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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESPONSE - RFP - P777 GOLF PROFESSIONAL SOUTHRIDGENo Text Question # 7 What special, new, and/or unique proposals, ideas, financial arrangements (if any) do you have to offer Southridge or the City of Fort Collins (i.e. payments to the city, improvements, in -kind contributions/service, etc.)? (Weighting 2.0) I would like to simplify the payment system that is in place. It makes little sense that the City pays the contractor and then the contractor turns around and pays the City. But, in my current position at City Park Nine, we do it the same way. Since we have current numbers, I am proposing that we "clean up" the existing method. Based on current figures projected into 2001, the contractor would receive approximately $64,680 from the City as the service fee. The contractor would then turn around and pay to the City approximately $2000 for driving range payment and $4100 for rent. If we adjust, it nets to approximately $58,580 being paid to the contractor under the current guidelines. I would be willing to do this for a flat rate of $55,000 the first year, with a 4% increase yearly through the contract. Also, to take into consideration the current in -kind pro shop expansion payments, I would guarantee that I would make $5000 worth of improvements to the building or related services during each year of my contract. I have included the next two paragraphs because they contain information unique to us, as no one else has done what we have. It is extremely relevant to the financial aspect of this decision. Financially, the greatest thing that I have going for "me" is the job that "we" have done at City Park Nine by greatly increasing City revenues. From year-end 1996 (the year before we took over) through 1999 (our last full year), operating income has increased 43.6% at City Park. This compares to 21.7% at Collindale and 32.0% at Southridge. In 1996 City Park Nine did 57.7% of the revenue that Collindale did, and in 1999 City Park Nine did 68.1% of the revenue that Collindale did. Because of this increase (68.1% now instead of 57.7%), from 1997-1999 we did over $150,000 more than if we had continued at the 1996 rate (that doesn't even count 2000 because we don't have any numbers yet, we are estimating about $55,000). In excess driving range revenue, I have given the city over $25,000 in my three plus years so far, and based on the 1997 RFP from City Park Nine, the total of the three years before I took over, there was only $200 total given in excess range revenues. I realize these are a lot of numbers to throw at you, but my point is that in my four years at City Park, we have brought in about $230 000 extra to the golf fund that we are directly responsible for! Taking my current service fee, and subtracting concession and range payments that I make back to the City, my net will be about $37,600 this year, much less than the average extra revenue (about $230,000 in four years, or $57,500 per year) that we have brought in for the city each year. What all of this means, is that it very well could have cost the City much more to have had someone else do the job for free (in the long run, low -ball bids would more than likely cost the city money and will substantially sacrifice customer service). Also, remember that I took over for a respected Golf Professional that was at City Park for nineteen years, an individual that did his job well enough that the City rewarded his efforts by putting him in one of the top City Golf Professional positions. I believe that the bottom line question here is " What does Southridge and the City of Fort Collins get for it's money?" You get a proven staff that will continue to provide unparalleled service to it's customers. You get a Head Professional that has, in every way, proven to the City that he has the abilities to efficiently, effectively, and completely provide the leadership necessary to manage this exceptional facility. And, you get City Park Nine numbers to prove that we have performed at an extremely high level, a level that can give you complete confidence in our ability to operate the City's highest revenue producing golf course with financial integrity and responsibility. Question #8 What services do you plan to provide for tournaments, leagues, and special events, as well as cooperation and coordination with the maintenance staff and the restaurant/snack bar concessionaire? (Weighting 2.0) As far as tournaments, leagues and special events are concerned, these fit right in with my seven years on the private club side of the golf business. Add to that my last seven years on the public side learning to deal with people from all walks of life and I believe there exists a perfect balance of background to handle these items in stride. • Tournaments - Southridge has an active tournament program and it will continue to flourish. My background has provided the skills to do this effectively. Cart prep, cart signs, scorecards, pin sheets, scoresheets, scoreboard calligraphy, tournament scoreboard and scoring, on -course markers, gift certificates, tournament reservation forms, rules sheets, rules interpretations and decisions, etc. are all part of running a successful tournament operation. Because the three professionals on staff play in competition quite often, we are constantly seeing new ideas that can be applied to Southridge. None of these ideas work though, without the proper staff and efficient follow through. We have that staff and have proven it year after year! A master tournament calendar will keep track of reservation details. I will talk to Randy Bonneville (superintendent) about the possibility of erecting a tournament scoreboard that a quality facility like Southridge should have. • Leagues - At City Park we have several "recognized" leagues and several informal leagues that we run and/or assist. We know that our league members appreciate our efforts because we constantly receive positive feedback and sincere appreciation. We have continually provided outstanding service to them in the way of scoring, collection of funds, distribution of