people
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO …
Ian Hepburn
David Newbery
[email protected]
R
EMEMBER Ian Hepburn? Most
probably will as he spent close to
20 years working in management
positions at club level and with golf’s
governing bodies – Golf Queensland and the
PGA (Queensland).
Between 1989-’95, Ian was the trainee and
then assistant manager at Pacific Golf Club in
Brisbane before joining the Queensland Golf
Union (Golf Queensland) where he spent
10 years.
He was Golf Queensland’s golf operations
manager before leaving to take up the
executive officer’s role at the PGA (Qld) where
he spent two-and-a-half years.
Anyway, I have been inundated with calls
(okay a few) asking Ian’s whereabouts.
Can it be five years since the former golf
administrator said goodbye to the golf
industry and hello to life as a business
operator on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast?
found Bar Connections at the Sunshine Plaza,
Maroochydore.” (Bar Connections is a retail store
specialising in licensed merchandise, home
bar supplies and birthday and other unique
giftware. The Hepburns also have an online
business – www.StuffBlokesWant.com.au).
“Our first day of business was November 3,
2009 – Melbourne Cup day.
“I didn’t have a day off for seven weeks (52
days) until Christmas day.”
He didn’t even have time to reflect on
whether he had made the right decision to walk
away from an industry he is passionate about.
“It all happened so quickly and we were
ridiculously busy leading up to Christmas
so we didn’t think about it. It’s been a good
move for us on a lot of levels.”
Still, Ian keeps in regular contact with a
number of former colleagues. Recently he
dined with his former boss Don Gregory, who
was the general manager at Pacific GC and
later Oxley GC.
“In August 2009, my wife (Nicole) and I came
up on a day trip and on the way home said, ‘we
have got to make the move’,” he explained.
“I keep in touch with Phil Laurie (former
Golf Queensland communications manager),
Scott Wagstaff (Carbrook GM), Danny Bradley
(FNQDA) and Simon Magdulski (director rules
and handicapping at Golf Australia).
“I have always loved the Sunshine Coast
and jobs in the golf industry were limited
so we started looking for a business and
“It’s really humbling because barely a week
goes by when someone from the industry
doesn’t pop in and say hello.
Ian Hepburn … from golf administrator to business owner.
“You make lifelong friends and also keep in
touch with people on Facebook.”
“Maybe in a year or two I’ll join Horton Park
Golf Club when the new course opens.”
Running a business and organising a young
family has meant Ian doesn’t have time to
dust the cobwebs off the clubs.
Ian’s passion for the game hasn’t waned and
he still keeps an eye on both professional and
amateur results.
“I don’t play often only because of family
and business commitments.”
Ian and Nicole have two children – Emily,
13, and Lachlan, 11.
“There are kids winning state amateur
events I have never heard of, but it’s still
interesting and I enjoy following the
interstate series and pro-am results.
“I sneak out occasionally with a good mate,
Derek Bergman, who was a trainee at Pacific
Golf Club when I worked there.
“I must say I enjoyed my time in the golf
industry – who knows... I might get back
there one day.” •
Australian Father &
Son Tournament
*Daughters, grandchildren and siblings also welcome
28 NOVEMBER – 2 Ball Ambrose at Launceston Golf Club
29 NOVEMBER – Canadian Foursome at Prospect Vale Golf Club
30 NOVEMBER – Aggregate stableford at Riverside Golf Club
Over
$20,000 of prizes
* Runner up wins a one week to a golfing
holiday in Australia of your choice
* Third wins a weekend away of their choice
* Trophies for all places
* Cash prizes for Hole in Ones
* Nearest to Pin and Straight Drive prizes
Win a
trip
to South
Africa
to play in the South
Africa Father & Son
Tournament
For more information call Ian Brown 0418132229 or email [email protected] or go to www.australianfatherandson.com
Entry open till 30.9.14 or until full. Enter before 15 August to go in to the draw to get your entry fee back
48
August 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au