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HomeMy Public PortalAboutGolf Commission Packet 01.25.22MEETING NOTICE TOWN OF BREWSTER GOLF COMMISSION Location: Remote Participation Only Date: January 25, 2022 Time: 4:00 PM - mrmm+un+� aReHt� Jay Packett This meeting will be conducted by remote participation pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts Director of Operations of 2021. No in-person meeting attendance will be permitted. If the Town is unable to live broadcast this meeting, a record of the proceedings will be provided on the Town website as soon as possible. The meeting may be viewed by: Live broadcast (Brewster Government TV Channel 18), Livestream (livestream.brewster-ma.gov), or Video recording (tv.brewster-ma.eov). When required by law or allowed by the Chair, persons wishing to provide public comment or otherwise participate in the meeting, may do so by accessing the meeting remotely, as noted on our posted agenda. Meetings may be joined by: 1. Phone: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 436 2866 Webinar ID: 8814407 8985 Passcode:049087 To request to speak: Press *9 and wait to be recognized. 2. Zoom Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/i/88144078985?pwd=MO5KQnNsRIRQT2FzZEpkSFZDWUVO ZZ09 Passcode: 049087 To request to speak: Tap Zoom "Raise Hand" button, then wait to be recognized. AGENDA • Call to Order • Public Comment • Director's Update • FY23 Golf Department Budget process • Pavilion roof • Administrative Assistant position • Update on Pump Station Protection Study • Course Operations Questions and Concerns • Strategic Planning Updates (Commission) • Recap 1/24 Select Board Meeting • Discussion on communication strategy Colin Walsh Course Superintendent Golf Commission Anne O'Connell Chair Andrea Johnson Vice Chair Rob David John Kissida Wyn Morton Jeff Odell David valcourt The Captains Golf Course 1000 Freemans Way Brewster, MA 02631 (508)896-1716 www.CaptainsGo]fCourse.com • Questions and Comments from Associations and Liaisons • Future Agenda Items and Meetings (2/8, 2/22) • Matters not anticipated by the Chair • Adjourn Date Posted: Date Revised: Received by Town Clerk: 1/18/22 Golf Commission, I am writing with the hope that you will understand the importance of maintaining golf memberships (base) at Captains. Reducing the number of tee times available to members in order to increase income from non members is, is my opinion, short sighted. When the cycle turns back around after COVID, and golf demand returns to normal, you will need the base to survive. Prior to 2020(before COVID), it was the membership, and those responding to the request for a 2year commitment etc. that kept Captains open. If you downplay the importance of the base, run numbers with a let's say a 20-25% reduction in membership, how are your $ numbers going to look? Members are getting disappointed that you do not think we are important to the Captains. My opinion is you need the base to survive long term! Protect the BASE! Sincerely, Peter Lynch 1/18/22 I will try to keep this simple. Regarding the tee time allocation I have 3 points to make: I understand the need for Capital Improvements to be a part of the equation. I don't understand why member carts would not also be included. This is member revenue. I strongly feel there should be "Morning Non Resident" and "Early Non Resident" Fees with proportional increases as the Residents rates. My logic says with the large increase in the "Early Resident" Fee (18.7%) many residents will move to the "Morning Resident" Category. Under the present arrangement this will allow more "Non Residents" to compete with "Residents" for these early times. I don't think that is the goal but I do believe it will be the outcome. Has anyone Projected the anticipated impact of these Fee increases on the various headcounts in each category? Someplace we have a 5 year Capital Plan. Is there also a 5 year membership plan with associated rates and membership make ups? I think this would be a good exercise in planning for the future of the course. The level of play won't be pandemic high forever. Thank you, Steve Litwinowich PLEASE NOTE THAT I RESPONDED TO MR. LITWINOWICH ON ITEMS 2 AND 3. SEE BELOW Steve, let me address Items 2 and 3 on behalf of the Golf Commission. We did discuss adding another tier to the Non -Resident membership category and chose not to pursue it for at least the 2022 golf season. At the current time there is not enough room between the existing Non -Resident rate and our proposed Non -Resident Rate to insert another tier. There would not be sufficient difference for a 'Morning Non -Resident' to have any appeal. Additionally, as you may be aware, we have frozen Non -Resident memberships and will only be accepting renewals; not new applications. More Non -Residents will not be competing for Residents for early tee times because there will not be any new non-residents, at least in the short term. We are confident that this freeze plus our proposed differential between Resident Early rates and Resident Morning rates will take some of the pressure off demand for early tee times. Regarding Item 3, we have taken into account a 5% loss of membership due to our proposals. We will be keeping a close eye on our membership numbers to see if we do, in fact, experience such a loss. Until this COVID wave rides itself out, future predictions are hard to make. For obvious reasons, I will not be addressing Item 1, If you have future thoughts, feel free to share them with the Golf Commission. Anne O'Connell, Chair 1/18/22 Commissioners, In justifying not accounting cart revenue for AFP members during the Dec 14th board meeting Mr Odell stated, and generally accepted by the Commission, "Carts were not access to the golf course but were