MARCH 2006

 Meeting called to order on March 3, 2006, at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman, Bob Peet.

Followed by Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Also Present:  Director of Golf, Jim Kormondy; Golf Shop Manager, Sandy Lobello; and Course Superintendant, Mike Henderson.

Guests in attendance:  Ed Layton,  John Hall Jr., Maggie Hall and John R. Smith, liaison member from the District Board.

The minutes of the February 2006, meeting were approved with a correction offered by Hugh Murphy to change the lightning detector distance range from seven miles to seventy miles.

Correspondence:  Request from Petals and Palms seeking a financial donation from our "club."  In response, the Chairman will send letter to Petals and Palms explaining that the Golf Course Committee is not a club.

Unfinished Business: 

The revised By-Laws, prepared and submitted by Jeanne Osborne, and amended by the committee were adopted as of today's date.

The By-Laws, in their entireity, as adopted, are attached to and made a part of these minutes.

Chairman, Bob Peet again expressed concern that the District  has not identified and prioritized projects for the Golf Course other than the equipment barn.  Of specific concern is the rumor that the District does not have monies to repair the Pro Shop.  District Liaison John R. Smith responded that the District is waiting on FEMA monies.  The Chairman and Member, Guinther asked why insurance monies weren't being used in the interim to begin work on repairing the building.  Director of Golf Kormondy said that the delay was caused in part by the District's original hope that the Pro Shop building could be replaced, but that as it became apparent that there were insufficient monies for replacement, the focus shifted to repairing the building.   At that point, it also became apparent that insurance alone would not cover the costs.  He went on to say that the District had not put the Pro Shop on its budgeted priority list because it was expected that insurance would cover costs.  In retrospect, Kormondy speculated that had the District realized the position we are now in, waiting for the repairs, it might have placed the building on the priority list.  The costs will include leveling, vinyl siding, new porch and a porch for the cart barn.  It was decided that the Golf Course Committee members will all attend the next District meeting, on March 10, 2006, to emphasize the importance of repairs to the Pro Shop.

Liaison Smith reported that the District believed that if the Golf Course wanted to attract outside memberships, the Course must first get approval from the District.   All members of the committee disagreed.   Jeanne Osborne emphasized that the District voted on and approved the concept of outside memberships several years ago, so there was no need for that issue to be brought back before the District. 

Member, Jeanne Osborne thanked Sandy Lobello and Jim Kormondy and the Golf Course staff for their hard work and the beautiful Championship tournament that they helped produce.

The committee addressed the issue of the USGA, local course optional rule allowing for relief from obstructions, such as sprinkler heads, that are close to the putting green.  That issue had been put over from last month's meeting.  Following discussion, it was decided in a four to one vote, that the rule will not be adopted by the Barefoot Bay Golf Course.

Committee Reports:

Report from Golf Shop Manager, Sandy Lobello:  Regular memberships now stand at 483.  That is down from 544 at the end of last year.  There are 13 semi-annual memberships, and 13 associate, non-resident memberships.  The combined total is 509 compared to last year's total of 568.  Semi-annual memberships run from October through March.  There followed a discussion about what could be done to attract more members.  It was suggested that we look more favorably on outside memberships, in order to generate revenue to keep up the course.  Kormondy reported that greens fees are up.  It was speculated that many of the previous members are preparing to leave Barefoot Bay, so have opted to pay greens fees as opposed to renewing annual memberships.  Ed Layton asked if it would be possible to set up fees on a quarterly basis, so as to accomodate those residents who are here for only three months each year.  Kormondy suggested another option would be to change league by-laws to allow greens fees players as league members.  Jeanne Osborne, Ed Layton and Suzanne Peterson agreed to take Kormondy's suggestion back to their respective leagues. 

Report from Golf Pro, Jim Kormondy: The Club Championship went well, in spite of the rain on Saturday.  Carol Mecanko retained the women's championship; and, Arthur Lane became the men's championship for the second time.  The next tournament is the Community Fund Tournament, scheduled for March 26.  It will be a scramble format.  The Pro-Am has been rescheduled to April 22, from the originally scheduled April 29. 

