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