funds, rules sheets, rules issues, pace of play issues, tee time organization, setting up our meeting room for them, etc. We have been coordinating leagues successfully for years and plan to continue. One of the first things that we will do is contact each league and association's representative (for Southridge) to coordinate events for the year. • Special Events - We do rent out our backroom at City Park and we've had numerous events on site. We would expect that at Southridge, most of these events would go through the restaurant; however, as situations dictate, we will handle them with the highest level of professionalism.. This is just an extension of our customer service skills and our "whatever it takes" attitude will flourish in these situations. We have already addressed the importance of good communication, cooperation and coordination with the maintenance staff in Question 3 and we expect to have an equally strong relationship with the concessionaire. We look forward to working with the McKenzie's (the Southridge restaurant) staff for special events as well as everyday play. Once again, Do you have the customer service and people skills to handle these items?" Bottom line answer. Yes! We have proven that day after day and year after year at City Park Nine and it will continue at Southridge. CLOSING THOUGHTS As you all know, I have been the Head Professional at City Park Nine for the past four years and before that I was a Teaching Professional at Collindale for three, so I have been in the City of Fort Collins golf system for the past seven years. During that time, and before, I have become a well respected member of Fort Collins' golfing community because of my devotion to the game, my willingness to provide excellent service and my constant desire to improve the quality of golf in Fort Collins. Summarized below are just some of the reasons why I should be at Southridge. • Constant promotion of the game in many ways • Leadership, vision and support of golf in Fort Collins • City tournaments will be much improved • Unsurpassed private tournament sign-up, organization and service skills • High quality merchandise and golf shop operations • Proven problem solving and dispute settlement skills • Knowledge of the City system makes a smooth transition from CPN to Southridge • Will work as a team with maintenance and concessionaire staffs • Attention to driving range needs (quality range balls, demo clubs, etc.) • Support from City Park Nine Leagues and Men's/Ladies' Associations • High quality teaching by three well -qualified instructors • Excellent playing ability and an active competitive player • Constant supervision and action regarding pace of play on the course • On -going and outstanding customer appreciation for what we've done at CPN • Incredible public support for this position • We have the staff to run CPN effectively until a new Golf Professional is found • Golf shop at CPN will be spotless for next Golf Professional • Will assist new Golf Professional at CPN in transition period • Proven desire to stay in Fort Collins, could be at Southridge for many, many years (and I live about a mile away) • Solid family man with a wonderful wife of 16 years and three children ages 13 to 8 • Indisputable moral character and reputation in the community • Proven business expertise • Strong personal financial position • Tremendous staff to carry out everything we've spelled out and since we are perceived as City employees, we will reflect very positively on the City of Fort Collins • Unmatched customer service • Phenomenal revenue increases that started immediately at City Park Nine • The City of Fort Collins can have peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have someone in charge that is honest, responsible and accountable to oversee a very large revenue source Fort Collins is my home. My family and I are deeply rooted in this community, and we will spend the rest of our lives here. I am willing to continue to show by my actions and not just by my words, that I am truly dedicated to my future with the City of Fort Collins. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss all of this with you in the near future and I thank you for the time and effort that you are about to put into this decision. Respectfully subAnitted, Dale W. Smigelsky ANNUAL PAYMENT SCHEDULE STATEMENT (To and/or From the City) The City of Fort Collins will establish a schedule of City fees and charges, and will keep all revenues generated from green fees, annual passes, tournament reservation fees, powered golf cart rentals, surcharges, private golf cart usage fees, reservation fees, City building rentals, etc. at the Southridge Golf Course. The Golf Professional will acquire and own, and will keep all income/revenues generated from the sale of golf merchandise, pull cart rentals, tournament service fees, golf club cleaning, golf club repair, golf rentals, and from the operation of the driving range and from providing golf lessons/instructions, etc., and will pay for their own staff at the Southridge Golf Course. Therefore, in consideration of the aforementioned... You may desire to pay to the City of Fort Collins an annual fee payment in either a flat -rate amount or on a percentage basis, or make an in -kind contribution of a specific dollar value. If so, how much money/percentage/value will you (Golf Professional) pay in each year listed to the City of Fort Collins to be the Golf Professional at Southridge Golf Course? 2001 - $5000 as an in -kind contribution payment 2002 - $5000 as an in -kind contribution payment 2003 - $5000 as an in -kind contribution payment 2004 - $5000 as an in -kind contribution payment 2005 - $5000 as an in -kind contribution payment The above payments are explained in the answer of Question 7 in the Southridge RFP. ***and/or*** How much money annually must the City of Fort Collins pay you (Golf Professional) as a fee for services for conducting business to be the Golf Professional at Southridge Golf Course? 