Knock Golf Club
Business Plan (2013 – 2018)
Half-Year Performance Review (July 2013)
Section 6 of the above Business Plan provides for it to be reviewed and updated on an annual
basis and for half-yearly progress reports to be published on the club website.
The following briefly summarises the performance of the various committees against their
agreed objectives for the six month period from 1 January to 30 June 2013.
Finance
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Convenor:
Terry Casement
The purpose of the Finance Committee is to maintain and develop the financial stability and
sustainability of the club through the application of sound financial management systems and
practices.
The committee’s objectives and performance for the period were as follows: Objective: Develop, agree with the convenors and adhere to an annual budget.
Performance:
Mostly Achieved.
Objective: Monitor expenditure against budgetary allocations on a monthly basis and provide
a written report to Council.
Performance:
Achieved.
Objective: Ensure that sufficient revenue is secured to offset the projected annual costs.
Performance:
Achieved.
Objective: Build a cash surplus to offset, in part, the potential costs of future development
projects.
Performance:
Not Achieved (in the current financial year).
Objective: Ensure that adequate financial management systems and processes operate within
the club.
Performance:
Achieved.
Objective: Ensure that an annual audit is conducted by an appropriately qualified independent
person/body.
Performance:
Achieved.
Objective: Ensure that the club meets its financial legal obligations.
Performance:
Achieved.
Objective: Develop and future proof the club’s longer term financial plans.
Performance:
Not fully achieved.
Objective: Facilitate a regular review of membership categories and fees.
Performance:
Achieved this year with review of House a new membership category.
Objective: Facilitate the continual update of sponsorship proposals.
Performance:
Not Achieved.
Objective: Establish new revenue sources for the club which are compatible with its overall
strategy.
Performance:
No new revenue sources other than signage established.
Objective: Monitor, through the General Manager, the effective implementation of the
annual appraisal system for all staff and the deployment of good employer best practice and
administrative processes throughout the club.
Performance:
Achieved.
Objective: Appoint a champion to develop a strategy to optimize the diversity and
membership of the club and promote its increased use by visitors.
Performance:
Greens
Achieved.
-
Convenor:
Brian Ross
The purpose of the Greens Committee is to maintain and develop the course (including any
associated land owned by the club) to the highest possible standard of presentation within an
approved annual budget.
The committee’s objectives and performance for the period were as follows:
Objective: Develop and secure financial approval for an adequate annual, timetabled,
environmentally friendly course maintenance programme and implement this in conjunction
with the Course Manager.
Performance: Achieved.
Objective: Develop and secure financial approval for an annual course improvement
programme and implement this in conjunction with the Course Manager.
Performance: Achieved.
Objective: Develop and secure financial approval for a course equipment maintenance and
acquisition programme and implement this in conjunction with the Course Manager.
Performance: Course equipment maintenance:
Acquisition programme:
Achieved.
Achieved in part and on-going.
Objective: Provide monthly progress reports on the delivery of the above programmes to the
Council members.
Performance:
Achieved and on-going.
Objective: Monitor, on a monthly basis, actual expenditure against approved budget
provision and initiate any necessary remedial action.
Performance:
On-going.
Objective: Oversee the effective deployment and management of the Greens staff in
compliance with sound HR policies and practice.
Performance:
Achieved.
Match and Handicap
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Convenor:
Brian Sinnamon
The purpose of the Match and Handicap Committee is to provide, promote and manage the
delivery of a programme of appropriate competitions for members and ensuring that their
handicaps accurately reflect their playing ability.
The committee’s objectives and performance for the period were as follows:
Objective: Develop and circulate an annual programme of competitions which promotes
sporting excellence and encourages a wide range of member participation.
Performance:
Achieved and on-going.
Objective: Manage a fair and equitable system for allocating tee-times, the marshalling of
such times and the monitoring and enforcement of a reasonable pace of play.
Performance:
Achieved and on-going.
Objective: Oversee the fair and equitable application of the GUI rules of golf in relation to
the administration of the programme of competitions.
