Commission Members in Attendance:
Brit Lawlor – Chairman
Ron Krawczyk – Deputy Chairman
Jeff Nagel – Membership & Marketing
Joe Dabrowski – Tournament/Rules
Tara Ford – Ladies Locker Room/Food and Beverage
Michael Cioffi – Men’s Locker Room/Food and Beverage
Others in Attendance:
Jim Von Eschen – Director of Golf
Chris Johnson – Superintendent
John Mackie – Assistant Golf Pro
Tom Ford – Member
Motion to start meeting by Tara Ford, Ron Krawczyk 2nds it; accepted by Brit Lawlor. Meeting officially starts at 6:03PM.
Membership & Marketing Report, presented by Jeff Nagel
I was speaking with John Mackie earlier today in regards to where membership is currently at; we counted that we currently sit at 336 total members paid for the 2018 golf season. We know of at least 20 members who are definitely rejoining this year. Jim Von Eschen states that last June we were at 360 total members; he suggests that come this June, we will be at 370 total members. He continues to state that the majority of the new members are joining as a full member because of the incentive.
Tournaments/Rules Report, presented by Joe Dabrowski
This upcoming weekend we have our yearly Masters Tournament, weather permitting. Players will sign up at the Starter’s Booth and pick 3 players competing in The Masters. Scoring will be your Net Score plus the 3 players scores on Sunday. Low score will win. Additionally, the Opening Ryder Cup is April 28th. 9AM shotgun with breakfast prior and lunch to follow.
Myself and Jimmy have been talking about having a match play championship which is open to everybody rather than the current Senior Match Play Championship. Since handicap doesn’t have an age, a 10 handicap is a 10 handicap. The tournament would still be flighted, probably with 16 in a flight rather than the current 8. Additionally, we talked about going to a true Club Championship; meaning it would just be 1 Open division, just as the Ladies currently do. The matches would last over 3 months with the last day of the matches taking place on the same day. This way, other members who are interested can follow, hang by the scoreboard and enjoy the atmosphere. Although Brit likes the idea, he states that there will be pushback from the membership, to which Jimmy quickly agrees. Jimmy states that Seniors want to play with Seniors but many fail to realize that age has no effect on handicap. The commission states that we can’t do both since there is such an overlap as is. Brit would like to talk to the membership and get some feedback; Jimmy states that the Pro Shop will ask as well. Tom Ford is asked what he thinks of the idea (Tom is a senior who plays in the Sr. Match Play Championship every year). Tom likes the idea; “Sounds like that would be fun.”
Deputy Chairman Report, presented by Ron Krawczyk
I don’t have much, really just looking forward to the season. I was around the golf course throughout the Winter, banging the ball around, and Chris has been there every time, working non stop. In regards to the bag tags that the Pro Shop makes each and every year, let’s get rid of them. If you’re a Full Member, you get a bag tag. We currently spend $1400 in bag tags annually on top of the labor to put them together throughout the year. The commission board likes the idea of getting a permanent bag tag; Jimmy says that he will look into some different options and pricing.
Men’s Locker Room/Food and Beverage Report, presented by Mike Cioffi
Mike starts by addressing the locks on the inside/outside of the locker. He asks about getting the locks on the original Lorel Links lockers to be moved from the inside to the outside. Jimmy states that if Ron Krawczyk can get a price, we will see who is interested. Jimmy states that we asked multiple locksmiths and carpenters who said that they wouldn’t touch the locks. He continues to say that in the 5 years that we had these ockers, we haven’t had an incident reported to us.
Ladies Locker Room/Food and Beverage Report, presented by Tara Ford
“I have nothing really.” Tara says that she believes the permanent bag tag for Full Members is a great idea. It is environmentally friendly compared to the current plastic bag tag that we get every year not to mention probably cost effective. Chris Johnson asks Tara to send over the list on holes where benches have to be placed (new benches will be put out once the weather gets slightly nicer).
Director of Golf Report, presented by Jim Von Eschen
While on the topic of becoming more environmentally friendly, Jimmy brings up that he wants to get rid of the styrofoam cups that are currently being used in the water machines behind the 1st tee and 16th green. The only problem is what would we replace them with? Paper cups are double the price of the $3,400 that we spend on styrofoam. Jimmy continues by saying we will be selling the Tervis cups in the Pro Shop like we did a few years ago, hoping more people will go environment friendly. Jeff Nagel asks what his guest would use if he doesn’t bring a cup? Jimmy says that this is really the big issue; can we tell members that they have to provide water cups for their guests? I’m not sure how that would come off to the membership. Ron suggests that Jimmy goes out and sees what the biggest paper cup he can get, equal to the money we’re currently spending.
Superintendent Report, presented by Chris Johnson
Well we’re finally done with the trees; we took down a little of 60 total trees, backfilled with soil and seeded the areas. Our crew is finally back today and they started with the bunkers, which we talked about last year. Unfortunately we haven’t aerated the fairways yet and I don’t think it will be happening. The course is just too wet and looking back at USGA reports, they suggested that we skip the Spring aeration due to our current turf conditions and the weather in the foreseeable future. We do plan on aerating the tee boxes and greens as usual. Tees will be done this week and greens are going to be done, with a smaller tine, on April 30th – May 1st (Golf course will be shut down for these days, with the plan of opening sometime on Wednesday, May 2nd).
We have to do something in regard to holes 10, 11, 12 & 13. Simply put, we are losing ground due to erosion. There are now pipes (hole 10) and sprinkler heads (hole 13, left pond) which are now exposed, in the open water. During my first few years it wasn’t bad, but the last few years have been significant and if we don’t do something about it fast, we will be at risk of losing holes. Jimmy states that in the original plan at the turn of the century (1999/2000) had the Howels Creek getting bulkheading; the reason we didn’t go through with it was because of the price. Chris states that in regards to the 13th hole, people suggest digging out the area near the fairway. The only problem with that is it will eventually leak all the way across to the 16th fairway (essentially a bandaid fix). Brit suggests that we talk to Ray Fell about the issue and see if we can receive and government funding for the erosion (as we had in the past with the 15th hole.) The board arees that this is the correct step, and we will recap what has happened in the May meeting.
John Daley – (In an email sent to Jim Von Eschen, he stated the following) Mr. Daley has requested that we bring up the possibility of aerating the areas around the 4th and 6th green. Chris states that he took down the tree on the right side of 4 which will help. He additionally states that when he aerates, he will aerate these areas.
Tom Ford – Tom asks Jimmy and the board about the possibility of adding more 1-Day tournaments, rather than 2 and 3 day events. Jimmy states that every Wednesday we hold a Men’s Club (open to all members and residents, excluding Twilight Pass) which we see as a 1-Day tournament in addition to the 9 & Dines that are run throughout the Summer.
Meeting concludes at 6:55PM