January 2006 Golf Committee Minutes

JANUARY 2006

Meeting called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman, Bob Peet.

Followed by Pledge of Allegiance.

Committe Members Present: Chairman: Bob Peet; Members: Hugh Murphy, Tom Guinther and Suzanne Peterson. Excused: Member: Jeanne Osborne.

Also Present: Golf Operations Manager, Jim Kormondy and Course Superintendant, Mike Henderson.

Guests in attendance: Pat Dunckley, Ed Layton John Hall Jr. and Maggie Hall.

The minutes of The December 2005, meeting were read and approved with a correction of the report by Hugh Murphy on proceeds from the Men's Club President's Cup Tournament; amended to state that the money "will be purchasing two trees, Rubbermaid water jugs and a portable lightning detector . . . ," instead of "have purchased . . . ."

Correspondence: None.

Unfinished Business: Golf Operations Manager, Jim Kormondy provided committee members with copies of both the Golf Course Budget and the One Source Maintenance Contract, which were requested at the last meeting. He also provided copies of an article, which he has prepared for the next issue of the Tattler, outlining the contributions made to local and national charities from the proceeds of several annual golf tournaments, organized and hosted by local committees.

As to the issue of tournament promotional banners, Jim Kormondy reported that funding would have to come from prize monies; and estimated that banners would likely cost up to $100 each. Ed Layton suggested that local beer distributors, who supply beverages for many of the tournaments, be approached and asked to donate generic banners for the individual tournaments. Jim Kormondy agreed to pursue those sources, and report back at the next Golf Committee Meeting.

Jim Kormondy reported that the manufacture and replacement of the drain covers was slowed by the holidays. Mike Henderson added that the covers will soon be replaced, at the expense of One Source.

The reel mower is still in need of sharpening. Because of its width, it requires that the grinding wheel, available for use at Sebastian Golf Course, be reset.

Therefore, we have to wait until Sebastian is ready to grind its same size reels. Mike explained that to take the reel to Sebastian takes nearly a full day for one of his employees, who would be required to remove the reel, transport it, wait for it to be sharpened, return it and re-install it. To have a company come in to sharpen the reels, would cost $100 to $150, depending on the size of the reels, while the use of the grinding wheel at Sebastian is free.

In response to questions previously raised questions about the cutting of the cups on the greens, Mike Henderson explained that the cups are cut properly each time, but that by the time the third group of golfers has completed putting, the green surface, within a three foot radius of the cup is scuffed up, and the edges of the cup are undermined by golfers who don't pick up their feet and who reach into the cup with their putter head to remove the ball.

New Business: Suzi Peterson raised a question about the placement of cups. Jim Kormondy said that every effort is made to place cups in a fair manner. He added that if any golfer feels that a cup has been unfairly located, the golfer should report that to him on that day, and he will tell Mike, who will fix it then, unless there is a tournament that day. Mike Henderson reported that cups are recut three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and on off days the cup setter is used.

Ed Layton asked if there was provision for the golfer to get relief from indented and/or raised green plugs on the outer rim of the green. Jim Kormondy said no. Mike Henderson explained that bad green plugs on the green are replaced with plugs taken from the grass on the outer rim. He has instructed his greenskeepers to take the replacement plugs from the back outer rim.

Maggie Hall, citing an incident when the Ladies Nine Hole Golf Association was playing on the tenth hole, asked if there was a rule that applied to a greenskeeper cutting the fairway immediately in front of golfers, requiring golfers to wait for the greenkeeper. Mike Henderson apologized, saying that the greenskeeper should have pulled to the side and waited for the golfers. He added that if the greenskeeper was mowing the green, rather than the fairway, that the golfers should wait until the mower has cleared the green before hitting their approach shots.

Ed Layton complimented the new greenskeeper, who does such a good job on maintaining the sand traps.

Chairman, Bob Peet thanked the Ladies Nine Hole League and the Ladies Eighteen Hole League for purchasing the two tape recorders used by the Committee Secretary for recording the proceedings. The donations are greatly appreciated.

Report from Director of Golf, Jim Kormondy: The Veteran's Council Tournament is coming up on January 14, 2006. There is room for 160 golfers. As of this time, registration is nearing 140.

The Over Eighty Tournament is coming up on January 20, 2006. There will be between 30 and 40 golfers playing, so that there will still be plenty of time for open golf following that tournament.

Memberships have been coming in "fast and furious." Only about 70 have not yet paid. Many of those are just now returning. Others, "just don't play anymore." Also, many new members are coming in.

The Recreation District, at its next meeting, will look at the plans and the estimate for the repairs to the Pro Shop. At that time, it is expected that the plans will be approved and the work let out to bid. The work will include a "new look" for the porch, siding, releveling and repairs to the cartbarn. Work probably will not begin for another month.

The construction on the moving of the thirteenth green is scheduled to begin on January 23. Prior to that, the grass will turn brown, as everything around there needs to be killed in preparation. That work, using Round-Up is expected to begin about two weeks prior. It won't effect the green itself, just the slope and surrouding area. Once the construction begins, we have two options: 1.) Skip the hole; or 2.) Have a temporary green, which would likely be the drop area to the right of the cart path. It will probably take two to six weeks for the grass on the new green to gain hold, once they get it planted. We will gain about 1,300 square feet for the equipment building by moving the green back fifteen yards and left ten yards. The green itself will be over twice as big as it is now, more kidney shaped (as it originally was) than it is now. There will be a small sand bunker on the left between the green and the water. The new design will include landscape behind the green, but not pampas grass. The new hole will play fifteen yards longer to the back of the green, and five to ten yards to the center.

As of yet, we don't know when construction will begin on the equipment building.

Report from Superintendant, Mike Henderson: New irrigation pumps are in, and functioning well. We will be applying most of the course with pre-emergence this month, this week or the week after. The cart paths have just been edged, and all the cracks in the cart paths and the tree rings have been sprayed. No restricted pesticides are used. Image and Round Up are the products usually used. If restricted pesticides are called for, that use has to be posted, and in most cased the course will be closed.

Ed Layton asked about the hole at the beginning of the cart path next to the fourteenth hole. Superintendent, Henderson said that he will fill it with dirt. Director of Golf, Jim Kormondy added that there are other places where the cart path ends, or begins, that have to be addressed, and extended.

Member, Tom Guinther asked about the use of red stakes, as opposed to red lines around the lake. Director of Golf, Kormondy said that red stakes were damaged or destroyed. He prefers the red lines, as they are permanent, at least in the winter; and the red stakes are quite costly.

Ed Layton said that the Men's Club has delayed replacement of the Rubbermaid coolers, because the areas where coolers are housed have roof problems. He asked who was responsible for fixing those roofs. Director of Golf, Kormondy said that Property Services was responsible. Ed Layton said that the Men's Club would address the replacement of the coolers at such time as Property Services repaired the roofs.

Chairman, Bob Peet, complimented Superintendant, Mike Henderson, for the excellence of his, and his crews work. He also complimented Jim Kormondy for the excellent letter that he had composed for submission to the Tattler.

Hugh Murphy made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Tom Guinther.

Meeting adjouned at 10:05 a.m.