Dear Members,
In line with our plan for continual improvement your committee has embarked on developing a long term strategic plan for our golf operations. This includes all aspects of golf from the moment a member or guest makes contact with the club to the time they leave at the end of the round. Our aim is to ensure that everyone has a memorable experience at Erinvale. We have a magnificent golf course set in one of the most scenic settings in the country if not the world and we need to capitalise on it by ensuring that our golfing experience is world class.
We have separated the club into two divisions namely golf operations and club house incorporating food & beverage. The reason for this is to focus on two very different aspects of our business. This communication is to explain our thoughts on the golf operations only.
The first point of contact for any member or guest is the reservation of tee times. Our plan is to separate this function from the pro shop staff. In season the pro shop is far too busy with people checking in and phones ringing things get delayed and service delivery drops. The plan is to have two booking clerks whose sole purpose is to answer calls, respond to emails and book tee times for members and guests who walk into the pro shop. This will free up the golf professionals and shop assistants to handle check-in and attend to sales in the shop.
The next point of contact is the layout of the Pro Shop itself and here we believe we have fallen massively behind the times. It’s cluttered and when you have seven or eight people trying to check in there is no space for anyone to browse. Unfortunately, the initial design was not good and we have two load bearing pillars in the middle of the floor, and nothing much we can do about. However, there is an option to recover some dead space at minimal cost. The plan is to replace the glass floor to the left of the main entrance to the Pro shop with a concrete slab and walls which will increase the shop by fifteen square meters. This will give us the much needed additional space to create a good flow through the shop. Tied to this is a complete re-design of the inside of the shop, by a professional store designer, giving it a fresh and modern look. This part of the project is going to be funded by Global Golf who have committed to spending up to five hundred thousand Rand. The plan here is to ensure the Pro Shop will have an Erinvale look and feel to it – with Global Golf fulfilling the role of a “Preferred Supplier”.
At this point in time all staff in the Pro shop are employees of Global Golf but with the new plan for bookings and the shop all staff with the exception of Ryno will be employed by Erinvale. We will be employing an entire new team to be headed up by our Director of Golf, Gavin Woodroffe. There will be minimal increase in our salary costs as Global Golf will continue to pay a minimum monthly amount that is equal to the current Pro Shop wage bill. This strategy will mean that we get to choose who to employ and in this regard we are going to be a lot more selective to ensure that we have the right people in the right positions with the right attitude. There will also be a female shop assistant to serve our lady members and guests.
We are looking at other aspects of improving our golfing experience with projects like improving our driving range and coaching facilities which are definitely not in keeping with Erinvale’s image. Tied to this is a Golf Academy with a more formal junior programme as there are more young families living on the estate. We are also looking into the feasibility of re-designing the putting green to add a small chipping area as has been requested by several members.
As soon as we have the approved plans and sketches of the Pro Shop alteration they will be displayed on the notice board and website for all to see. Along with this there will be an organisational chart, building schedule and funding document.
By the end of all this your committee is convinced that the entire golf operation will run much smoother and the golf experience will be world class and in keeping with Erinvale’s status as one of the best golf estates in the country and a sought after destination for local and overseas guests.
We trust that you will all recognise the need to upgrade, improve, streamline and enhance our offering in keeping with Erinvale’s world class status. Should you have any questions please drop us an email and we will address them.
Best regards
Dean