2001 - $55,000 fifty-five thousand dollars 2002 - $57,200 fifty-seven thousand, two hundred dollars 2003 - $59,488 fifty-nine thousand, four hundred, eighty-eight dollars 2004 - $61,868 sixty-one thousand, eight hundred, sixty-eight dollars 2005 - $64,343 sixty-four thousand, three hundred, forty-three dollars The above increases are at a 4% annual rate. PROPOSAL PROPOSAL NO: P-777 DATED THIS 6AY OF 0 6-e X 2000 CONTRACT FOR SERVICES: SouthRidge Golf Professional Services 5750 South Lemay Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80525 TO: City of Fort Collins Office of the Director of Purchasing and Risk Management 256 West Mountain Avenue P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 To Whom It May Concern: 1. The undersigned, pursuant to the Request for Proposals, which requested proposals for a Golf Professional to manage and supervise the golf operations and pro shop functions at the SouthRidge Golf Course, having examined all documents, the golf course site, and having become familiar with all the conditions existing and relative to same, hereby proposes to operate same in accordance with the proposal documents. 2. I/we acknowledge receipt of the following addenda and have included their provisions in this proposal: Addendum No.( ),Dated Addendum No. ( ), Dated 3. In submitting this proposal, the undersigned warrants that he/she has complied with all the provisions of the "Request for Proposals, Instructions, and Specifications," and can furnish the labor and materials and business acumen to carry out the Golf Professional operation using the highest of modem professional golfing standards as employed at leading golf clubs and golf courses, in all respects, as specified in the proposal documents. 4. The undersigned submits the following proposal, which includes all permits, licenses, insurance, fees, and taxes, etc., included in the following documents, fully completed, as a. condition of submitting an acceptable proposal: A. Proposal Questionnaire B. An Annual Payment Schedule To/From the City 5. The undersigned also agrees that he/she will not withdraw his/her proposal for a period of sixty (60) days from the closing date for receiving proposals. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: NAME: L6 VV S/Yl l6�LS,�Y ADDRESS: 1301 ,L�,er[ZZLAJ4C j ,6r 00cc�,vs, Co �ioSZS TITLE: END OF PROPOSAL u c911 I OF DALE WMLIAM SNHGELSKY OBJECTIVE To be a Head Professional, where I can develop a golfing atmosphere that is fitting to the needs of the City. I will give you all my efforts and a constant love for this greatest of games. PERSONAL EDUCATION Name: Dale William Smigelsky 1301 Brittany Court Fort Collins, CO 80525 (970)229-9255 Birthdate: July 25, 1960 Marital Status: Married: wife Anne daughter Kali 3/20/87 daughter Casi 7/2/89 son Alex 7/2/92 Physical Data: Height: 5'11" Weight: 2001bs. Health: Excellent Attended the University of Central Florida for two years from 1978 - 1980. The education I have received in working for prominent Golf Professionals and owning my own businesses is invaluable. PROFESSIONAL STANDING PGA Class "A" Golf Professional in good standing Top five percent graduate in PGA Business School CURRENT EMPLOYMENT February 1997 - Present EMPLOYMENT HISTORY March 1994 - December 1996 City Park Nine Golf Course Fort Collins, Colorado Head Professional (970) 221-6650 Collindale Golf Course Fort Collins, Colorado Shop Manager and First Assistant Joe Nance, Head Professional August 1988 - January 1995 Runza Restaurants Fort Collins, Colorado Owner Opened two successful Runza Restaurants (July 1989 and November 1990) and sold them 1/5/95. We were major stockholders in seven others within Nebraska. I have learned an incredible amount about business during those years and have become financially stable because of those opportunities. October 1985 - August 1988 Runza Drive -Inns of America Lincoln, Nebraska Director of Franchising Renee Sjulin, President (402) 423-2394 While the Director of Franchising at Runza Drive -Inns of America, a sixty-five unit fast-food restaurant chain, I also had the duties of District Supervisor, site selection, prototype restaurant development and upkeep of purveyor programs. I developed store opening manuals, management training manuals, management bonus scales and numerous organizational systems. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE March 1985 - October 1985 Boulder Country Club Boulder, Colorado First Assistant Teaching Assistant Rick Terrell, PGA Professional (214) 831-1002 Handled all duties generally found within the job description of First Assistant and: - overall tournament operations - merchandising, purchase and inventory of clothing and equipment - club fitting and repair Was responsible for the majority of private lessons Conducted clinics for men, women and juniors on all aspects of the game Was an integral part of the Junior Golf Program creating interest in golf by making it fun PREFACE I am a Golf Professional who understands the game of golf, the business of golf, and the overwhelming enjoyment that surrounds it. This is not a job for me. It truly is a way of life and I am passionate about every aspect of it. I am a Head Professional who is there constantly and I will do everything in my power to make each golfer's experience at Southridge exceed their expectations. This decision for Southridge is a very important one. It is a position that requires talent, motivation, maturity, honesty, reliability, responsibility, accountability, organizational and management skills, teaching and an appropriate financial condition. In my four years as the Head Professional at City Park Nine, I have proven that I possess all of the above. In this proposal I will show you that because of the job my staff and I have done and intend to do, we will provide, by far, the best service that the Southridge community has ever experienced. From this point on, I will often use the term "we" instead of "I" because of the strength of my staff. We truly have an outstanding team effort and that will continue with commitment and dedication at Southridge. Played extensively in pro-ams with members at the club Effectively assisted the Professional in providing a high caliber golf operation in touch with the needs of the membership We left Boulder CC on great terms to temporarily pursue a better