Dear Members, I often ponder over the cliche that Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten. The converse is that the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten. Our RM50+m ongoing golf course upgrading comes to mind. We are now at the stage of receiving cost estimates from our quantity surveyors. The Project Sub Committee (PSC) has been hard at work finding innovative cost-efficient choices to deliver even as cost pressures mount across the supply chain. I salute them for their tireless diligence. My message to the PSC Chairman has been consistent. There should be no material compromise on quality. If we are not reasonably assured of delivering the promised product at or below the approved budget then we must return to members for the way forward.
Our Greens Convenor, Mr. David Mah has fully immersed himself into his new life mission of providing us with the best possible golf course conditions given available resources. I half-jokingly remind him and his task partner, Senior Course Superintendent, Jack Cheong that the yardstick to measure their success will be members wondering out loud a year or two down the road why we even need to continue with our golf course upgrading.
Consistency of playability from hole to hole is an important indicator of golf course quality.
This includes our greens. We have begun to take baseline speed measurements on every green to determine our starting point and to design a specific program to balance out speeds across greens. We will measure progress with a program to continually assess every green bi-weekly. Over time, the objective is to achieve Stimpmeter readings of 6”-12” or narrower between our fastest and slowest greens. Separately, the team will also start taking firmness readings on all finishing holes, one tee box, fairway, semi-rough and rough to collect objective data to determine measurable progress or degradation over time. Lost balls in roughs have been an unnecessary frustration and impediment to fast play. Weather and resources permitting, adjusting our cutting blades to a one-inch grass height for recreational play and mowing our roughs more often should somewhat alleviate the irritation attributable to the lost ball
The covered tennis courts have been a contentious area. We promised to look for solutions to make the courts lightning safe during inclement weather. It would appear that the solution was hiding in plain sight all this while. A review of a previously “lost” but subsequently “found” Operating Manual points to the courts being already fit for purpose. Verbal discussions with the project Electrical Contractor and M&E Engineer indicate the same. We will clearly require proper certification in writing. The good news is that progress has been made.
Regardless, improvements are needed for our “back of house”. Important documents are misplaced or forgotten about. Relying on corporate memory is ineffective as both staff and Committee Members come and go. We will need to set up a formal document inventory list and repository. The same would appear to be the case for a regulatory register and checklist. This is to ensure that we are cognizant of all laws, regulations & guidelines which apply to the club to avoid unnecessary sanctions. The club has already been blindsided by some of these regulatory requirements and we certainly don’t need more. These are but some of the many invisible tasks being undertaken by your committee. Invisible to members but critical to the running of the club.
Raymond Yeoh
Captain
