Tuross Head Country Club has been successful in obtaining a further $65,000 NSW government grant to assist in improving club facilities. This latest money will be used to create shelter around the two bowling greens and to build a pathway from the lower car parking area to the workshop shed.
Some club members and residents of the community are asking just how did this happen. Well, the hard working people involved have been approached for comment, and the following is a record of their activities. They deserve to be recognised and thanked for their efforts.
Approximately 18 months ago, Andrew Gordon, THCC men’s golf president and Steve Swanbury, golf committee member, took it upon themselves to investigate the possibility of the THCC accessing external funding through the Grants Process available in NSW.
Following a meeting which included THCC manager Stephen Hodge, Andrew Gordon, men’s golf president and Michael Birks, past THCC president with Andrew Constance, local Member for Bega and his staff on the golf course site, they developed a strategy of trying to identify grants that could be suitable and applicable to the THCC. Of particular interest was funding that could assist the Club in improving aged and worn infrastructure (both of a sporting and non-sporting nature) knowing full well that internal funding within the Club was extremely tight, and that any project would necessarily be of a small nature.
Once various funding organisations within, and associated with the State Government of NSW had been identified, they proceeded with applying for a range of grants available. Over that time a number of applications were lodged – some unsuccessful. However, the club enjoyed success with a $46,000 grant from the “My Community Project Grant” which resulted in the recent resurfacing and line marking of the THCC Carpark. Many will remember the pot-holed and dilapidated nature of the carpark and the money required to ameliorate this was significant. The support from both club members, along with many from the local community was tremendous. Who can forget the incredibly difficult voting process? Thankfully this type of grant process is unlikely to be repeated.
Once a number of further applications had been lodged, a fairly solid platform had been established which could be used to target various types of grants. Feedback was always sought from any unsuccessful application, and this allowed future applications to be modified.
Tuross Head Country Club lost no time in arranging for Downer EDI Mogo to lay 30mm hot mix over the damaged surface car park.
Colin Fletcher from the bowlers was consulted about improving the bowling facilities, as they form an integral part of the overall sporting infrastructure of the THCC along with the golf course. Colin was able to identify various aspects of the bowling facilities that required updating or replacement, and worked hard in obtaining quotes for various works.
In March of this year it was learnt that they had been successful in attaining $65,000 through the “Building Community Partnerships Grant Round.” This application was lodged by Mike Birks, now THCC 2019 past club president, in September last year. The money is for new shade infrastructure for both bowling greens and will provide an access pathway across the 6th Fairway from the lower carpark to the machinery shed. In the current COVID-19 environment, it is both gratifying and pleasing to know that external government agencies believe there is a strong future for the THCC by investing in their future.
The money for the shade infrastructure should arrive in the next couple of weeks and work is expected to commence in removing the aged and rusted existing structure immediately. The building of the access pathway should commence soon after under the supervision of the Course Superintendent, Tim Watson.
Men’s golf president Andrew Gordon reports “Prior to the two government grants, we were successful (on behalf of the Golf Sub-clubs) in attaining a $3,000 grant from Golf NSW which has been used to improve drainage on the 8th fairway. This project is part-way complete through the great work of Tim Watson and his course maintenance team and should be completed shortly.
As part of the process, an officer from Golf NSW attended to assess our application first-hand. He wrote highly of the THCC Golf Course and the work that the ground-staff had achieved since his previous visit some three years before, and he had no hesitation in supporting our application for funding.”
Along the way the management and the board purchased the now familiar Ventrac Tractor Mower and men’s golf purchased outright a new Kubota Rough Mower – a total of $73,000 of new equipment. 20520
The Tuross Head crew (from left) Tyson Hastie, assistant Ben Hewison, superintendent Tim Watson, Terry Beales and Richard Kelly.
This has enabled the ground-staff to work more efficiently and achieve the incredible results that we now see in the improved playing surface of the golf course.
Mention must be made of the fabulous work of our men and women volunteers who tend and maintain gardens, assist in laying concrete paths and the various working bees that are arranged to maintain and improve our sporting facilities.
It has been a lot of work, but extremely satisfying when you see the changes around the club in the past couple of years.
One of the many works carried out by club volunteers.
STOP PRESS: May 26 2020
The first instalment of the Building Community Partnerships Grant has been received by the THCC.
Work is underway to achieve the maximum benefit with the money and it is expected that demolition of the old shade structure will occur in the coming months along with construction of the new structure.
Once this has been done, the final monetary instalment will be sought to complete the access pathways.
