On 7th December 1997, with 49 members attending, a first in the history of the club was achieved when the meeting elected its first female member to a traditionally male Board of Directors. Mrs. Gail O’Shea, who previously held positions on the Associates Committee, including that of President, was elected unopposed to the position of Club Secretary.

$15.00 of the yearly subscription is to be a compulsory trophy levy, with the amount credited to the match account. The total amount is seldom used by the captain of the day, most captains buy trophies using monies from competitions and part of the levy used for yearly championship trophies.

The annual meeting discussed the capital purchase levy, and it was moved, “that a $1.00 capital purchase levy be applied for each round of golf to members and non-members, to be applied to a capital projects levy for a period not to exceed one year.” A further amendment was put “that a $2.00 capital purchase levy be applied to all non-Cairns Golf Club members playing at the Cairns Golf Club.” The amendment was put and carried.

It was also moved, “that the joining fee be reduced to 50% for all nominations for new members being received between the 1st and 31st January 1998.” The motion was approved and proved so successful that the period later increased to include the month of February.

It was requested the incoming committee to review the local rule which stated that all roads and pathways be integral parts of the course. The captain agreed to follow up the ruling.

The issue was raised of joining fees for associate members who wished to upgrade their membership classification and, on a motion, “that the joining fee be waived for all existing associate members who apply for full ordinary membership.” The motion was approved.

Other matters aired from the floor of the meeting, but for which no firm action was taken included – The appearance of the dam on (old) No. 11, course marshalling, incursion by the main roads, the fence beside (old) No. 4 fairway, passive smoking, condition of tees, the links view estate and a proposal that members who do not cancel after booking time slots be fined $4.00.
During the greens report presented to the December meeting, the condition of tees on the course was discussed, agreeing that the (old) 18th tee, which had been re-turfed, would not have heavy machine placed on it and should be hand mowed. The question of the purchase of a new fairway mower was discussed, to approve the purchase of a Toro 6700 fairway mower for a price, after trade, of $61,500.00.

An item coming from the house and social committee meeting referred to passive smoking, that had been raised at the annual meeting. It was recommended that the clubhouse be segregated into smoking and non-smoking areas. The nonsmoking area was to be located on the eastern side of the partition which was located in the lounge, and it was agreed that appropriate signage be placed around the area -
ashtrays would be withdrawn.

The state of the dam on the (old) 11th hole was discussed at the 1998 February meeting and information was presented that options for cleaning the dam had been investigated during 1997. Costs of cleaning the dam ranging between $10,000.00 and $30,000.00. The administration meeting held on the 18th February heard that a dredge was available, and if worked with volunteer labour, cleaning costs would be in the vicinity of $5,000.00.

On 27th February 1998 the dredge was lowered onto the dam and work proceeded. Due to the grass on the bottom of the dam, the work was continually being halted to clear grass from the cutters and in the end the project was aborted.

The hire of the dredge was originally set at $1,000.00 a day, but the vendors agreed to a fee of $499.00. The dam is regularly infested with “Duck Weed” and efforts are made to clear it. Several solutions were tried all failing. The solution was to hire a “dredge” to pump the surface water from the dam. At the time no one told the workers that weed also grows on the bottom. The dredge was put into the water with volunteer labour.

It was only after the dredge was working, that the evidence of growth on the bottom of the dam was evident, with excavators constantly clogged. These had to be cleared, which meant getting into the water. The volunteers knew where the water had originated (sewerage plant next door) and although treated it wasn’t the nicest place to swim in. An amusing incident happened when a member fell in and had to be rescued. After less than a day’s work done it was aborted as being too costly.

It was advised at the February meeting that a company had made an offer regarding advertising on the Club’s hire golf carts. He said that two options were offered with the second option being the most acceptable. The options were -

1. – $2,000.00 sponsorship for one year’s advertising on 8 golf carts.
2. – Supply of a $5,000.00 photocopier for advertising on the 16 carts for one year.

The question of a suitable lunchroom to accommodate green staff was raised during the February meeting when a quote of $280.00 per month was tabled for the hire of a demountable building. The meeting agreed to investigate the purchase of the building as opposed to the costs of hiring it, and after deliberations it was successfully moved, “that the General Manager be empowered to spend up to $13,000.00 to purchase a suitable lunchroom. Should a building be not available, the General Manager is to be authorized to enter into a rental agreement with Coates Hire for $280.00 per month.” The de-mountable was purchased at a price of $5,000.00 and was put into use during March 1998.

A statement of membership at the 19th of February 1998 Meeting showed membership at:

• Members 736
• Associates 167
• Juniors 56
• Total 959

This can be compared with November 1997 when the total membership stood at 944.

During eneral Business at the March Meeting, the General Manager tabled a copy of a report on The Meeting between the Chief Advisor to the Minister for Mains Roads and several members of the Club’s Board of Directors. The Meeting was held on 24th March 1998, and supplemented prior meetings that had been held with the Mayor, Mr. Pyne, and Mr. Ian Lindsay from the City Council.