financial situation outside the golf business April 1981 - November 1984 Happy Hollow Club Omaha, Nebraska First Assistant John Frillman, PGA Professional (402) 391-0239 Supervised, directed, scheduled, hired and trained all subord- inate staff in the Golf Shop and Bag Storage area. Helped oversee fleet of 70 electric carts. Assisted the Professional in all aspects of running a Golf Shop of the highest operational standards. Teaching, merchandising, club repair, book- keeping and assisting or running the numerous tournaments at the club were my main duties. It is a pleasure to have been associated with the finest Professional and Country Club in the state of Nebraska and one of the best in the country. April 1980 - November 1980 Country Club of Sapphire Valley Sapphire, North Carolina Assistant Professional Doug Perry, PGA Professional I was employed by the Head Professional to serve the members and guests of our resort. I participated in merchandising, club repair and the operation of the "COOL SCHOOL" golf clinics with Lionel Hebert, Jay Hebert and Louise Suggs (Golf Hall of Famers). April 1979 - August 1979 Country Club of Sapphire Valley Sapphire, North Carolina Cart Maintenance and Bag Room Doug Perry, PGA Professional (970)267-9202 Supervised fleet of 60 electric golf carts for the operation. Handled bag storage room for 200 members and resort guests. Worked also as starter and ranger. PROFESSIONAL PLAYING BACKGROUND Played on North Florida Winter Tour from 1979 to 1985 1st Place Finish 1982 Nebraska Assistants Championship 18th Place Finish 1982 National Assistants Championship Played in Nebraska Cup Matches 1983 2nd Place Finish 1984 Nebraska Assistants Championship 1st Place Finish 1984 Zellwood Open, North Florida Winter Tour 1st Place Finish 1985 Epson Open, Plum Creek 1st Place Finish 1985 Nebraska Open In the winters of 1994,1995 and 1996, I played the Tommy Armour Tour in Florida. My above average playing ability is reflected in consistent money winnings. NIKE Tour players and Hooters Tour players use this tour as their winter training. 1994 Finished 5th Place in Colorado Sectional Championship for PGA Professionals, our biggest tournament. (69, 73, 70) 1994 Qualified for the National Club Pro Championship - made the cut and finished in 50th place out of over 3000 Club Professionals - was the low scorer of the top 8 players from the Colorado Section (71,71,70176) 1995 Played on Colorado Cup Team, state's top 12 Professionals against top 12 Amateurs. Professionals won 10 1/2 to 7 1/2. I won both of my matches. 1995 Finished 8th Place in Colorado Sectional Championship. (71,71,71) 1996 Wigwam Interclub Championship, 3rd Low Professional (67,69,71,69) 1996 Local Qualifier in U.S. Open Qualifying (70) 3rd Place Finish 1996 Wyoming Open (68,69,65) Qualified for 1996 Colorado Cup Team 4th Place Finish 1996 Nebraska Open (69,71,68) 1996 - Finished 4th on the Colorado Section Points List out of over 200 PGA Professionals. 2nd Place Finish 1998 Wyoming Open (66, 65, 68) Have shot 61 at Southridge and 64 at Collindale in Fort Collins. From 1997 to 2000, I have cut back severely on my playing schedule because of my position at City Park Nine. I still do play in a number of sectional events and Monday pro-ams, but I play very few recreational rounds of golf anymore. I'm very proud of the fact that I am still competitive even with my limited play. In 2000 alone, I won four low - pro honors in pro-ams (66-66=132 Greeley Classic, 67-Indian Peaks, 66-Fox Hill, 65-Air Force Academy). MISCELLANEOUS PGA BACKGROUND In the Fall of 1982, I was nominated and elected President of the Nebraska Section Apprentice Association for the 1983 season. In 1982, I was elected "Apprentice Player of the Year" of the Nebraska Section of the PGA In 1983, I was elected by the Nebraska Section Apprentice Association as "Assistant Professional of the Year". Mr. James B. O'Neill Director of Purchasing and Risk Management City of Fort Collins 256 West Mountain Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80522 Dear Mr. O'Neill I was recently contacted by Dale Smigelsky and asked to write a letter of recommendation for an upcoming position at one of your City golf courses. I have known Dale since he was a young man growing up in Central Florida. A few years later he called me in North Carolina and asked for a job at my club. He said he would do anything as long as it involved golf. During his time at Sapphire Valley he worked in the club services area as well as the pro shop. He was, and still is to this day the hardest working assistant I have had in my twenty years in the golf business. He continued his golf career in Colorado and Nebraska and we have remained close friends to this day. Dale has been in business for himself and knows every aspect of dealing with budgets, cost control, and payroll expenses. These are most unusual credentials for a golf professional. As you know, it is a lot more fun to teach and play golf than to crunch numbers. Dale has the honesty and integrity to be responsible for any operation, be it large or small, public or private. The dream of most golf professionals is to own their own facility. If I owned a golf course Dale would be my man in charge. I know his time at Collindale has prepared him well for this opportunity. I hope you will take a good look at Dale's experience and credentials and consider him .`or this position. I don't think you will find a better candidate, anywhere. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you would like to discuss this matter further. Sincerely, Doug Perry, PGA Professional Sapphire Lakes CC 1600 Highway 64 West, #19 Sapphire, NC 28774 (704) 966-9202 1600 U.S. 64 West, Sapphire, N.C. 28774, (704) 966 9200 or (704) 743-9200 or (800) 232-7444 John frillman prglissiunal 1701 SOUTH 105TH STREET OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68124 Mr. James O'Neill Director of Purchasing & Risk Mgmt 256 West Mountain Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80522 Dear Mr. O'Neill It is my understanding the Dale Smigelsky has applied for the position of Head Golf Professional at City Park in Fort Collins, and that you are the appropriate party to be addressed in this letter of recommendation. I am concluding my thirtieth (30th) year at Happy Hollow Club in Omaha, Nebraska and had the good fortune of having Dale as my number one assistant 1981 through 1984. During that time I watched Dale develop and exhibit qualities that I knew someday would make him an outstanding Head Golf Professional. His service skills in dealing with our demanding membership demonstrated to me his attention to excellence. He was highly respected by the membership and time and time again had proven himself as a top notch young man. Dale is a presentable young man and capable teacher of the game, as well as one who can represent City Park with his playing ability. He is a devoted family man to his wife Anne and their three children. I heartily recommend consideration be given to Dale Smigelsky. He will bring the highest level of integrity to this position and is ready for the additional responsibilities you have made available to him. I would hope you will agree. Please contact me if I can answer any questions you might have Sincerely, John Frillman Head Golf Professional Happy Hollow Club 1701 S. 105th Street Omaha, NE 68124 (402)391-0239 James B. O'Neal Director of Purchasing and Risk Management 256 W. Mountain Avenue Fort Collins, Texas 80522 Dear Mr. ONeal I am writing this letter on behalf of Dale Smigelsky. He was employed by myself, as the First Assistant Golf Professional at the Boulder Country Club in 1985. Unfortunately, he left after a year to pursue an opportunity in the restaurant business. However, while we worked together, he was a major asset to my business. Dale is honest, hardworking, and very efficient. In addition, he has a nice way with people, which is very important in the golf business. I make no hesitation in recommending him for your position, and if you need further information please write or telephone me. Sincerely, Rick Terrell 605 Stone Canyon Irving, Texas 75063 (214)831-1002 JOSEPH W. NANCE P.G.A. P.G.A. Golf Professional Pro Shop (303) 221.6651 COLLMALE To: The City Park Nine Golf Professional Committee J. W. NANCE, Inc. COLLINDALE PRO SHOP 1441 E. Horsetooth Road Fort Collins, CO 80525 I am very pleased to write this letter recommending Mr. Dale Smigelsky to you for the Golf Professional position. I have known Dale for four years. I have always enjoyed dealing with Dale as it is quickly evident that he is a man of great integrity and honesty. Dale is always up front about matters. Dale has worked with me for the last two years. During the most recent golf season Dale has been my Shop Manager and First Assistant. He came to me as a PGA Class A Professional and I hired him as my right hand man. He was to perform all the duties of a head professional. First and foremost, I will tell you that Dale is as good as they get! He has done an exceptional job here at Collindale. Dale is totally capable in all areas of the golf shop operations. His public relations skills are wonderful. We serve 400 to 700 people per day at Collindale and he handle's the large numbers of public with ease. I continually receive compliments about the way Dale deals with our golfing community. Dale is excellent at overseeing staff. He understands all the financial matters involved in our municipal golf operation. Dale is an excellent sales person, starter and course ranger. Dale has greatly improved our golf tournaments with his top notch tournament operation skills and beautiful scoreboard writing. When it comes to teaching and playing the game of golf, Dale is second to none. He is an excellent instructor working well with both adults and juniors. Dale is very active in continually improving our Junior Golf Program. He has developed a very strong reputation in Fort Collins (as well as many other communities) for his teaching skills and I receive many compliments about Dale's golf lessons. Dale is one of the top players in the entire region. His golf swing is wonderful and very inspirational for the rest of us to watch. Dale's name is usually at or near the top of the leader board at the golf tournaments he participates in. One of Dale's strongest points is that when he finds he has a weakness in some area (instead of backing away from it) he goes after it, learns it well and makes it one of his strengths. I am proud to work along side Dale. I truly believe that Dale is totally qualified to run and operate a full service golf facility as Head Professional and would do a wonderful job. Sincerely, n j Youth sAorts/2 4 Colleges/3. ScN13o es 22L/5 Saturday,4 �865 S�rtsNo�ember25 2000 'it, c _ CONTENTS Preface Responses to Proposal Questionnaire 2. Supplemental Page - Closing Thoughts Annual Payment Schedule 4. End of Proposal 5. Resume No Text Question # 1 What are your qualifications and personal attributes that relate to your performance of our defined services? (Weighting 3.0) I am a Class "A" PGA Professional in good standing who has been in the golf business for fourteen years, the last four as the Head Professional at City Park Nine. My first seven years were at top regional country clubs working for very respected Head Professionals (priceless experience for the upscale public environment at Southridge). I am very proud of the fact that each time I left a position, my former employer would contact me to make sure that I was content with my change. The door was always left open for me. There is no doubt that I learned a tremendous amount in these positions, but I love the interaction with and the meeting of new people. I have had the opportunity to return to the private side, but I have a great desire to be employed in the public sector. In the City of Fort Collins, golf has grown at a very healthy rate. As the leaders of golf in our community, it is our responsibility to make sure we are looking to the future and providing the facilities and services we need in order to continue in this direction. Even at a smaller golf course like City Park, my staff and I have made substantial contributions by creating new golfers, continuing to encourage those that already play and making a current facility much better. I have the desire and ability