Kormondy clarified the confusion over the rain delay during the Club Championship.   He said that he had caused the horn to be blown to bring golfers off the course in order to give him the time to squeegee greens which were unplayable due to standing water.  Somehow, a few players had gotten the impression that the delay would be for an hour.   However, Kormondy said that he may have told someone that the delay could be up to one hour, but that players should not have interpreted that to mean that they could leave the course for an hour, when, in fact, the greens were such that play was resumed within 30 minutes.  Because of the misunderstanding, some players were not there when play resumed, and were not able to finish with their teams.  Acknowledging that it was a communitcation breakdown, Kormondy said that all players were allowed to finish and post scores.  No one was disqualified, this time.  In the future, should there be a need for a rain delay, and should it be anticipated that it will be of lengthy duration, Kormondy will announce and post the actual time that play is to resume.

Kormondy reported that he took a Handicap Seminar, which clarified the definition of tournament scores.  He learned that weekly league play does not qualify as tournament play.  Tournament scores are meant for special occasions such as Club Championship, President's Cups, etc.   Therefore no one would have more than a dozen tournaments in a year, so not as many chances to have "exceptional" scores, to unfairly reduce a player's handicap.  From this day forward, handicap posting practices will be changed and a notice will be posted in the Pro Shop explaining these changes.  If leagues feel that individuals are "sandbagging" it can be dealt with through league handicap chairs and league boards, which retain the authority to adjust handicaps accordingly.  The Handicap Seminar is available on line for those members and league handicap chairs who wish to take it.

In response to questions re those golfers who choose not to enter their scores, Kormondy asked that those individuals be brought to his attention.  He will then remind them that all play scores must be entered in the computer if golfers are to maintain a legitimate handicap.  He emphasized that every score must be entered except for practice rounds during which one plays two balls.  Kormondy clarified that in the interest of speeding up play, golfers are always encouraged to pick up on a hole, and take their most likely score, remembering to take no more than the legal maximum.  He also said that any round in which 13 holes have been completed is considered a full round for the purpose of posting.  In that case, the player would take par plus their handicap on the remaining, unplayed holes.  I.e. a golfer with an 18 handicap, who gets one stroke per hole, and has finished 15 holes, would score 3 + 1 on each of the remaining holes. 

Report from Superintendant, Mike Henderson:  The crew is set to begin springtime fertilizing.  Hole number 13 is open.  Now that the old barn foundation has been removed, the area designated for the new barn is all dirt, so unusable for parking equipment.  Equipment is all over the area, without any way to keep it organized.

The Johnny on the Spot portable toilet that was promised by the District last month has never been delivered.  Instead, a POD was delivered for storage.  John R. Smith agreed to take the need for the portable toilet back to the District.

Because equipment has to be parked in the driveway area which had been used for employee parking, employees are of necessity parking outside the gate, on the grassy area abutting the street.  To add insult to injury, those employees are being cited by Barefoot Bay Code Enforcement personnel.  Henderson asked that there be some allowance made for the need to park on the street during this pre-construction and construction phase.  John R. Smith agreed to take the issue back to the District.

Maggie Hall complimented Mike Henderson and his crew for the sod repair to the cart area next to the 14th green.

Further Business: 

Member Suzanne Peterson asked why the monies raised at the 2003 Sadie Hawkins Tournament, and designated for the placement of a canopy over the porch attached to the 19th Hole had not yet been spent for that purpose.  Golf Shop Manager, Lobello said that the District was supposed to do the porch enclosure.  Instead, Lobello said that the monies were not designated for the porch, but for furnishings in the 19th Hole.  Members Peterson and Osborne questioned that interpretation.  Lobello assured that the monies were still in the Sadie Hawkins Escrow Account.

Following a motion by Jeanne Osborne, seconded by Hugh Murphy, the meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Suzanne Peterson, Secretary

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