HomeMy Public PortalAboutGAC MINUTES for July 9.14docxPage 1 of 2
Golf Advisory Committee Minutes
July 9, 2014
GCAC MINUTES for July 9, 2014
Attendees: Gene Drabinski, Eric McCormick, Allan Morrison, Bob Thackery, Betty Bolin, Paul
Stover and Roger Snodgrass
Gene opened the meeting saying the reason he was there was because of the numerous
complaints he had received about the golf course and that he thought he could help the Golf
Course Advisory Committee become a more effective unit. At this time, Gene passed out the
mission statement of the GCAC. After all the members read the document, Gene facilitated a
discussion about the duties of the committee and the need to meet on a monthly basis throughout
the entire year. Gene emphasized the fact that Eric was his link to the golf course and further
emphasized that Allan was a contractor working directly for the City Council under their
contract. Gene told the committee that we were to recommend to the City Council a 3% increase
in the present rates for the 2015 season to correspond with the proposed 2015 fiscal year budget.
Gene also told the committee to concentrate on the five-year plan and that any improvements
should go to the City Council for approval. Eric said he would copy all of the GCAC members
the latest five-year plan. Allan requested a copy of the golf course rules and regulations. No one
is sure one exists.
At this time Gene left the meeting and Chairman Bob Thackery took charge of the meeting.
Roger Snodgrass was nominated for and elected to the office of vice chairman/secretary.
Eric started his report by reviewing his monthly consolidated department report. He is down 2
employees at this time and is finding it hard to get replacements. The greens are to be v-cut and
top dressed. We discussed repairing the fairways with one suggestion of using work parties.
Eric said the only volunteers he could get were too old to do much. Allan offered the services of
the Tuesday men’s night teams for the next two weeks if Eric would provide each team with a
five gallon bucket of seed and sand. Eric reviewed the mosquito fogging procedures. The new
course ratings were discussed. Allan said that temporary ratings were to go into effect now and
the final re-ratings were to be completed in September for next golf season.
Allan reviewed upcoming tournaments and other events at the golf course. Allan has a complete
list if needed. We discussed moving the Calcutta to the driving range and using an outside
caterer for the food service and the golf course providing the beverage service. Allan said this
would be less stressful on the restaurant staff during an already busy week. Allan reviewed a
revenue hand-out showing several snapshot of how the course was doing compared to the 2013
season.
Betty had to leave the meeting at this time and suggested that we might consider having another
meeting prior to the next scheduled GCAC meeting on August 13.
Next we reviewed the McCall men’s association requests. While discussing the women’s tee
boxes, Eric said that he wanted it noted that he had made an agreement with two members of the
MMGA executive committee to widen the fairways and build three new tee boxes for the ladies
in exchange for $1500 for top dressing sand. Eric said that the money for the Enkamat green
Page 2 of 2
Golf Advisory Committee Minutes
July 9, 2014
covers was for the good of the course. The majority of the MMGA executive committee voted
against paying the $1500 bill for sand.
During the discussion on mow strips, Eric said that he had no documentation on the cost to mow
the strips but that the added dumping of the grass clippings would add too much to an already
tight schedule. He also said that it would do no good to apply for LOT funds for this or fairway
widening.
Comments and concerns:
1. Discussed reasons for tree removal, past plantings and Eric suggested that the MMGA
might consider purchasing trees to be planted.
2. Per Allan the agreement he had with the MMGA was that the participant in the
tournament could drink as much beer as they wanted.
3/4. Per Bob, that is just the way McCall operates.
5. Calcutta will be moved outside and the food service will be catered. Two additional bar
tenders will work the Calcutta.
6. Not addressed
7. Not addressed
8. Per Allan it was a business decision.
9. Handicaps will be corrected by July 15.
We discussed Betty’s request for an interim meeting, but no date was set.
Adjourned meeting at 7:45 pm
Attachments:
Eric’s consolidated department report
Allan’s revenue report
Men’s association requests
Men’s association comments and concerns
CITY OF MCCALL
GOLF MONTHLY DEPARTMENT REPORT
Department Project Comments Status
Golf Staffing The month of August there were three of us
working full time? By the end of the month we
were still losing seasonal employees and were
down from 8 to 5 full time seasonal and 2 part
time.
Update
Golf Greens We continued to work on greens and by the end of
August were in great shape. We have continued to
do some patching. We plan to aerify greens this
fall starting the week of September 15th. We will
aerify 9 holes per week so that we can keep 18
holes playable.
Update
Golf Tees The tees had all recovered in July. No Change
Golf Irrigation By the end of August we were mostly caught up
on irrigation issues with the system working
pretty well. I spent a lot of time working through
heads and programming out on Cedar and have #7
and #9 looking the best that it has been.