to be a large part of where golf is going in Fort Collins and I will do everything in my power to support it's future. Playing ability is an asset to being a Golf Professional and I am ranked as one of the top in the state. Whether selling someone equipment, giving a rules interpretation, playing with the public, promoting the game to new golfers or teaching players of any skill level, credibility is increased when the Golf Professional is a good player. Although playing has been a large part of my past and a major source of income, I am a dedicated Club Professional. The effort and hard work that it has taken to become a strong player will be devoted to being an outstanding Golf Professional at Southridge. I consider my teaching ability and promotion of the game two of my greatest strengths. I have proven this during my fourteen years in the golf business. When it comes to providing a future for all of us associated with this great game, these are two very important traits in a Golf Professional. We are only able to be in this wonderful line of work because people love to play golf. Of all my qualifications, City Park Nine is the reason why I should be at Southridge. I am extremely proud of what has been accomplished by my staff and myself. We get comments daily about what a great job we do and it's obvious people appreciate our efforts. When it came time for public input on my contract renewal this fall, every single comment, whether phone call, E-mail, or letter to Mr. Brown was positive and supportive. My renewal "flew" through all the City departments and City Council at a time when one of our current professionals caused the City to look very closely at our performance and the character of each of us. Our revenues at City Park have been phenomenal, and I will elaborate on this later. The biggest compliment that we continue to receive daily is from the people that come in and say "good luck" on getting the Southridge position "but we sure don't want to lose you!" City Park Nine is substantially better now than it was four years ago. At a time where our moral fiber is being put under a microscope, you will be getting a PROVEN Golf Professional of the highest quality, integrity, honesty and morality. You will never have to worry about my character or the character of my staff. I have strong leadership skills, an extra effort attitude, and a work ethic that comes from my parents. I have given the City of Fort Collins golfers four great years as the Head Professional at City Park Nine and will continue that tradition at Southridge. Question #2 What qualifications will you require of your assistant(s) and other employees? Please outline your staffing plans for peak, transitional and off season times? (Weighting 2.0) The number one qualification that we have for any member of our staff is people skills. We have been very fortunate in the past to have attracted and retained some very good people. We do things a little bit differently in that we don't describe a position and then try to fill it. Instead, we find as many good people as we can and then work to mold a schedule around those people. Retention is accomplished by providing a great working atmosphere, a generous wage and respect for each as individuals. A memorandum came from the desk of John Fischbach, our City Manager, on October 13 of this year, to all employees about the City's Core Values. This memo is exactly the set of values that we use with our employees and the public everyday, and why we have been so successful at City Park Nine. As is the case at City Park, Matt Bryant will be my full time Assistant Professional (we will also look to add an entry level assistant like Matt was when he started four years ago). A University of Northern Colorado graduate, Matt has continued to develop his administrative and organizational skills and has simply become an extension of me. He has been an invaluable and extremely instrumental part of the success we have had at City Park. Although his skills as a Golf Professional are outstanding, it's his ability to work and interact with everyone he meets that really makes him the asset that he is. Matt too has an inner drive that dictates his successes in life, not just on the golf course. For the last three years, Matt has been the "Apprentice Player of the Year" for the Colorado Section of the PGA and just last month finished 7th in the PGA National Assistants' Championship in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Matt is excited about the possibility of a change to Southridge. Doug Perry, a Life Member of the PGA, will continue with us to Southridge and will be the full time PGA Teaching Professional. Doug retired in 1999 after 18 years as the Head Professional of Sapphire Lakes Country Club and before that, 5 years as the Head Professional of The Country Club of Sapphire Valley. At Sapphire Lakes, Doug supervised the entire operation including the tennis professional, club manager and superintendent. During his time in the Carolinas Section of the PGA, Doug spent 8 years on the section board of Directors, the last 2 years as the Vice President and this year would have been President of his Chapter had he stayed in the Carolinas Section. Doug has been a close friend of mine for many years and strong teaching has always been a part of his professional career. Constantly attending teaching and playing seminars put on by the PGA of America, Doug's thirst for knowledge is the cornerstone of his thorough understanding of the golf swing and of his ability to apply that knowledge to the diverse groups of people that play the game. Also an excellent player, (Doug played the PGA Tour In 1982), he will be a third professional who will take local players to pro-ams. Doug will obviously be a tremendous addition and resource for the upscale public atmosphere at Southridge and to Fort Collins golf in general. Not including professional staff, we will have up to six current City Park golf shop staff members coming with us to Southridge and will look to add a few more. As we currently do, we will have a diverse group of staff members including women and seniors because we appreciate the added benefit