Interclub Volume 27 Issue 2 2021

12 INTERCLUB • VOLUME 27, ISSUE 2 - 2021 Timaru club grabs the 'tiger by the tail' c l u b l i f e : T I M A R U T O W N & C O U N T R Y C L U B Sue Russell Timaru Town & Country Club has close to 4000 members and is perfectly situated next to a golf course. A fter 14 years with Timaru Town & Country Club, Vince Gardiner, says there have been many significant developments to the building and to the club’s service offering, in order to target a new and younger market. “We realised that we needed to adapt and make coming to our club an easy and attractive option for new members, par ticularly focusing on families, so we invested in major upgrades to our catering facilities over the years,” says Vince. Employing a top-notch catering manager/ head chef has also proved significant along with repositioning the restaurant and creating a function centre. “It was a huge diversification. Clubs used to be called old-man barns and we knew we had to grab a hold of diversification and hold on tight – grab a hold of the tiger’s tail!” As a result of these bold decisions to invest in ways to open the doors wider to new members and guests, the club is being rewarded with increases in membership year on year. Today, Timaru Town & Country Club has close to 4000 members. “We have taken a lot more spor ting groups into the club and for tunately have the space and facilities to welcome them. Then with our location next to a golf course and that club coming in under our wing, it’s really created a very strong spor ting vibe.” To cater for additional activity the plan is to develop two double-garaging units attached to the club, so that spor ts groups have a space to go when there’s demand for space inside the main building. The aim is to have this work completed in time for when the club hosts the Clubs New Zealand Annual Conference and Expo in 2023. And while there is plenty to do in preparation for this event, Vince says the club is looking forward to show-casing what it has become. Vince knows that one of the reasons Timaru Town & Country Club is thriving is down to two key factors. First, he has an excellent governance structure and people to work with in the strategic sphere and secondly, as General Manager, he has surrounded himself with skilled professional people to be in the club on a day to day basis. Asked whether it is easy to find good staff, Vince says it is one of the more challenging aspects to his role. “Especially when you find a good chef who understands the culture we’re creating and suppor ts the direction of the club it is really great. It’s a key role in the club.” Vince is also delighted there is a younger cohor t visiting the club and choosing to become members. With taverns closing in the area, these people don’t necessarily want to go to a pub, and this is where updating the club’s décor and supplying a better offering of food has been impor tant. Best of all, families are choosing to use the club because it looks like a welcoming, modern and safe environment. When Interclub spoke with Vince, a new focus – the café market – was becoming impor tant. “We’re putting more offering into the café market all the time and it’s gratifying to see this has been picked up by members and visitors. While enjoying a coffee visitors can enjoy the view out over the golf course and they comment on how nicely the space is decorated.” Timaru Town & Country Club is open seven days a week and on each of those days offers lunch and dinner catering. Phone 03 684 7053 | admin@timaruconstruction.co.nz Proud Supporters of the Timaru Town & Country Club Timaru Construction Ltd BUILDING CONTRACTORS 10 Beswick Street, Timaru. PHONE: 03 688 8455 MOBILE: 027 437 0280 EMAIL: pat.coll@draftline.co.nz www.draftline.co.nz Architectural Design & Draughting Services Licensed Building Practitioner Project Management Enable NZ & ACC Housing Consultant