The club welcomed a new board last week, electing Mark Fraser as president, and will create a short-list of candidates to interview for the general manager’s role.
Ashley’s position was designed to be a temporary one, with a focus on turning the club around, without entering into administration.
But he said it was clear from day three that administration would be unavoidable.
“I was there to stabilize things, to reshape the club in a way that we could avoid going into administration,” Ashley said.
“But it was obvious that wasn’t going to happen.”
Ashley was installed as general manager in January after 18 months in a financial management support role with the golf club.
He said that role gave him the knowledge and clarity of the financial situation he needed to take on the general manager’s position and lead the club in a different direction.
Community meetings in February and March broke news to the public of the golf club’s intention to close and explored what operations would look like going forward.
Corowa Golf Club subsequently entered voluntary administration in late April.
Ashley has been working tirelessly with administrator Henry McKenna since then to set the club on the right path and said that while it has been a draining experience, they had reached the point where there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“It’s been tiresome, and there is still a lot that needs to go right to regrow patronage, but I feel things are heading in the right direction.
“It hasn’t been a pleasant year,” Ashley said.
“It’s been tiresome, and there is still a lot that needs to go right to regrow patronage, but I feel things are heading in the right direction.
“I knew now was the right time for me to step aside.”
Ashley Boyd will stay on until the handover.
Under his guidance, the golf club has slowly added services and extended trading hours while keeping the course open and maintaining the grounds with the help of volunteers.
His departure offers the new board the opportunity to usher in a new era of golf for Corowa.
