Members Newsletter

July 2025

President Pete’s Update

Golf Shop Opening

Our Golf Shop renovation is now complete and looks fantastic! The operational efficiencies in the new open-plan design enable customer movement and flow through a broader range of equipment and apparel. The upgrade in lighting, ventilation and a compliant repairs room has been a welcome improvement. We are still waiting for some fridges and hot boxes to be delivered, and once they are delivered, we will have the ability to offer food and beverages 7 days a week. We trust our members enjoy their new Golf Shop.

Members' Information Sessions

We have scheduled another series of Members' Information Sessions, which members are invited to attend. The key themes of these presentations are to provide an update on the Club’s financial position, concerns about our expenses increasing at a greater rate than our revenues, and our long-term ability to reinvest in assets and facilities that members are seeking, ensuring our Club is here and thriving for our future generations. The scheduled dates are noted below with RSVPs to reception@nelsonbaygolf.com.au

• Monday 4/8 – 11am
• Wednesday 6/8 – 10am
• Wednesday 6/8 – 1pm
• Thursday 7/8 – 5:30pm

Membership Renewals Success

This year’s membership renewals have now been reconciled, which includes resigning unfinancial members, facilitating members' transfer requests and introducing members who were either Provisional Members or on a Waiting List. Full Playing Membership is now full, and provisional membership has been reactivated. There are 12 spots available for Flexi Membership, of which we expect to reach capacity again in the coming months. Thanks to Karen and our dedicated staff at reception for facilitating another successful members' renewal program.

Banksia Course

We hope our members and guests have enjoyed playing on our new composite golf course - Banksia. Whilst we understand the restrictions from flooding on holes 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 16th, 22nd and 23rd are not allowing our full 27 holes to be in play, we should all be appreciative of the work that has occurred in preparing our new composite course. We can expect this course to be in play for several weeks and possibly into early Spring. A significant amount of work and effort has been put in by our staff. On behalf of our Board of Directors, we thank our staff for their initiative and imagination, which have enabled our members to play golf on an 18-hole GolfLink-rated course in just a few days. Well done!

General Manager's Update

Course Update

Our golf course continues to be hampered by rain. In July alone, we have received another 400mm of rainfall, bringing our YTD rainfall to nearly 1800mm (annual average 1300mm). There is extensive flooding in many areas of the course, and unfortunately, this is unlikely to recede for several weeks. The last time the course flooded like this was in 1991, and at this time, we were only 18 holes, so only a couple of holes were impacted. If any members have any old photos of flooding at this time, we ask that they be sent to the Club via reception@nelsonbaygolf.com.au, as this will assist with lodging an insurance claim. 

At this time, our Greenstaff need to be congratulated for their efforts on the golf course. The extra workload in cleaning up debris and attempting to move water through the site has been very challenging. Having noted this, the remaining playing surfaces (greens/tees/fairways) on our Banksia course remain in good condition. 

Tree Pruning, Fallen Trees & Cart Paths

Following the recent storm, there have been several large trees fallen or uprooted. These areas still have large masses of wood and debris on the ground of which we will aim to remove when possible. 

Whilst we have been hampered by rain and a wet golf course, we have continued to work on many of our projects in areas of the course that are currently inaccessible. This includes high tree pruning around the 12th green and 13th tee, commencing the cart path on the 12th hole and continuing with the works on the cart path on the 7th and 8th holes. On hole 7, some further work will commence to remediate the area on the front right side of the green.

Green Renovations

Whilst our golf course is facing a number of challenges at present, we are still planning to renovate all greens the week commencing 18th August. At this time of year, the soil temperatures are ideal for regerminaton and growth in our greens. With the introduction of the Banksia Course, the allocation of the greens being renovated may alter; however, the intention is to renovate all greens during this week.

Golf Cart Storage Shed

A reminder to our members using our golf cart storage sheds to close and lock the gate. We have had a couple of instances in recent days where this has been left open.

Staff Update

We are pleased to announce that Ken Dukes will join the team as an Assistant Golf Professional in September. Ken was a successful touring professional through the 1980s and 1990s and is relocating to the Port Stephens area. Ken will assist our team in golf operations and be available for golf clinics, lessons and coaching.