Performance:
Achieved and on-going.
Objective: Managing the member handicap system in compliance with GUI rules.
Performance:
Juniors
Achieved and on-going.
-
Convenor:
Gary Kennedy
The purpose of the Juniors Committee is to provide a safe and friendly environment where
junior golfers (aged 8 to 21) can enjoy the game and develop their golfing skills.
The committee’s objectives and performance for the period were as follows:
Objective: Organise regular competitions for junior golfers and manage their handicap
adjustments in accordance with GUI rules.
Performance: On-going.
Objective: Select the members of the club representative teams for divers junior
competitions.
Performance:
On-going.
Objective: Develop and implement, in conjunction with the Professional, a junior golfing
skill development programme.
Performance:
On-going.
Objective: Promote the game of golf at junior level within the local community.
Performance: On-going.
Objective: Organise promotional events to encourage junior membership of the club.
Performance: On-going.
Objective: Ensure a safe environment within the club and its precincts that complies with
Child Protection legislation.
Performance: On-going.
Objective: Ensure (in conjunction with the House Convenor) that the facilities available for
junior members and visitors are fit for purpose.
Performance: On-going.
House
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Convenor:
Tom Anderson
The purpose of the House Committee is to maintain, within an agreed budget, the structural
integrity and presentation of the clubhouse (and its immediate precincts) pending its
replacement or extensive refurbishment.
The committee’s objectives and performance for the period were as follows:
Objective: Develop and implement and agreed costed annual building maintenance
programme which addresses any serious structural issues and maintains its overall quality of
presentation to the satisfaction of members.
Performance: No serious structural issues are known to exist. Expenditure slightly below
budget provision. Front door replaced and painted. Drainage work carried out to prevent
flooding of the basement. Additional storage space provided for tables and chairs. Paintwork
to the dining area patched. Ladies locker room completely refurbished. Heating system
currently undergoing extensive renovation.
Objective: Maintain, to a reasonable standard, a safe area for junior members and visitors
within the clubhouse that complies with Child Protection legislation.
Performance: Achieved. Consideration of ‘juvenile licence’ with solicitors.
Objective: Provide monthly progress reports on the delivery of the above programme to
Council.
Performance: Achieved and on-going.
Objective: Ensure that a proper health and safety regime is in place to meet any statutory
requirements.
Performance: Currently meeting statutory requirements. Kitchen deep cleaned and
additional window provided; oil tanks bunded and low level oil filling pipes and valves
installed.
Objective: Establish a process for promptly reporting and recording any building/furnishing
defects.
Performance: Achieved. Defects reported to the office, Hon. Sec. and Convenor. Remedial
action taken and recorded as appropropriate.
Hospitality (Bar and Catering)
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Convenor:
Anne Armstrong
The purpose of the Bar and Catering Committee is to provide professional value for money
catering and bar services to members and visitors in a manner that optimises their use and
contribution to the continued stability of the club.
The Bar and Catering objectives and performance for the period were as follows:
Objective: Effectively manage the catering franchise.
Performance:
On-going
Objective: Ensure the caterer provides a range of good quality, moderately priced bar snacks
and meals to members and visitors.
Performance:
On-going
Objective: Seek to provide, through weekly reviews with the caterer, a catering service that
satisfies the members’ reasonable expectations.
Performance:
On-going
Objective: Develop, agree and implement (in conjunction with the House Convenor) a
programme of work to improve the presentation of the dining and bar areas.
Performance: On-going
Objective: Investigate the options for further improving the bar service and profit margins
with the Bar Manager.
Performance: On-going – a pool of casual bar staff have been employed and this should
ensure there are no issues with understaffing on busy night.
Objective: Actively seek members and visitors feedback on the quality, presentation and cost
of the catering and bar facilities they use.
Performance: On-going
Objective: Provide monthly progress reports on the delivery of the above to Council.
Performance: On-going
Objective: Oversee the effective deployment and management of the bar and catering staff in
compliance with sound HR policies and practices.
