HomeMy WebLinkAboutGolf Board - Minutes - 02/20/2008City of Fort Collins
Culture, Parks, Recreation and Environment
Golf Board
Minutes: Regular Meeting of February 20, 2008
Council Liaison to the Board: Councilman Diggs Brown
Staff Support to the Board: Jerry P. Brown, Manager of Golf at 221-6350, and Dawn
Worth, Administrative Aide at 416-2265
Call Meeting to Order: Board Chairperson David Johnson called the meeting to order at
7:00 p.m. at the SouthRidge Clubhouse.
Agenda Review: There were no changes to the Agenda as printed.
Items of Note:
♦ Lauren DeRosa, Shane Houska, and Grant Sherwood informed us that they were
unable to attend the meeting.
♦ Jerry previously provided the Board with a copy of an email from a Natural
Resources Board Member asking each Board and Commission to consider
eliminating taxpayer funded food/meals. He said that this really doesn't pertain to us
since we do not provide meals for the Board; however we can discuss this if the
Board feels it's necessary. The Board chose not to discuss the issue at this time.
Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Jay Kammerzell, seconded by Dan Preble, the
Board unanimously (6:0) approved the Minutes of the January 16, 2008 Regular Meeting.
Citizen Participation: None at this time.
Round Table Discussion with the Golf Professionals
Last month the Board suggested having another Round Table Discussion with the Golf
Professionals. Dan Preble asked if the courses were open and all three Professionals said
they were. Larry Buckendorf asked if the courses were in good shape and SouthRidge
Golf Professional, Dale Smigelsky, said that there are still some frozen areas. David
Johnson asked if there was much winter kill. SouthRidge Superintendent Randy
Bonneville said that the course is in good shape and there isn't any snow mold, and carts
are out. City Park Nine Golf Professional, David McCleave, said the number 2 and 3
greens had been damaged this winter due to vandalism. Jay Kammerzell asked how our
water sources were doing. Jerry said that we have been told that it is good; however we
have been told that same thing in the past at this time of year and there ended up being a
shortage. He said that we should find out more at the annual water meeting that is coming
up in April.
David Johnson asked if we had lined up any tournaments for the season. Dale stated that
SouthRidge has. He mentioned that we still haven't seen many corporate tournaments
since 2001. Dale also said that SouthRidge has brought in some new tournaments this
year. Collindale Golf Professional Jim Greer said that we have also signed up some
tournaments for the year. David McCleave said that we will have some new leagues at
City Park Nine this year. Jim stated that the golfers should be coming out soon with the
warmer weather approaching. Deron Grothe asked if there were any new marketing ideas
Golf Board Minutes
February 20,2008
Page 2
taking place this year. Jim said that we have decided not to use internet coupons again
because people were printing off a bunch and passing them out and there is no way to
limit the number a person can print. Jerry said that we are advertising with Va1Pak. Jim
said that he also gave out nearly 600 coupons at the Golf Expo for Collindale Non -Prime
Time. Jerry said that he has recently spoken to other Golf Managers and they also feel
that it's more beneficial to advertise locally. Eric McCrery asked if we were getting much
business from the Wyoming area and Jerry said that the majority of golfers from the
North tend to now stop at Mountain Vista, although we still see a lot of Wyoming license
plates in the bumper months of spring and fall. Deron asked if SouthRidge will be getting
new carts this year and Jerry said no but we have upgraded our rentals carts.
Eric asked the Golf Professionals if they had any specific concerns. David McCleave said
that he was a little concerned about the transition with Jerry's retirement. Jim Greer said
that it is a little concerning since the Professionals have renewable year-to-year contracts
but with the transition there is more of a concern. Dale stated that it is going to be
interesting to see what will take place. Jerry informed the Board that he met with the
Executive Director of CPRE, Marty Heffernan, and the Director of Parks, J.R. Schnelzer,
to discuss the transition and that they are planning to meet with everyone in the Golf
Division as well as the Golf Board. Larry asked Jerry when they would start the search
for his replacement. Jerry said that we are not sure what is going to happen yet and we
should have a better understanding soon. Larry asked what Jerry's opinion was on the
transition. Jerry said there are a few options but he feels that privatizing isn't viable. He
explained that the majority of Municipal courses that are currently privatized started out
that way. Deron asked if the Pro's have made any changes to their staff. Dale, Jim, and
David all said that they pretty much have the same staff returning. Jim stated that there
aren't as many new courses going up which is a benefit to us. Jerry stated for the second
year in a row that more golf courses have closed than opened in the country. Deron stated
that the Collindale Pro Shop looked a little bare and Jim said that he sold some
merchandise at the Golf Expo. Deron asked if they were going to have a demo -day. Both
Jim and Dale said they were and these events will take place in April. Jerry reminded the
Board that during our last meeting City Park Nine Women's Golf Association President,
Jody Benzel, asked if the Golf Division would help them recruit new members and Jerry
said that he hasn't heard back from her on this issue yet, and he will keep the Board
informed. Jay asked if we could spray the courses for mosquitoes more often. Jerry
explained that the Golf Division can not do that task as only the City itself authorizes
spraying. Randy informed the Board that the County periodically checks the creek by
SouthRidge for mosquito larva.
Jerry mentioned that this is an on -going project for the Golf Division. He said that we
have received information from staff showing how things are currently being conducted.
Jerry stated that he would like to have this document completed by April. Eric McCrery
feels the document looks good. Jerry mentioned that Shane Houska previously asked why
some of the practices are different between the three courses and Jerry said that the
course themselves are different. For example, the water that Randy has to use to irrigate
at SouthRidge isn't necessarily good quality so there are certain things that he has to do
to keep the turf looking good. Soil conditions are also very different. Jay Kammerzell
asked if Jerry could put together a more formal document for the Board to better
understand what the Golf Administration does. Jerry asked that Jay provide written
information to give him a better understanding of what he would like to see.
Golf Board Minutes
February 20, 2008
Page 3
Other Business
The March 19`h meeting is during Spring Break and the Board concurred to cancel
that meeting with the next Regular Meeting scheduled for April 16`h
♦ Jerry briefly mentioned the mandatory Boards and Commissions training that all
members have been asked to attend ... He also mentioned that the various chemicals
being used by the City is a concern to some folks and he would like the Board to
know that we do not use any restricted chemicals on our courses.
Correspondence/Financial and Statistical Reports
Jerry stated that over the last two years we have lost quite a few rounds and revenues due
to bad weather conditions; however we haven't lost as much this year as we did last year
at this time.
Adjournment:
On a motion by Eric McCrery, seconded by
(6:0) to adjourn at 7:50 p.m.
MeetineAttendance
Board Members
Larry Buckendorf
Deron Grothe
David Johnson
Jay Kammerzell
Eric McCrery
Dan Preble
Deron Grothe, the Board unanimously voted
�pWectfully submitted`f�/
Dawn Worth (//(
Administrative Aide
Staff
Jerry P. Brown
Randy Bonneville
Rob Dahl
James Greer
David McCleave
Dale Smigelsky
Dawn Worth
Guests
John Ashton
John Shelton