Commission Members in Attendance:
Brit Lawlor – Chairman
Ron Krawczyk – Deputy Chairman
Jeff Nagel – Membership & Marketing
Joe Dabrowski – Tournament/Rules
Ryan Stanley – Tournament / Membership Liaison
Tara Ford – Ladies Locker Room/Food and Beverage
Michael Cioffi – Men’s Locker Room/Food and Beverage
Motion to start meeting by Ron Krawczyk, Joe Dabrowski 2nds it; accepted by Brit Lawlor. Meeting officially starts at 6:01PM.
Others in Attendance:
Jim Von Eschen – Director of Golf
Chris Johnson – Superintendent
John Mackie – Assistant Golf Pro
Ray Fell – Mayor
John Daley – Member
Bob Scalia – Member
Victor Cisario – Member
Mike Dioguardo – Member
Membership & Marketing Report, presented by Jeff Nagel
Jeff states that we currently stand at 348 Total Members. The breakdown is as follows:
258 Full Members
15 B Members (grandfathered in)
55 Weekday Members
14 Twilight Pass
2 Corporate Memberships
4 Associate Members (“Associate Full Members” are included in “Full Member” number)
Jeff continues by saying that we as a commission need to come up with a total number of members or a dollar amount that we want to cap membership at. He states that this is something we have been talking about for years and we are finally at a point in time that it has to be taken seriously. Brit Lawlor says that Ray Fell and the village are more concerned about the bottom line number, as opposed to the total number of members. Jeff continues talking about if this issue isn’t resolved, we will have members struggling to get tee times as well as pace of play issues. Jim Von Eschen says that although we definitely need a cap number, it is something that will have to wait until mid May as we still have members that are still paying. Jeff suggests that the commission and Mayor Ray Fell get together and work this out for the June meeting.
Tournaments/Rules Report, presented by Joe Dabrowski
Joe starts off by welcoming everybody back. As it is just the beginning of the season, Joe reminds everyone that there are no tournaments to recap. Looking forward, we have the Masters Tournament on April 13th. The Masters Tournament is an event that you will sign up at the Starter’s booth on the day of play. Additionally, we have our Opening Ryder cup on Saturday April 27th; more information will be out about that event around the first or second week in April. Joe finishes by listing the tournament schedule for the year; this schedule can be found below.
Deputy Chairman Report, presented by Ron Krawczyk
Ron welcomes everybody to a new and promising season. He states that he has already seen Chris and the crew out working hard. He also states that the course looks to be in good shape considering the time of the year. Ron states that he’s excited to see the positive momentum carry over from last year.
Ladies Locker Room/Food and Beverage Report, presented by Tara Ford
“I have nothing really.” Tara says that she is excited for the season to start considering she was out with an injury for a portion of last season.
Brit Lawlor would like to welcome Ryan Stanley to the golf commission. Brit states that Ryan will take over the Tournament/Rules position from Joe Dabrowski, with Joe taking the role of Greens Chairman.
Men’s Locker Room/Food and Beverage Report, presented by Mike Cioffi
Nothing to report. Mike says he’s ready for a great season.
Superintendent Report, presented by Chris Johnson
Chris says that he is excited to be back and working with one another again; with the golf course getting better and better each year, he can’t wait to see what we can accomplish this season. He wants to take Bellport Golf Club to the next level and believes we can do so. Chris’ grounds crew will stay relatively the same for the third same season with Parkland promoting Steve Fernaux up to an Assistant Superintendent. Over the Winter, Chris says that him and Steve have been very busy. The two of them took down a few trees as well as building new tee markers (to be released when the weather gets a little nicer), in addition to their normal Winter routine. The last few days, they performed a Deep Tine on the tees and greens. This Deep Tine lets these areas breathe which is essential after the Winter; Chris does apologize but says the greens will not be good this weekend; the fairways will receive a similar Deep Tine procedure during the week. We will still be aerating the greens this Spring. We have aeration scheduled for the Monday after the Ryder Cup (April 29th – May 1st).
Chris Johnson brings up the process of Dry Jecting. This aeration process can get tons of sand about five to six inches into the turf, while doing little damage to the greens. Chris states that the downside to this process is ultimately cost. For a course with our green acreage, it would cost somewhere around $6,000. Chris Johnson believes that this, along with a mini deep tine will be more beneficial for BGC considering we’re on the South Shore of Long Island, where soil temperatures are colder in the Spring. Chris continues by saying that this process is great for the firmness that we’re looking for as well as drainage and overall turf quality. Jim Von Eschen would like to emphasize the fact that this process would get the course back in playing shape (after aeration) faster than we normally see in the Spring. Both Brit and Ron say that we have money remaining from the Course Assessment, and this would be something that we can use that towards if need be. Vic Cisario states that he played on a course a few years ago that was doing this process about a half hour before he teed off and they couldn’t even notice it. Chris would like to state that if we were to do this Dry Jecting process, we would still do an aeration in the Spring; nothing is better than pulling a core and replacing it with sand. He continues by saying that he has heard from the USGA and our soil is in good shape compared to where we were a few years ago.