that comes with varied points of view. This concept will also be utilized with our rangers and driving range staff. It will be of the utmost importance that all staff members share our commitment to customer service, professionalism and integrity. When we first took over at City Park Nine, I immediately more than doubled the payroll (not counting the Head Professional). That was money taken out of my pocket to make sure business was handled properly. This was what it took to run this customer driven business effectively and one of the reasons why we have been so successful at City Park. Because of the seasonal nature of this business, it is very difficult to specifically outline exact staffing needs; however, at City Park we have been able to continually and successfully adapt our staffing levels to meet demand. Our reputation and success at City Park is your assurance that staffing will not be just appropriate, but outstanding at all times of the year at Southridge. Question #3 What conditions, needs or requirements do you see at Southridge, and how will you deal with them (i.e. marketing strategy, niche customers, homeowners, maintenance staff, special issues, etc.)? (Weighting 1.0) To me, the best marketing strategy anyone can have at any time is to take care of the customers we have. My last four years at City Park Nine have proven that. If we take care of our golfers properly, they will return, time and time again (and bring their friends with them). It really is that simple. Because of the busy nature of the City golf courses, conventional outside marketing does not make sense. As far as niche customers, I assume you're referring to special groups such as juniors, women and seniors. Once again, our time at City Park has proven that we handle these groups very well. With the help of the golf board, we designed the original Fort Collins Fore Kids format and have had a very successful junior program that included clinics, playdays and a genuine approach that increased participation dramatically. The ladies group loves us at City Park because we have increased the level of customer service to them tremendously. A call to Shirley Hansen (223-3379), the CPN Ladies Association President will verify that. There have been problems with the Ladies City Championship in the past and those problems will not continue. A call to Tracy Sawyer (416- 9783) or Renee Benzel (229-9654) will verify that. We have developed a great rapport with our senior clientele; just ask any senior that plays at City Park (you have one on your selection committee and three on the golf board). We treat all of these people with the respect that they deserve because they are not in reality "niche" customers, they are our customers. As far as homeowners, I don't have enough knowledge of current situations at Southridge to talk about them. I do know that we have interactions with the non-playing public at City Park quite often and have learned how to diffuse difficult situations (i.e. golf balls in neighbors' yards, windshields broken, vandalism, etc.). I am confident in my skills and know that when difficult problems arise, I will be able to deal with them in a manner that is fair, reasonable, and consistent with City Policies and Procedures. Maintenance staff issues are very important. Randy Bonneville, Southridge Superintendent, has been there since before the course opened and will be a very valuable resource for my staff at Southridge. One of the first things that I will do is sit down with Randy and have him outline what he needs from me. Items will include time of course opening, his tournament prep needs, emergency or after hours procedures, weather closings, and suggestions from him on how he thinks we can improve the Southridge shop operations from the Superintendent's point of view. It will be imperative that we define where each of our duties lie and be clear on the importance of working together as a team. I have always gotten along well with Randy in the limited interactions that we have had and anticipate a smooth transition for my staff into Southridge. I have tremendous pride in the fact that I am both structured in my daily approaches yet adaptable to changes that may be required to deal with special issues. There has been an enormous amount of input given to me by players that play or have played at Southridge with regard to changes that, in their eyes, need to happen. Most changes will occur simply because of the way we operate, but we have little desire to make changes in something that is working well (there are some good things going on at Southridge that we intend to build on) and our goal is to improve on every aspect of Southridge, some just a little and some a lot. Question #4 What are your plans and related strengths and weaknesses to operate the Southridge Pro Shop and Driving Range with regards to: A. Merchandise B. Services Offered C. Customer Services D. Teaching? (Weighting 3.0) MERCHANDISING Because Southridge is a higher end public course, the customers will require mostly top end equipment (clubs, bags, balls, shoes) although we will have an assortment to fit almost any level of spending. These items will be fully stocked and at very competitive prices in an effort to keep customers from going on-line, to a catalog or to a so-called "discount pro -shop". An extensive demo section will allow customers to try top of the line clubs on the course or the driving range before making their purchase. All rental sets will be new demo sets from different top manufacturers to further enhance the reputation of Southridge. Men's and women's apparel is a little trickier. There are many clothing lines to choose from, and with very large differences in price. We plan to put in a number of lines that are known for quality at an affordable price. I go to the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando every January and will do that again this year with this intention. You will see a combination of quality and value, and we will listen to our customers in an effort to have our merchandising evolve with the demands of the Southridge player. As well as every golf item normally seen in a quality