Narooma Golf Club President Retires

His calm and considered leadership has helped shape the future of the Club and steer it through COVID restrictions and also the devastating Badja fires of 2019-2020 when locals evacuated to the Club’s manicured greens.

Before golf club governance, Geoff spent 23 years in policing with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and then 12 years in Customs, specialising in internal investigations and anti-corruption. It was a high-stakes background that shaped his approach to leadership.

“The Club is there to look after members and visitors,” Geoff said. “It is about keeping the doors open and moving forward.”

Now 77 years of age and retiring to focus on his health, Geoff first joined the Board in 2013 as treasurer before stepping into the presidency a year later.

General Manager Dominic Connaughton, who has worked alongside eight presidents, said without hesitation that Geoff is “the best” because he understands the crucial balance between governance and operations.

“He looked after the Board, I looked after operations and that’s why we were so successful,” Dominic said. “It was seamless.”

And of course, it was often in the toughest moments that Geoff’s leadership shone brightest.

The Club faced a logistical nightmare when bridges linking the front nine holes to the back nine collapsed.

For nine months, volunteers ferried golf carts back and forth across the split course and Geoff was there seven days a week to make it work.

“He sees a problem and just gets on with it,” Dominic said.

That same spirit carried through the Black Summer bushfires when the course, perched beside a cliff near the ocean, became a refuge for locals as four fires circled Narooma.

During COVID, the Club adapted to keep the community connected through golf which was one of the few activities allowed to continue with certain conditions. Geoff pitched in 100 per cent as usual.

Under Geoff’s leadership and partnership with good friend and colleague Dominic, the Club also invested in major irrigation upgrades.

“We focused on the real asset— the golf course,” Geoff said.

“I met a player from the UK who had travelled the world following the Lions rugby team and visiting Australian courses. 

“He told me, ‘you have no idea what you have here — it’s the best I’ve played’. I was very proud to hear that.”

Today, Narooma is ranked among Australia’s top 100 courses and recognised as one of the best public access courses in the region.

Now Geoff, father to Sonja, Scott and Rebecca, plus a grandfather to seven — and a great-granddaughter too — has stepped down with characteristic humility, but still pops in for morning coffee often while his partner Christine is playing a round.

“Geoff’s a great sounding board and a strong support,” Dominic said. “Just a great leader and a great person. We will miss him.”