Dear Members,

As we all know, as a result of Covid-19, these are exceptional times not just in Australia but around the world. There is massive disruption to  businesses, jobs, people’s way of life and, in respect to Burleigh Golf Club and other Clubs, the way that they function. The positive news however is that we are reassured by the Prime Minister and Medical experts that, provided everyone observes the new rules governing our lives, we will come out of this in six or so months.

At Burleigh Golf Club, we have put in place the measures that have been deemed necessary to not only keep our Club operating, but to also protect the health of you, our Members.

It is however very disturbing to have heard from a small number of Members who do not want to pay their quarterly or monthly subscriptions. It goes without saying that Burleigh Golf Club IS the Members. For certain Members to withhold their subscriptions or seek refunds, simply puts the burden of keeping the Club operating and financial on those Members who pay their subscriptions on an annual or half-yearly basis.

Yes, there will be those Members who will be able to continue playing golf albeit in groups of two and it is acknowledged that those Members who are over 70 years of age are being asked, for their own protection, to not play golf for the next few months. It is also acknowledged that the Clubhouse is closed with all of the inconvenience that comes with this for everyone. However, as the catchcry says, “we are all in this together” and some Members will be making bigger sacrifices than others over the months ahead.

The Board is focused on:

  1. Implementing the social distancing rules that have been put in place by the Government and Chief Medical Officer
  2. Supporting our staff through these difficult times
  3. Ensuring that the Club protects its financial wellbeing as much as is possible so that when the current restrictions are lifted, we can resume golf operations as normal and enjoy the companionship of our playing partners within the clubhouse facility

In respect of this last point, the Board is asking all Members to act in the best interests of the Club. That is, for the Club to come out of this period in a financially stable position and able to face the future with confidence, all Members need to share the financial responsibility with the acknowledgement that this will unfortunately vary from Member to Member. Despite several requests to relax the Rules around Membership Subscriptions, the Board believes that it is in the best interests of all Members to enforce the existing Articles of the Club (specifically Article 34) which have previously been approved by Members. It believes that this approach is in the best interest of our Club. On this basis, the following should be noted:

For the Current Subscription Year – to 30 June 2020

  1. Refunds of Membership subscriptions that have already been paid are not permitted (Article 34)
  2. Members who choose not to pay their quarterly or monthly subscriptions will be deemed to be unfinancial and unless that is rectified within 21 days, will no longer be Members of the Club (Article 45).
  3. Those Members who become unfinancial and/or resign from the Club before 30 June 2020 will need to reapply for Membership, should they so wish, at some future date. In addition, they will need to pay any outstanding subscriptions from the 2019/20 year before their application for membership will be considered (Article 34).
  4. Membership Transfers to a lower membership category (e.g. Full Membership to Limited Membership) may only take effect from the beginning of the next subscription year (Article 33).

For the 2020/21 Subscription Year

  1. As we approach the end of the current subscription year, the Board will be considering its approach to subscriptions for the 2020/21 year. Decisions will be influenced by the status of the current social distancing measures and restrictions on over 70’s Members over coming months and the financial stresses that are being placed on many Members and golf in general. This will be communicated to Members when appropriate.

I hope that the vast majority of Members will understand and support the above decisions that have been taken. Let’s get through this together and above all, stay well!

Sincerely

 

Peter Evans
President – Burleigh Golf Club