Commission Members in Attendance:
Brit Lawlor – Chairman
Jeff Nagel – Membership/Capital Assessment
Joe Dabrowski – Greens
Kevin Lauretti – Handicap/Capital Assessment
Mike Mislin – Violations
Ryan Stanley – Tournament
Members in Attendance:
Lawrence Kreutzberg, Dennis Maguire, Dave McGrath Sr, Michael Einsidler, Bill Herrick, Gary Duff, Pat Dowd, Anthony Pepitone, Tom Murray, Bob Scalia, Pat Comiskey
Others in Attendance:
John Mackie – Assistant Golf Pro Lorraine Kuehn – Village Trustee
Chris Johnson – Golf Course Superintendent Christine Novelli – Membership Director
Brit welcomes everybody back for another season and the meeting officially starts at 6:04PM.
Violations Report, presented by Mike Mislin
Nothing to report.
Tournament Report, presented by Ryan Stanley
Ryan first welcomes everybody back and mentions that it is good to see everyone. Ryan mentions that we have the Masters Tournament on April 12th and the Opening Ryder Cup on Saturday, April 26th. Looking forward to the rest of the season, Mr. Stanley lays out the club’s major events as shown below.
Men’s Member/Guest – Thursday, July 17th (More info out around May 1st)
Club Championship – Saturday, July 26th & Sunday, July 27th (All flights)
Women’s Member/Guest – Tuesday, August 5th (More info to follow)
Additionally, Ryan adds that he loved last years Red, White & Blue Scramble (Sunday, July 6th) and hopes that it remains on our tournament schedule for years to come. Lastly, Brit chimes in and mentions that the 9 & Dine schedule is waiting on our outing schedule to be finalized, then we will choose our dates from there.
Greens/Course Assessment Report, presented by Joe Dabrowski
Joe begins by stating that just last week, the golf course underwent our Spring Greens Aeration, with tee boxes to be done throughout the Spring. Joe mentions that the cobblestone project going up to the first tee is just about completed; Joe reminds everybody that with the widened cart path, we should be able to fit three carts easily. Mr. Dabrowski also mentions that the trees planted behind the 5th green and Chris’ office, as well as the up-limbing throughout the course look great. To finish, Joe says that until we open, Chris’ crew will be focused on Spring cleanup and putting sod at the entrances/exits of bunkers.
Handicap/Course Assessment Report, presented by Kevin Lauretti
Mr. Lauretti notes that it was a crappy Winter but other than that, has nothing to report.
Membership Report, presented by Jeff Nagel
Mr. Nagel announces that membership is currently full at 393 members, including 22 new members for the 2025 season. Jeff says that Christine Novelli went through the waiting list and called the first 100 individuals in order to get 22. Jeff continues, saying that plenty of people were also added to that waiting list and it still sits around the 300 number. Jeff says that there were a couple of members who took a leave for the 2025 season and obviously still some residents who will (and can) join whenever they wish. A question from the crowd is asked for the membership breakdown in regards to residents vs non-residents; Mr. Nagel says that with just over $2,000,000 in membership revenue, the non-residents brought in $1,800,000 (residents have brough in just over $300,000.
Superintendent’s Report, presented by Chris Johnson
Chris says that he is excited for another season and to see what we can do with the place. He says that we survived the Winter and he looks forward to seeing everybody on Tuesday (opening day).
Chairman Report, presented by Brit Lawlor
Brit mentions that he rode the golf course with Mr. Von Eschen recently and he thinks that the cobblestone came out great. Brit also continues, stating that Jason Crane and his crew pulled up parts of the cart path at the 4th green and the 6th tee, with both areas being replaced (hopefully) before opening day. Lastly Brit says that the 5th tee project really made that area feel huge, opening up the entire area and hopefully helping the quality of the turf.
Comments from the Crowd
Pat Comiskey – Pat first asks about the 9 & Dine, specifically, since they begin later in the day, does it matter if it is a non-outing day or not? Brit says that he will talk about it with Jimmy and get back to her. She then asks why the Spring Ryder Cup is scheduled so early in the season; she believes that the late April date leaves a lot of BGC members missing out since they are not home from Florida yet. Ryan Stanley says that we hold a lot of events throughout the season and we try to accommodate everybody the best we can, but there are so many limited dates.
Dennis Maguire – Mr. Maguire says that he recently walked over near the cobblestone and although it looks great, he noticed that it blocks off the area from the 18th green to the 9th tee – when walking from 8 green to the 9th tee and after you have completed the 18th. Dennis thought there should be an area that was lowered so the players can walk through. Chris Johnson tells the audience that if we were to keep an area low, the turf in that one spot would get destroyed year after year. Joe Dabrowski mentions that with the rope, we would still get worn out areas on both sides of them. Joe says that all players should just keep their push carts on the cart path the entire time, but for those who don’t, he asks to lift the wheels up. Both Chris and Joe both reiterate that with 1 spot lowered, the turf would just get worn out.
Tom Murray – Over the Winter, Tom had the pleasure of getting down to Florida and playing some golf (he said the weather was great). At one of the courses he played, they were doing some work to their halfway house and they had a temporary restroom in the way of a high-end porta-potty (big, on a trailer); he mentions that it was an electric hook-up with a generator behind a nearby tree. This of course led him to think of our 14th & 15th teeing area. Mr. Mislin mentions that he went ahead and did some preliminary research about the cost of a structure out there – Mike believes we can get it done for roughly $50,000. Brit Lawlor says that the commission has worked very hard to remove and of the extra signs, trees, etc. to open up sight lines and clean up the overall look of the course (minimalistic). Brit believes that adding a building to the course’s landscape would go against everything that the commission has been trying to accomplish for the last 10 years. Joe Dabrowski says that the trees out there have been limbed up and because of it, he doesn’t think it will be used as a urinal anymore. Mr. Nagel agrees with Mike Mislin saying that something out there would be nice but he believes that plumbing would be a major issue as there is no running water currently out there on the course. Both Chris Johnson and Joe Dabrowski mention the inability to empty any portable-potty tube structure, especially with no way for a truck to get out there weekly.
Bob Scalia – Mr. Scalia asks for an update on the Purple Horse report. Brit says that he does not. He elaborates, saying that the last time he spoke with Purple Horse, it was in a meeting with Mayor Veitch and Ron Krawczyk. During the meeting, Brit says that Purple Horse had a preliminary plan and it seemed as though their ideas were aligned with how the golf commission has been thinking for the last 10 years. Bob Scalia then asks if there is an update in regard to the catering facility and the idea of getting back the upstairs bar – Brit says that he had no update and the Village is working on it.
Michael Einsidler – Michael asks if the area along the canal will be maintained throughout the year. Chris Johnson says that they will do the best that they can but will not guarantee. Bill Herrick asks what the purpose of it was. Chris says that yes it will look nice, but it is important for geese control throughout the course.
Lorraine Kuehn – Lorraine asks if we had any dead geese on the course with the rise of the bird flu. Chris says that none of the dead birds were geese but there was a dead seagull out on the course this winter. Chris is not sure if it was related to the bird flu or not.
Ryan Stanley asks about the erosion, specifically if we are going to dredge. Brit Lawlor says that we will begin the dredging of the canal and the construction of a new bridge in the late Fall, early Winter. Jeff Nagel asks if we have lost more land this past Winter, to which, Chris Johnson just laughed and said yes.
Brit concludes the meeting at 6:27pm.