Warren Moses is taking some extended leave for approximately 6-8 weeks. During this period, we ask that members be respectful of Warren and allow him to focus on his health. Golf lessons and clinics during this period will continue where possible, with Duard and Lachie conducting already booked golf clinics.

Apprentice Green Keeper 

We are currently accepting expressions of interest for an Apprentice Greenkeeper. Commencement for this role will be in November or December, which would be ideally suited to a school leaver looking for a career in greenkeeping, landscaping, or horticulture. Please send resume and cover letter through to the attention of Greg Stynes, reception@nelsonbaygolf.com.au

David Lulham

General Manager

Match Committee Update

Banksia, our composite course, has been rated and approved by Golf NSW.  The below summarises the Course Distances, Scratch Rating and Slope Rating.

Tee Times and Bookings

We have a number of large social, charity, and corporate golf events booked in for the coming months. There will be occasions where our tee sheets will be modified and set up in a shotgun start format. This will include some Saturdays, ensuring we accommodate tee times for both members and visitors. In particular, we will have a shotgun start for the weekend of August 8, 9, and 10. We thank members in advance for their understanding until we are able to open the entire 27 holes for play. 

Upcoming Events

Mark Hughes Foundation Charity Golf Day - Friday, 1 August

Super Senior Pennants - Monday, 18 August.

Jack Evans Memorial - Saturday, 13 September, and Sunday, 14 September.

Nelson Bay Ladies Classic - Monday 15, Tuesday 16, Thursday 18 September.

Hunter Horse Haven Charity Golf Day - Monday, 27 October.

Junior Success

Thirteen of our talented Nelson Bay juniors participated in the Junior Classic at Waratah Golf Club on Sunday, 13 July, achieving some fantastic results.

Congratulations to Zoe Stewart, who took out the Girls Stableford division with a strong score of 34 points. Brodie Languis also had a great day, winning the 9-hole division with 49 strokes.

Well done to all the juniors who represented Nelson Bay - great to see your hard work and enthusiasm paying off on the course!

Ladies' President Update

Even though the climate gods are now smiling, the course is still giving the greenkeepers enormous challenges, with the water table at an all-time high. This has meant the event schedule has been thrown out, and Gail Murray is doing an incredible job of reorganising the timetable so that as many events as possible are completed.

Gail will not be standing for re-election as Captain at the AGM in November. If you are interested in taking on this position, please don’t hesitate to contact either Gail or me to discuss the responsibilities. You will have the assistance of Annette Rumble as Vice Captain for another year, and of course, the whole committee is available to help whenever necessary.

The clock is ticking towards our flagship event of the year, the 25th edition of the Nelson Bay Ladies Classic, sponsored by Port Stephens Homemaker, in September. Entries are now closed, but if you’d like to play, a waitlist is available at Reception. You can enter the team event on Thursday separately from the 36-hole event on Monday and Tuesday. If you have any questions, please talk to any of the Committee or Reception for information or assistance.

During the Classic, we will be having morning teas on both Monday and Tuesday of the competition. All contributions of food will be very welcome, I will organise somewhere to drop off the day before. There will be a form on the noticeboard in the downstairs bathroom/locker room for food donations that can be filled in so that there isn’t too much doubling-up. Also, if you’re not playing but would like to help out on the course or in the club, please let me know and I’ll certainly find somewhere you can take part.

By the time you read this, the new Golf Shop downstairs will be open. The increase in size will enable more items to be stocked and will be well worth a look. I know we will all appreciate access to the downstairs locker rooms again. I’ve been missing the noticeboard and the library!

Nicky Bethwaite

President, NBGC Ladies Committee

Ladies Captain Update

First, I would like to thank Greg Warren, David, Duard and other staff who helped get us an 18-hole golf course that we can now play our competitions on. Well done!

Our 6th and last medal was played on Tuesday, and once again, we can submit our scores to Golf Link. So, no more birdies and eagles on the temporary greens - it was good while it lasted.

The Keno Ambros has been postponed again. I will let you all know if the club decides to play it this year or not. We have also cancelled the Golden Ball, and I'm sorry to say it will not be played this year.

I will contact the 8 ladies who are still in the singles Knock Out when we can get a match index and it is suitable for all 8 to play.

We have closed the classic registration at present, as we are not sure whether we can have more than one course, as the water is not going away. We have a waitlist at reception, and we will reassess the situation in 3 weeks.

Gail Murry

Ladies Captain