Golf Vic Vol 60 No 3 2019

Towards A New Era What a wonderful couple of months it’s been for Victorian golf! It’s been a time for excitement, a time of change and a time for planning for the future on many fronts. In May, the Victorian men’s state team defeated NSW in a thrilling week at the Australian Interstate Teams Series to win their third successive title. The Vic women can also hold their heads high, finishing a creditable third, while two weeks prior our Victorian girls won the Australian Junior Girls’ Interstate Teams Series. MyGolf reached its 20,000-participant mark nationwide in the financial year, with Victoria contributing 18% of those MyGolfers. We have also seen Vision 2025 roadshows roll out around the state and one of our most iconic golf clubs, Royal Melbourne, take out the Victorian Men’s Division One Pennant flag for the first time since 1931. As always, many events around the state have been contested. In the previous edition of Golf Victoria magazine, we alluded to a survey conducted to gain valuable insights into its publication. Nearly 1000 responses were received from clubs and Victorian golfers. The results reiterated how much golfers enjoy reading the stories conveyed in the magazine, particularly those around rules and handicapping, current golf issues and club golf stories. Golf Victoria magazine has a wonderful history of telling the story behind the story and this is due to the dedicated and talented writers, photographers and editors over the past 60 years. The quality of writing and the insight conveyed by the stories has been instrumental in the magazine’s success and in maintaining the very important relationship between Victorian golfers and their administrative body. In analysing the survey results, it is evident that the magazine is valued, however we have also listened to clubs and acknowledge the past burden faced by them in being obligated to take copies of the magazine or manage club subscriber lists. We feel now is an appropriate time to improve the value for clubs with respect to the magazine’s reach, efficiencies and modernising of delivery methods. As such, the June/July 2019 edition of Golf Victoria magazine will be the last printed version of the publication. Over the coming months, Golf Australia will investigate future options for maintaining the high standard of communication with golfers and clubs. We are extremely excited by the prospect of this new era and look forward to continuing the many local stories while including some national content which no doubt will resonate locally. Speaking of change, we take this opportunity to farewell Alison McCaig as a Golf Victoria Board Member. Alison’s term concluded at the end of May. As a Board Member since 2013, Alison’s contribution across the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee as well as the Match Committee has been significant. We thank her very much for her wonderful work and wish her all the best in her future endeavours. Finally, a sad loss to golf with the passing of popular golf figure and former Victorian Golf Association councillor John Scrivener. 'Scriv', as he was known to so many throughout the state, served the VGA Council for over 20 years in wide-ranging areas such as senior and junior golf events, development activities, managing state colts and junior teams, the Vic Open, finance, rules, handicapping and course rating. Victorian golf will sorely miss his knowledge and passion for the game for life. THE GOLFER INSIDE US ALL Passionate golfers, all. Standing (from left): Abbey Moule, Finn Broadbent, Joel Mitchell, Kallista Do, Trinity Francis, Merle Wood. Front: NormWood, Jack Wilson and Donna and Ebony Howard. We wish to thank Huntingdale Golf Club, especially Alex McGillivray, Heather Gellatly and Brian Meldrum, for assistance with this shoot. Ebony had plenty of treats and was not harmed in the making of this image. golf report Therese Magdulski Golf Operations and State Senior Manager - Victoria Golf Australia 4 Golf Victoria