July 31, 2024
Commission Members in Attendance:
Brit Lawlor – Chairman
Ron Krawczyk – Deputy Chairman
Jeff Nagel – Membership/Capital Assessment
Joe Dabrowski – Greens
Kevin Lauretti – Handicap/Capital Assessment
Ryan Stanley – Tournament
Members in Attendance:
Pat Comiskey, Bob Scalia, Mary Butler-Person, John Gennusa, Dennis Maguire, Michael Dioguardo, Michael Auerbcach
Others in Attendance:
Jim Von Eschen – Director of Golf John Mackie – Assistant Golf Pro
Motion to accept the minuets by Jeff Nagel, 2nd by Ron Krawczyk. Brit welcomes everybody and the meeting officially starts at 6:04PM.
Tournament Report, presented by Ryan Stanley
Ryan says that we are in our full swing when it comes to the tournament schedule. He says that the Men’s Member/Guest was won by Joe Ferme and Phil Polo. Ryan says that the entire day, from the field, the food, the format, weather, etc was awesome. Moving onto the Club Championship, Michael Auerbach and Lee Redvanly were crowned as Club Champions. Ryan says that the course played great over the two days. Below are the results for the rest of the event:
Gross Winners
Men’s A Flight – Vic Cisario Women’s A Flight – Sally Hayes
Men’s B Flight – Brian Strauss Men’s C Flight – David Smith
Net Winners
Men’s Champ Flight – Billy Hope Women’s Champ Flight – Michele White
Men’s A Flight – Mike Rau Women’s A Flight – Sally Hayes
Men’s B Flight – Peter Craz Men’s C Flight – Neal Smith
Red, White and Blue Scramble was a huge success, Ryan would like to thank everybody who played in the event. Ryan says since it went over so well, this is something we can expect to see on this same weekend in the future. The winners of the event were Jim Comiskey, Joe Vitarelli, Neal Smith and Matt Kerins. Lastly, looking to August, we have our Women’s Member/Guest on August 6th, the Mixed Pinehurst on August 10th and the Member/Member which is held over Labor Day weekend. Ryan says that sign ups for each event will be out roughly 2 weeks before each event.
Deputy Chairman Report, presented by Ron Krawczyk
Ron has nothing in regards to the course but states the Men’s Member/Guest was a really good event and he hopes that the Ladies have a great day during their Member/Guest as well.
Chairman Report, presented by Brit Lawlor
Brit begins by mentioning the ongoing urination issue between the 14th and 15th tee boxes and states that next season we will be growing fescue all the way to those trees, and those trees will be staying there. Pat asks about limbing up the trees from the bottom, to which Brit and Joe say that they will talk with Chris about such. Lastly, brit mentions that he played in this years Member/Guest and came out with glowing reviews. He thanks Chris, Jimmy and their staffs for fabulous work throughout the entire day. Brit says that his guests (as well as others) were thoroughly impressed with the golf course and the entire day overall.
Greens/Course Assessment Report, presented by Joe Dabrowski
Joe starts by stating that this time of year, the crew is cutting grass and trying to get the course ready for play on a daily basis. Joe says the course will undergo aeration (greens, fairways and tees) on August 19th, 20th and 21st with the surrounds being done and seeded in the Fall. After that, Joe says that we will begin to cut back fescue in areas that are either too thick or full of weeds. Joe asks everybody to pray for good weather for aeration.
Membership Report, presented by Jeff Nagel
Jeff says that he has nothing new regarding membership at this time of the season. Jeff says that we still stand at 410 members with 35 junior members. Mr. Nagel says that we have a great youth contingency at the course and they are what is going to keep the course alive for years to come.
Handicap/Course Assessment Report, presented by Kevin Lauretti
Kevin states that the board is beginning to think about what to do with the Course Assessment (CA) money for the off season. Kevin says that they have some ideas of what needs to be done (cart paths, tree removal, etc) but they have to figure out some logistics.
Director of Golf Report, presented by Jim Von Eschen
Jimmy doesn’t have much, beginning by mentioning the 9 & Dine that was scheduled for earlier in the week was cancelled due to the weather. He says that the course was all set up, pins and tees were changed for the Par 3 Challenge and then the skies opened up. Jimmy says that Robert and the Catering Hall worked with us, allowing us out of the dinner portion. Brit Lawlor says that Robert is making a real effort to be a good partner with us. To end, Jimmy says that we will be looking to do one last 9 & Dine on September 9th if we have no rain-outs with outings prior to that.
Comments from the Crowd
Mike Dioguardo – Mr. Dioguardo begins asking if there is a dress code at BGC because after the Red, White & Blue tournament on August 6th, there were people playing in basketball/football jerseys and other sorts of costumes. Mike says that if there is a rule against that wear, then it must be enforced. Jimmy Von Eschen says that he will take the blame for not speaking with the group. Brit also mentions that normally, this group of individuals will play the 1st hole in “costume” and then play in proper golf attire from there on out. Ryan Stanley says that it shouldn’t matter who is breaking the rule, it must be enforced. Brit says that he will specifically talk to Mike Foster about his family outing for future years. Moving on, Mike says that Chris’ crew must be more mindful of the players on the course (Pat Comiskey mentions that golfers also have to be more mindful of Chris’ crew). Jimmy Von Eschen says that if it is regarding the blowers in the morning or during the Men’s Tournament Day, we can move tee times back and start the shotgun at 9:30 but that would shrink the field even more; Jimmy reiterates that the grounds crew must get their work done. Mike and a couple others mention that these individuals were talking during balls being hit, etc. Both Brit and Jimmy mention that Chris has some newer employees on his staff and to just please be patient with them. Lastly, Pat Comiskey asks where hand carts are expected to go near the greens. Jimmy Von Eschen state that these push carts should be kept OUTSIDE the green complex; this means that no push carts should be inside the greenside bunkers on the fringe.
Bob Scalia – Mr. Scalia thought today’s Men’s Tournament format was great but the 8:30 shotgun was brutally slow. He continues, stating that for those who work, the shotgun start is making the Men’s Tournament Day very difficult to participate in. As far as the Member/Guest goes, Bob would like to thank everybody who was involved. Brit Lawlor thanks Bob for his comments and says that Ryan Stanley, Kevin Lauretti and Joe Dabrowski led the way with the Member/Guest.
Michael Auerbach – Michael wanted to begin by bringing up the Long Island Golf Association (LIGA) and specifically, the Long Island Mid-Amateur tournament in which the LIGA wants to hold the event here at Bellport Golf Club; they want to get it on the schedule for 2025. Mike believes that it is an honor for the club to hold these types of events and believes that it could lead to some bigger ones in the future. When asked about time of the year, Mike said that the LIGA was flexible but was thinking September or October. The event would entail giving the LIGA the course for a day and a half (36 hole tournament with a cut after Day 1). The LIGA said that they will be flexible with the club and can play Monday/Tuesday or Tuesday/Wednesday, knowing that Thursday – Sunday gets busier. Brit says that it would be an honor to hold an actual event rather than a qualifier like past years but will have to talk to the Village about waiving greens fees like we did for the IKE qualifier. Brit says that a formal letter from the LIGA to the Village, laying out exactly what they need from BGC would be the next step. Mike says that he will pass that information along to the LIGA.
Dennis Maguire – Mr. Maguire loved the Men’s Member/Guest and thought the idea of sending the cart guys out to spot balls on the course was a great idea.
Brit concludes the meeting at 6:26pm.