2019 / 2020 Golf Australia Annual Report Intro– Contents Golf Australia Director Profiles 6 duction Committees 7 Chairman’s Report 8 Chief Executive Officer’s Report 10 Review of Operations 12 Message from Sport Australia 38 Annual Financial Report 39 Cover Image: 2019 Outback Queensland Masters venue: 4Longreach | Golf Australia Golf Club. Annual Report 2019 – 2020 | 5 Introduction Introduction Golf Australia Committees and Director Profiles Council Delegates Andrew Newbold (Chairman) John Robinson Risk & Audit Committee was elected as Chairman of Golf Australia in August 2019. was elected to the board in December 2018. John, a Andrew is a lawyer by profession, and is regarded as one former chair of Golf NSW, is well known to many in the golf Ms Jeannene O’Day (Chair); (Current Golf Australia Limited director) of the most progressive sports administrators in Australia. community for his work as a national referee. He is a semi- Mr Ian Skinner (Independent industry professional) A keen golfer and entrepreneur, he is also a board member retired IT specialist and business owner, having previously Ms Sarah Chia (Current Golf Australia Limited director) and chairman of several other companies, a commissioner been an IT data communications manager for Westpac and Mr John Davies (Current Golf Australia Limited director) with the Australian Football League and former Hawthorn a director and chairman of several companies. Football Club president and life member. Wendy Machin Nominations Committee Richard Allen was appointed to the board in September 2019. Wendy is was elected to the board in November 2017. Richard spent an experienced non-executive Director, and former politician. Mr Kevin Chandler (Chair); independent industry professional more than 20 years as a journalist with BRW magazine and She is currently the Chair and Director of Reflections Holiday Mr Peter Castrisos (Current director) Channel Nine and currently operates a communications Parks and Heritage Bank. Wendy has served on a number consultancy. He has an extensive background in golf, of other Boards over the last 20 years. This includes the Mr David Brett (State Representative, from August 2020) including serving as the captain of Royal Melbourne Golf Australian Automotive Association, Destination NSW, Mr Michael Sammells (Former director) Club, authoring a golf book and writing hundreds of articles National Occupational Licensing Authority and an advisory Mr Peter Mitchell (State Representative, until August 2020) on the game for a variety of publications. committee for the ANZ (Olympic) Stadium in Sydney and NSW Forestry Corporation. Wendy was the first woman Peter Castrisos National Party MP in the NSW Legislative Assembly. Golf Australia Council Delegates was elected to the Board in November 2016 and re-elected Between 1985 and 1996 she served as a Cabinet Minister, for a second term in November 2019. A qualified pharmacist Shadow Minister and as Deputy Speaker of the House. Golf New South Wales and small business owner, Peter has been on the board Lyn Cooper, Sally Kirkright, Peter Mitchell of Club Super since 2010 and chairman of its investment John Davies Golf Queensland committee since 2013.He served as Board Chairman 2017- was elected to the board in November 2019. John was a David Brett, Matthew Toomey 2019. He was a board member of Golf Queensland from partner at Ernst & Young for 25 years until 2011. In 1992, 2007 and its chairman from 2012 until his election. he established EYs Sports, Events & Venues Group to Golf Victoria provide financial and governance advice to leading sporting Luci Bryce, David Shilbury, Stephen Spargo Sarah Chia organisations. He was chair of Cricket Australia’s Audit & Golf South Australia was elected to the board in November 2017. Sarah is a Risk Committee from 2012 to October 2019; a member Zoee Dolling, Tony Timmins Director at Kain Lawyers, working predominantly in mergers of Cycling Australia’s Audit Committee from 2012 to 2015 and acquisitions. She is currently on the committee of The and has been a member of Golf Australia’s Risk & Audit Golf Tasmania Royal Adelaide Golf Club and was a board member of Golf Committee since 2014. He is a director of Australian Vintage Georgette Chilcott SA from 2015 until her election to the board of Golf Australia Ltd and has commercial viticultural interests. Golf Western Australia Limited. Justin Davies, Greg Higham John Hopkins Jeannene O’Day completed his term as an elected Director in November 2019. Golf Northern Territory was elected to the board in December 2018. Jeannene has Allen Fanning more than 25 years’ domestic and international experience in the financial services sector across investment banking, equity markets and funds management. She has also Life Members been actively involved on boards, organisations and media Patricia M. Bridges OBE dedicated to women’s and community issues. 