VOLUNTEERS will undertake greenskeeping duties at the Blue Lake Public Golf Links under the Queen Elizabeth Park Trust’s proposed operational model as the group seeks to slash its $221,605 wage bill.
A leaked report of the facility’s 2017/18 operations shows greenskeeping and administration wages total more than 40pc of the $522,188 expense summary.
The one-page document, compiled by the Trust, identifies wages as the “biggest expense” that can be “reduced significantly”.
The summary flags a $48,900 management fee, which is included in the Blue Lake Golf Links Bar and Bistro sub-lease agreement, as needing to be reviewed.
The document follows the trust seeking an initial year long extension to its lease, citing escalating operating costs and a decrease in golf participation rates.
A trust spokesperson confirmed the new operational model sought to include volunteers, saying the golf course had historically been “severely overstaffed”.
The spokesperson said cutting wages was “the most significant area in decreasing expenses”.
“There was a time when the course was not in a great place so there was a lot of time and energy getting it to the level it is now,” the spokesperson said.
“A majority of people could not speak more highly of the quality of the course, however it has come at a cost.
“We cannot continue to spent that money on a public course.
“At the moment, we have a full time greenskeeper who is a superintendent, an apprentice and a casual staff member.”
Under the proposed model, the spokesperson said at least a couple of existing staff, along with a “significant amount of volunteers” could undertake landscaping duties.
“This way, we can still have a specialist person, but some of the non-playing areas can be managed by unqualified people,'” the spokesperson said.
“What we are asking them is to increase their volunteering, or actually volunteer and be more involved in the day to day operations.”
Under the current model, the trust pays Linksview Bar and Bistro operator Bill Burley a commission to collect green fees on its behalf as well as an annual management fee.
According to the document, the management fee, along with green fee commissions, totalled almost $60,000 last financial year – or a total of 11.5pc of all expenses.
Wages for administration are listed as $17,348 for the 2017/18 financial year.
The spokesperson said the proposed operational model would seek to abolish the “very outdated” management system through a combination of volunteering and a reduction of administration efforts.
A move toward electronic payment and booking system was floated as a potential method of decreasing administration costs.
The spokesperson stressed the golf club would be supported financially if they agreed to the new lease conditions.
The spokesperson said the yearly funding would be “significant” but did not disclose a figure.
Blue Lake Golf Club vice president Gary Stevens said while volunteers on the course was a possibility, he raised concerns about the longevity of the model.
Mr Stevens said the volunteer run committee were currently waiting for the release of a business model which is being undertaken by Golf Australia before making any definitive decision.
“It is hard to know how many man hours and how many volunteers will be involved until we have an idea of how many staff we can have,” he said.
“Volunteers can happen, but whether that is sustainable in the long-term will be seen.
“It certainly will be hard work, but a lot of jobs can be done through guidance.”
Mr Stevens said a meeting would be scheduled with the committee and member base once the business case was complete to discuss options.
“We certainly do not want to leave the golf course but the committee itself will not make a firm decision without seeking members’ advice,” he said.
“It is a big proposal and we need to have everyone on board.”
