
week) on the 2024/2025 rate. This amount includes GST and will be adjusted
proportionally for other membership categories.
It is important to note that this increase is not connected
to the costs of the Clubhouse redevelopment. Annual subscriptions are dedicated
to covering the Club’s day-to-day operations, and the increase reflects growing
costs across a number of key areas. These include:
- A substantial rise in course maintenance costs, particularly
fertilisers and chemicals.
- The Club’s insurance premiums have seen an extraordinary
increase over recent years, reflecting broader trends in the industry and
significantly impacting our operational costs.
- Increasing employee costs, driven by statutory award wage
rises—one of our largest expenses—along with higher compulsory superannuation
contributions and rising WorkCover premiums.
- Higher irrigation maintenance costs in preparation for a
significant upgrade planned for 2027.
These challenges are not unique to our Club, but they have
been carefully weighed by the Committee and the Finance, Audit and Risk
Sub-Committee in determining a responsible budget. We have also ensured that the
impact of rising costs is being shared fairly: for example, from 1 September,
the weekend green fee will rise to $275 per round, and accommodation rates will
reflect the enhanced standard of our refurbished Clubhouse.
Despite these pressures, the Club remains in a strong
financial position. As outlined by the Treasurer recently, operations are
tracking in line with forecasts, the refurbishment project remains within its
allocated budget, and demand for membership continues to be strong.
We are about to enter a truly historic chapter. The
reopening of the Clubhouse is not just the end of a renovation—it is the
beginning of a renewed spirit at Barwon Heads. We hope you will take pride in
what we have achieved together and bring your family and friends to enjoy the new
facilities.
Thank you for your continued support of this remarkable
Club.
Best wishes,
