From the Chairman HEADLINES Strong month delivers £20k profit New accountancy system approved to strengthen financial resilience Bore hole performing well and new course sprayer now operational Ladies' locker room refurbishment starts in September Club to return to the Staffordshire Championship rota Captain's Charity Night next major event on the calendar MAIN STORIES 1. Club Operations & Member Experience The Captain reported that most of the season's major events have now taken place, with Captain's Charity Night the next significant event on the calendar. The Board discussed attendance at some of the Club's larger competitions and agreed there is an opportunity to refresh the format and presentation of these events to encourage greater participation. Food & Beverage performance continues to be closely reviewed. Wage and bar purchasing performance were positive in June, while attention is now turning towards opportunities to generate additional revenue. The Board continued its discussion about the role of Food & Beverage within a private members' club. Alongside the need to manage costs and generate revenue, the clubhouse provides facilities and services as part of the overall membership proposition. Further work will therefore focus on understanding member usage and ensuring the offering is both appropriate and sustainable. The Ladies' locker room refurbishment will begin on 4 September, with reopening planned for 1 October. Plans have been finalised and communications issued to lady members. The improved entrance gate system is now operating successfully. 2. Course & Facilities The recently installed bore hole is performing well, providing an important additional water resource for the course. The new dedicated sprayer has arrived and is now operational, with its functionality receiving positive feedback. The course team is currently managing animal-related damage, with additional pest-control measures introduced to control the problem. Liam, the new greenkeeping apprentice, is settling into the role well, with his associated training fully funded. The Board also agreed that Druids Heath should return to the Staffordshire Championship rota. Clarification – Staffordshire Championship The Board would like to correct an inaccurate impression regarding the Staffordshire Championship. John Salt was not involved in the decision to decline the opportunity to host the event on a Saturday and should not have been identified as responsible for that decision. The matter was subsequently discussed by the Board at its August meeting, when it was agreed that Druids Heath should return to the Staffordshire Championship rota. 3. Finance & Governance The club delivered a strong financial result for the month, recording a profit of approximately £20k. Wage costs continue to trend downwards and gross profit remains in line with budget. Course expenditure was higher during the month as preparations were made in advance for winter works. The Board also noted provisions of approximately £12k relating to an unexpected electricity refund, which has been set aside pending clarification, and £8k relating to the Glenn Williams tribunal case. A significant step was taken to strengthen the club's financial resilience. Following consideration of alternative providers and consultation with another golf club, the Board unanimously approved the appointment of Tee to Green as the club's new accountancy provider from 1 October. The change reflects the increasing scale and complexity of the club's financial operations. The new cloud-based system will provide wider access to financial information, remove dependency on a single individual and provide both accountancy and payroll support. Staff will move to monthly pay as part of the transition. The Board also continued discussions regarding future governance arrangements, including honorary membership and the future appointment of a Club President. Nominations for the next President will be invited at the next meeting. The ongoing investigation into the historic accounting reconciliation issue continues, with historical data still being examined as part of the wider review. 4. Membership & Marketing The membership survey is being amended following Board feedback and will be released to members in due course. The survey is intended to provide reliable member feedback to support future decisions about the club's facilities, services and direction. 5. Health, Safety & Compliance Actions arising from the Fire Risk Assessment are nearing completion. The DSEAR assessment relating to fuel storage is scheduled for 11 August, with the final cost £500 lower than originally quoted. The solar panel service and cleaning is scheduled for 11 September. Following recommendations from the Citation audit, additional safety signage has been installed on the Ladies' 8th tee. The revised buggy policy is now displayed on all club buggies. The Board also discussed smoking around the club and agreed that members should be encouraged to behave responsibly. 6. Decisions, Actions & Next Steps Tee to Green to become the club's accountancy provider from 1 October. Ladies' locker room refurbishment to commence on 4 September and reopen on 1 October. DSEAR assessment scheduled for 11 August. Solar panel service and clean scheduled for 11 September. Membership survey to be finalised and distributed. Club to return to the Staffordshire Championship rota. Review formats and participation levels for major club events. Event revenue information to be developed to support future fixture decisions. Nominations for the next Club President to be considered. Main club insurance renewal to proceed following identification of a package approximately £3.3k below the current annual cost. CLOSING NOTE The Board continues to focus on strengthening the club for the future while protecting the experience and facilities our members value. Investment in the course, clubhouse and financial infrastructure is progressing alongside work to better understand changing member needs. Thank you for your continued engagement and support. Further updates will be provided as these initiatives progress. Chairman, Druids Heath Golf Club