March 2007 Golf Committee Minutes

MARCH 2007 GOLF COMMITTEE MEETING

Meeting called to order on March 2, 2007, at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman, Tom Guinther.

Followed by Pledge of Allegiance.

Committee Members Present: Chairman, Tom Guinther and members: Jeanne Osborne, Tony Pitrulle, Bob Peet and Suzanne Peterson.

Also Present: Pro Shop Manager, Sandy Lobello, and Course Superintendant, Mike Henderson. Director of Golf, Jim Kormondy is on vacation until March 5, 2007.

Guests in attendance: Richard Bleau, liaison member from the District Board, Pat Dunckley and Al Glashauser.

Minutes: Following a motion by Jeanne Osborne, seconded by Bob Peet, the minutes of the February 2007, meeting were approved as read.

Correspondence: An e-mail from the Tattler explained that the February, 2007 meeting minutes had not been printed due to lack of space.

An anonymous suggestion asked for a free pull cart with the purchase of a 9 hole five ride card. (Member Osborne proposed that anonymous letters and suggestions be ignored.)

A third item of correspondence, from Bert Morgan, suggested a method of sorting tee time requests, so as to avoid the necessity for so many green slips. In response, Sandy Lobello explained that there was not enough staff time to do extra sorting beyond that which is done initially to eliminate wrong dates and low priorty requests.

Report from District Board Liaison, Bleau: Richard Bleau presented pictures showing what needs to be done to repair the green equipment building, both course bathrooms and the water cooler on the 16th tee. Mr. Bleau and Jim Riley from Property Services for the Bay went over the course to determine what needed to be done. Property Services' plans for the green building are to install a new roof, put on hardy board siding, erect a canopy over the outside work area, then install a vinyl fence around the work area. The bathroom on the 6th tee will receive a new roof, extended out to the latticed-in walk way. The bathroom between the 15th and 16th holes will receive new hardy board siding and the inside paneling will be replaced with tile. The water cooler on the 16th tee will get a new roof. The first project will be the siding on the 16th tee bathroom. After that, the work will be done by Property Services after other "emergency" projects within the Bay. There was discussion about using volunteer, licensed and insured resident handimen to assist Property Services to complete the projects a.s.a.p. Mr. Bleau will follow up on this suggestion.

Unfinished Business: Sandy Lobello displayed the new, color-coded sign for the driving range. The sign will be installed when the corresponding colored flags are here. Mike Henderson will order those flags next month.

Mr. Bleau agreed to check into when the trailer between the 13th green and 14th tee will be removed.

Bob Peet relayed the Men's Club concern about the cutting of the holes on the greens. Mike Henderson said that the only answer is to cut the holes daily. Sandy Lobello added that the course is getting nearly 275 golfers daily. With that volume of play, the holes break down quickly. Again, it was pointed out that holes are cut three times a week. Because the greens are comparitively small, cutting holes more often would result in golfers having to putt over even more plugs than now.

Mike Henderson reported that the cleanup of the green equipment building, removal of stored grass seed and fertilizer, seems to have lessened the rat problem.

Chairman Guinther brought up the continuing issue of notifying golfers when spraying is being done. Henderson agreed that notification will happen at such times as a "full" course spraying is to take place. Sandy Lobello will make two laminated signs, which on spraying days will be displayed at the Pro Shop counter and on the bulletin board on the Pro Shop porch.

The small palms along the water's edge on the 2nd fairway are continuing to present a sight problem for golfers teeing off the 2nd tee. Henderson will talk with Kormondy about removing those prior to the planned water bank changes along the 2nd and 6th fairways.

There was discussion about the cost and the process for totally replacing the grass on the greens. The Committee would like to include a greens improvement project in the 2007-2008 proposed budget. Committee members will request a meeting next week with Jim Kormondy, to express the Committee's recommendations for short term and long term Course budget proposals.

Jeanne Osborne asked for clarification of how much is left in the equipment budget, from the $92,000 that was budgeted.

Last year, the Committee asked for a 5% increase for Course maintenance. We were told that a 5% increase in budget would result in a 5% increase in golf membership dues. The Committee questioned why, even though the member dues were, in fact, increased there was no increase in the Course maintenance budget.

New Business: Bob Peet asked if there was some way that the Course rangers could be protected from the cold, particularly on days when the temperatures dip below 50. Sandy Lobello said that she had proposed a Ranger Shack, but nothing had ever been done. She said that the rangers didn't like the clear plastic cart covers, as the plastic distorted their vision. The Committee will help work up the cost of a Ranger Shack, so that it can be submitted with the budget.

Report from Course Superintendant, Mike Henderson: The greens are due to be verticut, as part of the transition from winter to summer. Also, in preparation for summer, the areas around the greens and the fairways are due for the semi-annual fertilization.

Grace Daddario has given Henderson the go-ahead to get bids to fix pump number 1. Based on last year's cost to fix pump number 2, Mike estimates it will cost around $7,000.

The new lake bank mowers are here and in use. Now there will be 2 crew members assigned to mowing and 1 assigned to weed eating around the lake banks.

In response to a complaint about crew members driving in front of golfers who are poised to hit, Henderson agreed to train all the crew on golf course etiquette.

In response to an observation that crew members were seen operating a blow torch without goggles, Henderson said that he had seen and handled that problem. He said that he has problems convincing crew that safety equipment, such as helmets, are in their best interest. Tony Pitrulle suggested that Henderson issue the necessary equipment, and require each crew member to sign for receipt. By doing so, if crew choose not to use the equipment, the responsibility for injury, due to failure to use the equipment, will be on the individual crew member.

Suzi Peterson asked why members were not being allowed to play in both the Sunday morning and afternoon scrambles. Sandy Lobello said that it was because USGA rules prevented a player from playing a "practice round" on the same course on the same day of a tournament. Peterson questioned the application of the rule, which she believes is intended for stroke play tournaments, not team scrambles. Lobello referred Peterson to Jim Kormondy for clarification of the applicable rule.

Chairman Guinther thanked and commended member Jeanne Osborne for dedication to the District and to the Course, citing her regular attendance at all the District meetings and Golf Committee meetings.

Report from Pro Shop Manager, Sandy Lobello: The Club Championship Tournament was held on February 23 and 24. There were 124 participants. The new Club Champions are Alan Atkins, with a combined gross score of 136 and Jean Lontine, with a combined gross score of 156. Jean Lontine was also our ladies Club Champion in 2000 and in 2004.

The Memorial Tournament, sponsored by the Mens' League, was held on February 28. There were 158 participants.

The next tournament is the Community Fund Scramble, a benefit for Barefoot Bay and the VNA, scheduled for March 24. Entry fee is $25 per golfer.

Current Course membership stands at 587.

The new bag racks are in and installed. Thank you again to the Mens' League for purchasing them.

Chairman Guinther commended Lobello and Kormondy for their handling of the Club Championship Tournament, and especially for the organization and presentation of the awards event that followed. Pat Dunckley added her thanks to Lobello and the Pro Shop staff, for the success of the Tournament. The Committee applauded Lobello for her efforts.

Bob Peet also commended Lobello for her organization of the Memorial Tournament and the meal which followed.

Upon a motion by Peet, seconded by Pitrulle, the meeting was adjourned at 10:25 a.m.

The next meeting of the Committee will be on Friday, April 6, 2007, at 9 a.m.