Jeff Graham bids Goonawarra Golf Club farewell after 10 years

After over a decade at the club, Jeff Graham has announced his departure from Goonawarra GC in Victoria after being appointed the new General Manager at Bairnsdale Golf Club.

Starting off as the Club Professional in 2007, Graham subsequently moved into the office as General Manager some three years later when the club was on the brink of insolvency.

“I was appointed Manager of a Golf Club in turmoil,” he said. “A new Board had been voted in six months prior and many changes were being made. The club was borderline insolvent and had posted eight financial losses in the preceding nine years,”

“Ten years I’ve worked at the Goonawarra Golf Club, and I’ve loved almost every minute. Yesterday afternoon I informed the Board and Members attending the AGM that I would be tendering my resignation,” Graham posted on his Facebook page earlier this week.

During his tenure, Graham has been able to almost double the club’s playing membership base from 390 to 685 (the forth fastest growing membership in Metropolitan Melbourne), and efficiently freed the club from any withstanding debt.

Along with course superintendent Brad Morcomb, Graham was authoritative in Goonawarra’s first “Master Course Plan” in 2013, which has been the beacon for significant course improvements. He also administered additional clubhouse improvements including the expansion and renovation of the members lounge, renovations to the change-rooms, a new colorbond roof, a new office and a 25KW solar power system.

Taking home the prestigious title of Victorian PGA Manager of the Year 2016/17, Graham found him self on the podium with his new home club – then awarded 2017 Golf Club of the Year.

“At the awards night in August I congratulated Bairnsdale Golf Club (BGC) on their achievement in winning facility of the year, tongue in cheek I said it’s a shame they didn’t have a role for a GM,” Graham chuckled.

“BGC have been doing a tremendous job of running the club without a manager, winning multiple awards and increasing financial growth. They told me they were putting a role together and that I should stay in touch. Some things are just meant to be.”

Staying on a few more months in his current role at Goonawarra to make sure the new General Manager has a smooth transition, Graham will commence at Bairnsdale in late January 2018.

“The club is looking to appoint a GM to further progress the clubs growth and to alleviate the time pressure on the existing volunteers,” he added.

“I foresee these two points as being the keystone of my role at the club.”