Performance: Achieved and on-going in conjunction with our HR consultants
Hospitality (Events)
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Convenor:
Cathal Geoghegan
The purpose of the Events Committee is to provide reasonably priced cost neutral social
functions and events which attract and are well supported by a diverse range of club members
and their guests.
The committee’s objectives and performance for the period were as follows:
Objective: Review the type, cost and frequency of social functions and events most likely to
attract the widest range of club members.
Performance: Achieved to date and on-going. The Committee continue to seek out other
innovative ideas for events designed to attract a wider circle of members and friends. The
encouraging start made by our caterer, Stephen Rogan, only but assists the Committee with
their efforts of increasing attending patron numbers. Stephen Rogan also now sits in on the
Entertainment Committee meetings and has expressed a willingness to promote/organise a
number of events himself in the Autumn/Winter season.
Objective: Organise, in conjunction with the General Manager and caterer, one or two
reasonably priced but cost neutral social events each month.
Performance:
Achieved to date and on-going.
Objective: Organise, in consultation with the main stakeholders, the major social events of
the golfing year (e.g. Captain’s Day Dinner and Prize Giving, President’s Night Dinner and
Prize Giving, Christmas Party Night, New Years Eve Dinner Dance, etc.).
Performance:
Achieved to date and on-going.
Objective: Investigate and implement the most effective methods for marketing the above
events.
Performance: This objective continues to be reviewed to ensure best mediums are being
utilised. We introduced the Event Calendar Cards during the last entertainment year, this
initial card pertaining to a three month event programme. Patron feedback has been extremely
positive in respect of these cards; so much so that we have decided the forthcoming such
Event Calendar Card will encompass a six month event programme. Patrons will thus have a
convenient reference guide to plan their short and long term future social calendars.
Objective: Provide monthly progress reports on the delivery of the above to Council.
Performance:
Achieved to date and on-going.
Communications/Social Media/Marketing -
Convenor:
Peter McClelland
The purpose of the Communications Committee is to maintain and develop, through various
methods, a rapport with all club members, stakeholders and visitors.
The committee’s objectives and performance for the period were as follows:
Objective: Update and maintain the club website as an easy access communication tool for
members and potential members/visitors.
Performance: Achieved. Maintenance of the website is affected via the club office and
further development opportunities are being explored.
Objective: Prepare and circulate an annual Newsletter to club members.
Performance: Achieved. Newsletter for 2012 season published in February 2013.
Objective: Conduct periodic member and visitor surveys to obtain constructive feedback and
secure their positive involvement in the development of the club.
Performance: On-going.
Objective: Review the methods of communicating with members and ensure effective use of
social media, notice boards, table flyers, e-mail drops, etc to market the club.
Performance: On-going.
Objective: Develop and formalize a structured marketing plan to maximise visitor use and
membership of the club.
Performance: Partially achieved/on-going.
Objective: Provide monthly reports to Council.
Performance: On-going
Development
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Convenor:
Tom Reid
The purpose of the Development Committee is to investigate and negotiate an agreement
with all relevant parties on the future long-term retention of the leased hospital land, purchase
of additional land and replacement or refurbishment of the clubhouse.
The committee’s objectives and performance for the period were as follows:
Objective: Secure at the earliest opportunity either the long-term tenure or purchase of the
land currently leased from the Hospital Authorities.
Performance: Following an exchange of correspondence between the IPC and the
Department, two very positive meetings have been held with officials of the Ulster Hospital
with regard to the acquisition of the freehold of the currently leased land and the possible
exchange of a small area of land. It is hope that these discussions can be further progressed
by the end of September 2013.
Objective: Subject to 1 above, secure either the long-term lease or purchase of additional
adjacent farming land for course development.
Performance: Subject to 1 above.
Objective: Assess the most appropriate and cost effective option for either replacing or
extensively refurbishing the clubhouse following resolution of the land leasing/purchase
issue.
Performance: Subject to 1 above.
Objective: Provide monthly progress reports on the delivery of the above to Council.
Performance: On-going.