Special golf meeting to resolve differences

A special general meeting of Drouin Golf and Country Club members will be held early next month to resolve differences of opinion over moves to rebrand the club.

The board of management decision outlined at the annual meeting last month to rebrand the club “Open Edge Drouin” has been challenged by the required minimum 10 per cent of ordinary members that petitioned the board for the special meeting.

The petitioners will present a motion aimed at retaining the name Drouin Golf and Country Club as its prime identity.

The board’s proposal it to keep Drouin Golf and Country Club as the legal entity but adopt “Open Edge” as the over-arching brand with two sub-brands highlighting its golf and events/functions offerings.

The special meeting will be held at the club on Saturday, December 2, at 4.30pm.

That is a day after the board had planned to launch the new brand.

A board met last Wednesday night set the date for the meeting that enables members to be given the 21 days’ notice required under the club’s constitution.

Chairman Richard Snare said members will be advised by letter, that will include forms to submit proxy votes, and the club’s website.

He said the constitution also required the support of 75 per cent of members to overturn the board’s plan for the new brand.

Lead petitioner John White said the club had a proud history and he saw no reason it could not be effectively marketed under its current name.

The motion to be put to members is: “The Board will ensure that all club business, pro- motions and advertising is conducted under the name and/or logo of the Drouin Golf and Country Club Inc”.

Mr White denied that if the special meeting motion was successful it could be seen as a no confidence vote in the board.

It is not meant to be that, he said.