After hearing the Report, the Board agreed that both bodies be advised, “that the Board of Directors categorically opposed the resumption of the Golf Club property shown in their preliminary plan of the 12th March 1998.” The Meeting also resolved that the Board seek legal advice before commencing a second stage of negotiations with the Main Roads

Over the years Members and Associates, particularly Associates, have complained of rashes on legs at certain times of the year. It was claimed that these rashes were obtained because of poisons being used on the fairways. The complaints were investigated on many occasions, with tests carried out confirming that the rashes were not caused as claimed.

It was also confirmed that at the time of many complaints the fairways had not been poisoned. Further complaints were made to the 1998 May meeting regarding the rashes and the meeting instructed that the General Manager make more inquiries. Records were taken and investigations held but the cause of the problem could not be specifically identified. The rashes appear during the hot months of the year. There is a suggestion they are caused by a type of grass growing on the course during these months.

During general business then raised the question of the mowing of the fairways in the style known as “contour mowing.” He stated that during the wet and
growing season, mowing the course in this fashion assisted by greater growth which in turn created holdups, thus causing slow play in competitions. It was moved “that -

• During the period between the 1st November 1998 and the 1st June in 1999, the maintenance of the course be such that all fairways and adjoining areas, including the rough, be cut at the same level.
• Roughs should be cleared, cleaned, and maintained to allow the easy drainage of all flooding and surface water.
• Lastly that during the period between the 1st June and 1st November mowing of fairways to a condition known as “contour mowing” be such that the main central cut should be extended to include the area surrounding all greens, such a cut to be at least one mower width wide.” Considerable discussion occurred and when put to the vote it was defeated on the casting vote of the president.

The president, at the May meeting, advised that as the club’s hire carts were providing large amounts of revenue it is advisable to purchase an additional 5 or 6 carts. It was then raised the issue of the borrowing of private golf carts between members. The General Manager replied that the board’s policy was that private carts were not to be hired to other members, but there was no mention in policy on lending. He added the issue of the borrowing of private carts could raise problems which would require examination. It was legal opinion that regardless of who leases, hires, or lends motorised Carts, the Club is legally responsible for the use, or misuse, of them on the Golf Course.

During 1998 there was an influx of Korean junior golfers on the practice fairway and in club competitions. Several koreans joined the club, as juniors, but there was a suggestion that some were over the age limit. The Koreans were always accompanied by a senior person who appeared to be acting as a coach. The matter came to a head when two of the lads displayed bad etiquette in the National Bank
Classic, with complaints being laid.

The boys and their coach were called before the match committee and certain conditions were laid down. It was later discovered that groups of youths were being brought to Australia from Korea, in a scheme which provided, among other things, golf coaching, with the practice fairway of the Cairns Club being used as a coaching area. The Koreans and their coach disappeared during the second half of 1998 and have not been seen since.

It was reported to the same meeting, in general business, that the tiles at the main entrance to the clubhouse were very slippery when wet, and there was a definite possibility of a serious accident happening. The General Manager was directed to report on ways of improving the stability of the area. News on the construction of cart paths were given to the meeting held in August 1998, with advice received that the work was proceeding to plan, and costs not exceeding $27,500.00.

The meeting also discussed a request from the All Sports Club for a grant of $1,000.00, which was to be spent at their annual dinner on bar sales.

Over the past years the state of the greens and methods used in their cutting has been the concern of many board members, with many suggesting that it is the way they are cut, that causes the problems. Mr. Ross Watson, a Golf Architect and advisor to the club, on one visit to the club suggested that the perimeter cuts were being carried out too frequently and recommended that they be cut no more than once or twice maximum per week. The board advised the Superintendent, through the General Manager, that staff are not to mow the perimeters of the greens more than twice per week.

The October finance meeting increased the price of beer served at the bar for the first time in 18 months when a 10oz glass of heavy beer was increased from $1.85 to $1.95, and a 10oz glass of lite beer increased from $1.70 to $1.80. A 7oz post mix soft drink would increase to $1.00, a 10oz to $1.25 and a 15oz soft drink to $1.50.

The October 1998 board meeting resolved to provide security arrangements to the associates locker rooms. The work, which also included the members room, consisted of replacing the doors to both rooms and placing locks on both entrances, costing approx. $1,971.00.

The Greens Director, requested the board’s approval for the construction of earth mounds to the south side of the old 6th Tee as a protection to players from balls being hit from the old 4th tee. The mounds would be planted with grass and trees, with the required fill to be obtained from the widening and lowering of the dam to the left-hand side of the old 4th fairway.

The minutes for November 1998 are not available but membership figures for the month indicated that the membership for the club was:

• Members 704
• Associates 163
• Juniors 56
• Total 923.