By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
BANNOCKBURN Golf Club president Dick Crockett is on a drive for more members and he reckons the club’s value is just a tap-in for smart golfers.
He hopes the club can chip a fair way into its strategic plan for a 30 per cent membership increase this year.
But while locals regularly hit the well-watered-and-grassed course, Dick believes golfers in Geelong’s northern suburbs have forgotten the club is only a short drive down the Midland Hwy.
“The 18-hole course is the equal of most around the place,” he contends.
“We now have a computerised irrigation system using recycled water for the entire course and all the fairways are couch fairways. We’ve put a lot of hard work into improving the course, hoping that would attract a few more new people.
“We’re keen to let people know we’re here, that we’re volunteer-run and offer some cheap but quality golf.
“We have around 150 members at the moment but it appears numbers have dropped off a bit.
“People are tightening the belt a bit because of economic circumstances and the 10 per cent unemployment.
“Bannockburn is not just a golf club – we think of ourselves as a general community facility because we have a full bar and commercial kitchen in a good bush setting, so it’s great for a range of events.”
Dick said the club also planned to increase its junior numbers through school clinics and hoped parents might also be tempted to swing a club.