just a ride". initially I thought that statement had merit but have decided it was uncalled for. I would ask the Board, to consider those with physical disabilities, poor health or players with hip, knee and foot problems that have no choice but to ride. That cart fee is their access to the course because if carts were not available then why buy a membership to the Captains. I and most of you play with and know many others in that category, we are not getting younger. To disregard cart fees as a cost of membership, I am told, negatively affects the allocation of member tee times. The policy of pay more and play less does not bode well with the members of the Captains. Sincerely, Tom Delnickas NOTE: MR. DELNICKAS SENT A SUBSEQUEST EMAIL CORRECTING THE DATE OF THE MEETING HE REFERENCES TO 1/11/22 1/22/22 To whom it may concern: Please see an attached letter from the CCMGA Board asking that you consider including member cart revenue in the tee time allocation formula. I am a former chair of the Golf Commission and was involved in 2010 when we first created the concept of a tee time allocation formula. Because of my love of math and the golf course, I have been studying the financial operations at The Captains Golf Course for over a decade and wanted to offer my assistance as you debate this very complex topic. Our members understand that Captains must be a self-sustaining enterprise without burdening the taxpayers and that their membership is a vital component to that success. For many years, the golf industry has struggled to find enough daily fee players (tourists) to achieve its goals. The Golf Commission has worked hard to increase the membership because these loyal, avid golfers provide a baseline stability to the equation and they are more likely to show up in the rain and on colder days which brings much needed revenue to Captains and Freeman's Grill. As we all know, the pandemic has changed everything and demand for golf has increased significantly. However, golf has always been a very cyclical business and when the pandemic recedes we expect that the town will need to rely even more on the loyal members that provide so much to the preservation and stability of Captains. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions about our letter or need more details about the pulse of the membership. Sincerely, Rob Harris ATTACHMENT IS BELOW Tee Time Allocation - CCMGA The CCMGA (Captains Course Men's Golf Association) has been closely following the deliberations of the Golf Commission and reporting to our membership throughout this process. We represent the 160 members in the Men's Golf Association. Technically, Captains Golf Course has "Annual Fee Players" but the importance of this group of individuals to the financial success of the operation has caused both the Town and the golfers to refer to us as "Members". We proudly belong to our course! The Golf Commission has proposed changing the tee time allocation formula to include Capital Expenditures because of a request from the Select Board and Town Administration. The existing formula that has been in place since 2010 is: Member Tee Time Ratio is greater than Member Annual Fee Revenue; Budgeted Golf Expenses The formula proposed by the Golf Commission is: Member Tee Time Ratio is greater than Member Annual Fee Revenue—( Budgeted Golf Expenses + Average Projected 5 -Year Capital Costs) We would like to propose that the numerator of the formula also include Cart Revenues from all Members. Member Tee Time Ratio is greater than ( Member Annual Fee Revenue + Member Cart Revenue) ( Budgeted Golf Expenses + Average Projected 5 -Year Capital Costs) The basis for having a tee time formula in the first place was to provide a doctrine of fairness for the members and the course. By aligning the interests of both parties, the members came to understand that if they paid for N% of the expenses, then they would receive N% of the tee time allocation. This continues to be an important metric for running a successful enterprise as the operation needs to make enough money to cover its own expenses so as not to be a burden on the taxpayer. The Golf Department supplied a projection for the current fiscal year 2022 with a surplus of $1,101,513. If the rate increase that you are voting on tonight passes this will yield approximately $100,000 additional in annual fee revenue. These amounts easily exceed the 5 -year projected capital expenditures of $585,044 that was presented to the Select Board on 12/14/2021. Cart Fee Revenue for all members for last year was approximately $270,000 from information supplied by Jay Packett. This is a real tangible financial contribution made by the members to the golf course and we believe it should be considered in the tee time allocation formula. The membership's contributions to the success of the enterprise goes well beyond paying annual fees and cart rental fees. We support the Freemans Grill from which the Town collects rent, royalties, and local option meals tax revenues. We pay for balls at the driving range, make purchases in the pro shop, take golf lessons, pay tournament fees, and support local charities at the golf course. Just two years ago when the golf course was struggling for funding, the members prepaid $250,000 in fees that allowed the course to remain solvent prior to the retirement of its debt. The CCMGA respectfully requests that you consider including member cart revenue in the tee time allocation formula in the interest of fairness and to keep your most loyal customers happy. Thank you, Captains Course Men's Golf Association Board Rob Harris, President Ken Eisner, Vice President Emile Poirier, Treasurer Chris Chapin, Secretary Dave Cockcroft Jim Coleman Bob Emack Rob Faletra Michael Moore Orin Segall Paul Shorthose