golf shop, we will have a golf gift section, cards, craft items, logo items, books and videos, etc. A knowledgeable staff will have access to gift certificates, provide free tips, accept credit cards, and will always be available to provide assistance to anyone who needs it. SERVICES & CUSTOMER SERVICES OFFERED Of my fourteen years in the golf business, seven were spent under top regional Professionals at private clubs. I spent an additional nine years in the restaurant business and I have developed excellent customer service skills that are one of my biggest assets. I will provide the following: Always top quality range balls New rental clubs USGA Handicapping Golf book library Outstanding staff Framed Hole -In -One certificates Range club cleaning stations Top quality pull carts Outstanding instruction, clinics, programs Expert tournament operations and assistance Suggestion box Great attitude Current "Hot" items Club fitting • Three professionals and a staff who will play golf with the public • Expert and complete on -site club repair (John's Custom Golf, possibly the best in the state) • Information rack (just like City Park) with our New Golfer Information Packet, rate sheets, tournament sign up forms, golf publications, handicap and lesson information, etc. TEACHING I am a strong teacher, I enjoy teaching very much and I will schedule as many lessons as my time allows. Private lessons are always available, but clinics are an affordable way that we can offer lessons to various groups on different aspects of the game. We will have extensive lesson and clinic programs that appeal to players of all levels and we will continue our Junior Golf Program that has been so successful at City Park. Being a good player is an added bonus when it comes to teaching, because it gives extra insight and shows that there is an advanced understanding of the physical and mental aspects of the game, and we will have three very good players that will be teaching. Although Matt and I will both be available for lessons, Doug Perry will handle the large majority of lessons so that we can concentrate on the operation of the golf shop and the players on the course. Question # 6 With regard to course monitoring (rangering/marshalling) and maintaining an acceptable pace of play, outline specifically what program you will implement. Also, how much will you (as resident pro) be involved? (Weighting 1.0) When we took over at City Park Nine, we were told that play was pretty slow here on the weekends, about three hours for nine, and there was nothing that could be done about it. We couldn't believe that when we heard it. Even with a large increase in the number of players on weekends and on weekday afternoons, we have made tremendous gains in pace (rarely over 2:30 and mostly about 2:10-2:15). Weekday mornings, with our regular seniors and ladies playing, are seldom a problem. How was this done? With a plan and a consistency of application. The plan is very simple; it's the ongoing effort that is put into the plan that makes it work. You can have all the signs, cart signs, and written policies you want, but if you're not willing to make the effort to carry out your strategies, you don't have much. We do several things very consistently and without exception. • We strictly adhere to the City policy that each player must have a set of clubs and a bag. Two or more people sharing a set of clubs can severely cripple the pace of play. • On weekends and on weekday afternoons, we make a specific slow play announcement about every third group. This will be heard by the group that has just left the first tee, by the group on the first tee and by the group "on deck". We have a copy of the announcement beside the microphone so that all of our staff has access to it. It reads, "We would like to remind everyone today to please make sure that you replace your divots in the fairway and fix your ballmarks on the green. Also, do please keep in mind that we have a very busy morning/afternoon ahead; it is your responsibility to stay within 1/2 hole of the group in front of you. From those behind you, thank you!" We also make this announcement in less busy times when we have a group that we suspect could have pace problems (groups that have obviously never played much or at all and groups that came in thinking that they were going to share a set of clubs). This may or may not work at Southridge because of some houses being closer to the first tee than we have at City Park. We will take a close look at this procedure and location of speakers, and design something similar that fits into Southridge. • We keep the City designed copies of our Slow Play Policy right next to our scorecards so that everyone has access to them. Our rangers distribute these to people that are having problems on the course and occasionally we will give them to people that are coming off of the last hole. These include some great tips on how to keep pace and a hole -by -hole timing schedule that is great support for our rangers. • Rangering is perhaps the most difficult job there is on the golf course. That's why I personally spend many hours rangering myself; ask anyone who regularly plays our course. It's an art to keep the pace moving without getting people upset. There is a huge responsibility that comes with walking the line of keeping play moving (so that every player behind a slow group isn't unfairly inconvenienced) vs. getting someone upset (because they can't take as much time as they want or have to). I initially train and continually monitor all rangers that I have on the course to make sure they understand the purpose of having a ranger. We also work diligently to talk with many groups that we do not have a problem with to establish rapport and downplay the stereotype that a ranger/play monitor/player assistance person is on the course only to "yell" at slow players. We will have rangers on the course during all peak times and they will always carry a ranger kit including a two- way radio that enables constant contact with the golf shop. At Southridge, we plan to continue this proven pace of play system as it has worked extremely well for us at City Park Nine.