Director of Golf Report, presented by Jim Von Eschen
Jim Von Eschen exclaims that he’s excited to get back and start the season; Kyle Gubbins is back with us as the Pro Shop Manager and we’re excited to have him with us again. Myself, Joe Dabrowski and John Mackie went to a rules seminar over the Winter and as you can see on the PGA TOUR, the new rules may be very confusing at first. Not only did they change some of the wording has changed but also where to find them has changed. Jimmy states that prior to the Opening Ryder Cup, he and John will do a presentation that highlights the most important rules. He continues by saying that the along with Joe Dabrowski and the commission, we will not be adopting the new Out of Bounds drop rule. Both the MGA and the LIGA are not adopting this Local Rule in their Championships and they suggest that the clubs don’t adopt the rule for antournaments as well. Continuing with rules, Jim states that we have added a “No Play Zone” on hole number two; this will replace the interior out of bounds that was there in previous years. The No Play Zone will be marked with a Red Stake with a Blue Top. Jim states that you will not be permitted to play from this area and you must take a drop via the drop zone. Additionally, many of our local rules (ie. use of rangefinders, moving loose impediments, embedded ball, etc.) have been adopted by the USGA and R&A. Jimmy also reminds the room that all drops must be from knee height.
Moving on from rules, Jim brings up the ice machine that is on the back nine. He states that in recent months, there has been talks about putting an ice machine next to the 13th tee box. Brit Lawlor mentions that the enclosure housing the ice machine must match the other buildings. He also adds that if we do put the ice machine next to the 13th tee, we make sure it can’t be seen from the first tee/green. After a vote, the board decides to move the current ice machine rather than buying a new one. Jim then brings up the Styrofoam cups and plastic straws. He, with the backing of Mayor Fell, proposes to the commission that we get rid the Styrofoam cups and plastic straws all together. Due to the cost, Jim says that we will not replace with a paper cost, but all the ice machines will have the 4oz paper cone cups. As the world is changing, Jim states that he would like to be proactive rather than reactive in regards to the pollution caused by Styrofoam and plastic. The commission board unanimously votes to pass the proposal immediately. Any remaining Styrofoam cups will be donated and an email will be sent out to the membership notifying them of the change.
Jim Von Eschen brings up the Friar’s Head scorecard, admiring the size and simplicity of it. He would like to create a card for BGC that mirrors the Friar’s Head card, adding our hole handicaps. He states that these cards will not be put on the carts and just be found in the Pro Shop and by the Starter’s Booth. Brit would like Jim to get a rough copy of the card and we’ll go from there. Lastly, Jimmy suggests that we get one nice bag tag for any Full Member rather than the yearly plastic tags that are given out currently. Jim says that the current ones are very time consuming and the time can be used more wisely. Cost wise, each bag tag would be roughly $5-$7. Jimmy reassures the commission that we don’t have to have an answer about the tags until December so there is no rush. Lastly, Jimmy states that work will begin on the 2nd, 3rd and 17th hole will begin on Monday, with the bunkers being laid out this weekend.
Chairman Report, presented by Brit Lawlor
Brit states that he doesn’t have much to add after everything that has already been said. Brit does say that Mike Foster will be working on a committee in regards to the replacement of the Pro Shop/Ladies Locker Room buildings. Brit states that along with Mike Foster, Ron Krawcyzk, Mike Mislin and some others will also sit on the committee. Brit would like to reassure everybody that any plan the committee comes up with will be brought up in from of the Golf Commission before going to the Village Board.
Comments From the Crowd
John Daley – Welcome back. John would like to bring up the cart path between the 18th green and the putting green; he states that the cart path in that area is in shambles. Brit says that it is something that will be looked at.
Ray Fell – Ray starts off by apologizing for not having a practice facility yet, stating that he genuinely thought this would have been done by now. Although it is not up yet, Ray says that the idea hasn’t been given up on yet but they are looking at alternatives as well. He continues by saying that we will continue fact finding and coming up with a plan that both the golfers and the Village residents can agree on. Tara Ford asks Ray if it is just the neighboring homeowners halting the practice facility or if it is other residents as well. Ray responds by saying he can’t necessarily answer that because he doesn’t know what the answer is. When Ray met with some of the neighboring homeowners, they were concerned with the look of the netting although they can’t see through the vegetation from mid-May through October. Additionally, Ray says that some residents in general felt the netting would be an eyesore to all. On the other hand, Ray says that some homeowners were concerned with the sound volume of a practice facility as well as the fear of golf balls landing in their backyards; Tara Ford states that a net would prevent this from happening. Ray reassures everybody that we are going to figure this out. Looking at the property line and the woods from an aerial view, Ray states that it is very difficult to hit a ball into these backyards from the current 9th tee. However, Ray believes that the golf balls that are finding their way into these yards are coming from hitting extra balls from the middle of the 9th fairway “into the woods”. Brit Lawlor believes that if we show fiscal responsibility with any plan, it would be tough to be against. Brit also reminds everybody that there will be no environmental impact based on what the DEC and the Village have talked about. Ray finishes by stating that when the Golf Commission makes a priority list together, they will keep the practice facility in mind.
Meeting concludes at 6:55PM.