Update
Golf Fairways The fairways have been filling in. We still plan on
reseeding some of them this fall when play slows
so we can close a 9 to work on it. We started
spraying for broadleaf weeds on Cedar with the
hope of finishing on Aspen and Birch while
closed for aerification.
Update
Golf Equipment The equipment is holding up surprising well. NO change
Golf Tournaments We are down to our last two tournaments of the
year the first two weeks of September.
Tournaments in August were either full or up in
numbers.
Update
Golf Rounds Rounds for August were down a little compared
to last year which I can’t explain. We had a busy
Labor Day weekend.
Update
Golf Mosquitoes With the dry August mosquitoes were not much
of a problem. We did not fog in August.
Update
CITY REVENUE JULY 14 CITY REVENUE JULY 13 DIFFERENCE
GREEN FEES 116,315 136,569.00 ‐20,254
LOCKERS 32 32 0
SEASON PASS 10,364 7,406 2,958
TRAIL FEES 2,217 3,189 ‐972
TOTAL 128,928 143,196 ‐18,268
CITY REVENUE YTD 14 CITY REVENUE YTD 13
GREEN FEES 208,464 217,645 ‐9,181
LOCKERS 800 704 96
SEASON PASS 145,665 135,161 10,504
TRAIL FEE 20,753 21,455 ‐702
TOTAL 375,682 374,965 717
COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
The following are unsolicited comments and concerns from a multitude of McCall Men’s Golf
Association members about the overall operation of the McCall Golf Course:
1. This course has always been famous for its trees, thirty trees should be planted for every
one that is cut down.
2. $308 burger and beer invoice for 16 golfers for the 2013 Ryder Cup tournament was
unreasonably high.
3. Higher prices and less quality and quanity of the servings seem to have led to fewer
golfers eating after Tuesday men’s night.
4. The McCall Golf Course has lost some very high quality workers in both the pro shop
and the restaurant. One reason is Nikki will not share any “high tip” shifts. Others may
deserve a full investigation.
5. $30 meals for MMGA Calcutta workers is not very cooperative. One bar tender for the
Calcutta is unacceptable. Some long time participants of the Calcutta say they will not
return because of poor service, mediocre food and high prices. Because of high prices
and poor service people are bringing their own beverages to the course. 18% automatic
tip is out of line, tips are earned and should not be a part of an already overinflated bill.
6. Allan needs to start supervising Nikki not the other way around.
7. This operation is starting to feel like when Mike Buss and his girlfriend were running the
Golf Course and restaurant.
8. Why was the snack shack closed during the senior match play tournament.
9. Why do we continue to have problems with tournaments? (ie) misplaced entry forms of
paid entrants leading to frustration and last minute tournament juggling. Incorrect
score posting leading to incorrect handicaps.
10. On behalf of all of the winners in the senior match play tournament, I would like to thank
Allan for adding $10 to each flight’s prize money.
THE MCCALL MEN’S GOLF ASSOCIATION
The McCall Men’s Golf Association has requested that the following items be completed in a
timely manner:
1. Complete the woman’s tee boxes that the golf association perceives to have been
promised by the City in exchange for funds to pay for Enkamat green covers. The
association would like to have this project complete by the 2014 2-lady best ball
tournament August 3-4.
Upon talking to Eric, he stated that he would not have the time or manpower to complete
the project in that time frame, especially with the amateur tournament in that same
period. He did say that his crew would level and top dress the three temporary tee boxes
and make them more playable prior to the 2-lady best ball. Eric also said that it would be
best to build the three boxes this fall, let them sit over the winter and then sod them in the
spring of 2015. I agree with this approach and so do the MMGA executive board
members that I have discussed it with.
2. Mow a strip from the tee boxes to the fairways on the Aspen and Birch nines to
accommodate the many golfers who walk the course. We feel that this would make the
course more player friendly and make a better golf experience for the walkers.
Again after talking with Eric, he stated that the mow strip was cost prohibitive due to the
additional man-hours and fuel needed for mowing such a strip. On behalf of the MMGA,
I would like to see back-up documentation on the additional cost. Then if we can’t find
any other solution, have the MMGA request funds from LOT to cover the added expense.
3. The widening of the fairways that the MMGA requested has met with favorable
responses from most golfers.
In my discussion with Eric, he said that the additional manpower and fungicide needed
for caring for this added fairway is putting a burden on his budget. This is another area
we could jointly request LOT funding.
Reconstruction of Aspen #1 green is the top priority of the MMGA and should make the hole
more player friendly and enhance the overall golfing experience at the McCall Golf Course.
This is another area that the MMGA could request LOT for matching funds to complete the
project in a timely manner.