Golf club set for another change
Horsham Golf Club is on the hunt for a new manager and resident golf professional.
Club president Leo Delahunty confirmed in a letter to members that general manager and golf director Paul Riley had resigned and officially finished in the role yesterday.
Mr Delahunty said Mr Riley had resigned to pursue another opportunity.
“Paul’s appointment in June last year has enabled Horsham Golf Club to show the value of having managerial leadership as well as golf leadership,” he said.
“The increase in membership, sponsorship and golf activity during Paul’s time has shown us all what can be achieved at the club.
“The board and I appreciate the commitment, effort and positive attitude that Paul has given us, and we are certainly a better club now than we were 12 months ago.
“We wish him and Jess every success in their personal endeavours and look forward to seeing them visit us in the future.”
Mr Delahunty said the board had again reviewed its operating structure to provide the best sustainable outcome for the club.
“Consequently, we are looking to appoint another manager, as well as a professional
golfer to give the ongoing golf leadership and focus the club needs,” he said.
“In the short term Ellen Scott will cover off on the day-to-day management over the next few weeks.”
Mr Delahunty told members the club had made ‘positive advances’ in the past 12 months with ‘significant’ increases in membership, sponsorship and ‘encouraging’ financial improvement.
He urged members to continue their support and patronage.
He also stressed the club was continuing to have financial discussions with its bank regarding options going forward.
“Paul’s appointment in June last year has enabled Horsham Golf Club to show the value of having managerial leadership as well as golf leadership. The increase in membership, sponsorship and golf activity during Paul’s time has shown us all what can be achieved” – Leo Delahunty
“These discussions have been positive but there is little more I can add at this stage apart from reinforcing the strategic importance of the community fund during these discussions. We will be able to give a detailed update in the near future,” he said.
Mr Delahunty said the club was looking at memberships with plans to sign off on new-season details at a board meeting on Monday, followed by an explanatory members meeting in mid to late May.
The Horsham district and broader Wimmera communities raised more than $300,000 late last year to rescue Horsham Golf Club from financial disaster.
The club was carrying overall debts of $1.39-million but needed money to pay immediate bills to prevent it from going into administration.
Horsham Golf Club is based at iconic and historic Horsham Golf Course, which sits on a extensive sand belt on the southern edge of Horsham.
The course, a long-time attraction for visiting golfers and at times listed among Australia’s best inland lay-outs, underwent a major transformation after being ravaged by a Black Saturday bushfire in 2009.