JOSH Prowse is happy to admit he thought he might feel like a fish out of water when he accepted the position of chief executive officer at Moruya Golf Club on the New South Wales South Coast.
After all, he was a Victorian, who loved the Collingwood Magpies and the Melbourne Storm and knew he would find plenty who disagreed with those loyalties.
Yet the Moruya golfers accepted him without hesitation.
Sure, they love to argue about the football, but they also help Josh with his other great love, fishing, and take him out chasing a big catch whenever possible.
In fact, the only thing that has suffered for Prowse is his golf handicap.
“Yes, that has actually gone backwards,” grins Josh.
“One would be excused for thinking as the CEO of a golf club, you would have a great handicap.
“Mine is the opposite.
“When I left Albury, I was playing off single figures and now I am out to mid-teens.
“I blame that on not enough time on the course and too much time in the office.
“I do hope to change this in the future and get my handicap back down.”
Moruya Golf Club has become the perfect fit for Prowse, who left school in 2006 and intended to have a gap year off from work but instead wound up working at the Commercial Club in Albury.
“After 12 years working there I thought I had what it would take to be a general manager, resulting in me looking further afield for such a position.
“Moruya Golf Club was advertising for such a role and it’s worked.”
For those who have been unlucky enough not to play there, Moruya Golf Club was opened in 1925 as a nine-hole sand green course.
In 1966 veteran golf course architect Al Howard redesigned the existing nine holes and incorporated grass greens.
During the redesign process the golf club was able to access extra land for more golf holes.
So, three extra holes were added to the course between 1982 and 1984, followed by a further six holes in 1988, which created the 18-hole championship course we see today.
This work was carried out in conjunction with long-term club member Jim Marsden and officially opened on October 1, 1988.
Fast-forward to 2022 and the course continues to evolve to provide the best golf experience possible.
“There is no doubt that Covid was great for golf and membership rates, but the floods that have followed have been devastating for golf here,” says Prowse.
“From November, 2021 through to July, 2022 we didn’t get to play much golf.
“We had two floods where half the course was under two feet of water and continuous rain never let it dry out.
“Our greens staff had to set up temporary bridges to get through wet/boggy areas.
“But through all this the members have just been happy to get out and play some golf.
“Yes, our numbers are down on previous years because of this. Not everyone wanted to slog around in the wet, including myself.”
In 2019, Moruya began a refresh of the clubhouse and pro shop, which had been slowed with Covid and floods.
“We are still working through the upgrades and improvements as shown with the opening of our new pro shop in July this year,” said Prowse.
“While there is still work happening in conjunction with the new shop including seating, putting green, wash down bays and cart parking, it is nearing completion.
“Once the pro shop upgrade is completed, we are moving into the clubhouse.
“We have some great plans for the internal improvement which will kick off in November this year.”
Prowse explained that those who had been to Moruya and played their golf course understood the quality of what they offered.
“In the past two years this has been put on show by the events we have hosted,” he said.
“In 2020 and 2021 we hosted the South Coast Open and the 2021 and 2022 PGA Australia NSW/ACT State Associate Championships.
“The quality of our greens, fairways and other facilities are as good as you will find at any top tier venue.
“Moruya is one of those clubs that is always welcoming.
“Our members love to see visitors in the club and always have some fun banter with the staff.
“Moruya has many long-term staff which is testament to the club being a fun and friendly place to work and frequent.”
Prowse says that one of the reasons members love Moruya Golf Club is the fact they are happy to introduce change and move with the times.
“From small club upgrades to gender-neutral tees being introduced, our members are happy to see the change and give anything a go.”
Prowse said when he left Albury and moved to this small coastal town he thought it might be tough to fit in.
“Yet, everyone here has been so welcoming and it didn’t take long to meet some fantastic people,” he said.
“Having my outlet hobbies such as fishing and having so many members who are happy to take me out was a great part of the move.
“Now we are settled in to the coastal lifestyle it will be hard to move back inland in the future.”