6 | Golf Australia Annual Report 2019 – 2020 | 7 Introduction Introduction Chairman’s Report The 2019/2020 year has provided considerable challenges The past year has also seen One Golf remain a key and On behalf of Golf Australia, I would like to recognise the Colin was the driving force behind and oversaw many and opportunities for Australian Golf. Australia experienced ongoing focus for us as we strive to improve every aspect of valuable support of Government, generous benefactors and initiatives in his time at the AGU and in other roles within major bushfires over summer and then from March, attention this partnership, always with the intention of maximising the all our commercial partners including: the golf industry. These include the formalisation of national turned to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am pleased to report benefits for golf. Golf Australia’s sincere thanks are extended development programs, particularly for juniors and promising that the golfing community rose to these challenges and to the boards of Golf Tasmania, Golf Northern Territory, • Sport Australia for its financial contribution including amateurs, the establishment of GolfLink and the forerunner demonstrated a resilience and unity to ensure that the sport Golf Queensland, Golf South Australia and Golf Victoria for confirmed support for 2021. to the current Australian handicapping system. is well placed to realise the opportunities presented by a continuing to support a unified approach to administering • John and Jill Kinghorn for ongoing commitment to the GA renewed enthusiasm for the game across the country. golf in this country and maximising resources to promote, To all the staff of Golf Australia, most notably led by Interim High Performance program and the next generations of develop and support the game. I should also point out that CEO Robert Armour, I would like to express my eternal golf stars. During the year, golf was either restricted or closed for a we have continued to engage with Golf Western Australia gratitude to you for your outstanding efforts, especially during minimum period of a month in some States and far longer and Golf New South Wales even though those States are • ISPS Handa for its commitment as naming rights sponsor the extremely challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. periods in others, as Federal and State Governments not part of the One Golf structure for the mutual benefit of to the Women’s Australian Open and the Men’s and The professionalism, commitment and passion that you undertook a range of measures to prevent the spread of the the game of golf. Women’s Victorian Open. continue to give to your roles is absolutely outstanding. virus. Naturally, this negatively impacted on the operations of many clubs and facilities as well as on the physical and In the wake of the pandemic experience and a reconnection • Paul Taylor for his commitment to the progress of Vision 2025. To my fellow board members, I thank you for your contribution social wellbeing of many golfers. with golf by many, great opportunities to meaningfully grow and support to the governance of this organisation and your the game are immediately in front of us. A collaborative • Golf Australia’s entire sponsor family. commitment to Australian golf. It has been my honour to Chair Golf Australia sought to play a strong role throughout this approach with shared vision and common goals across the Golf Australia Board over the past year. • SPORTFIVE (formerly Lagardere) for the beneficial uncertain time, liaising with Governments in all States the Australian golf industry, will undoubtedly assist in relationship with the Emirates Men’s Australian Open. Subsequent to the end of the 2019/2020 year, I was very to express our sport’s views and needs as well as fully strengthening and growing our sport. We will continue to pleased and proud to announce the appointment of James understanding and then communicating to clubs, the varied forge those partnerships to grow our game. • The South Australian Government in relation to the ISPS Sutherland as our new CEO. James has a resume that is long and constantly changing restrictions applicable to golf. Handa Women’s Australian Open. During this period, we spent significant effort in maintaining In June 2020, the Australian Golf Centre project was and distinguished and I’m truly delighted that golf will be able contact with clubs, understanding the many challenges and announced. This exciting project will bring the headquarters • The NSW Government in relation to the Emirates Men’s to tap into his vast knowledge and resources as we push into wherever possible facilitating connection with Government for PGA of Australia, Golf Australia and Golf Victoria Australian Open. a new era. Even as I write this note to you, I am comfortable grant programs. together into the one building. The $18.8 million project, in the knowledge that James has made a very positive impact majority funded by the Victorian Government’s $15.3 million • The Victorian Government in relation to the Victorian Open on our people and our sport.