The following are the minutes of the Brewster Golf Commission special meeting held on August 18, 2009. The meeting was called to order at 4:30 PM.
Commissioners present: Bob Weiss, Chairman Cindy Bingham Stote Ellsworth Rob Harris Josephine O’Connell Jeff Odell Karney Ovian Joseph Shaw, Honorary Commissioner
Staff present: Mark O’Brien, Director of Operations
Others present: Jim Foley, Board of Selectmen Liaison Ray Gomez, VP Men’s Ass’n Nancy Segall, Pres. Women’s 9 Hole Ass’n Orin Segall, Board Member CCMGA Steve Litwinowich Pat Eggers, Secretary
The minutes from the August 4, 2009 meeting were reviewed. A motion made by K. Ovian, seconded by C. Bingham, to approve the minutes passed.
The minutes from the August 11, 2009 special meeting were reviewed. With the correction of adding K. Ovian to bullet 1 on page 2 to help review the capital plan with M. O’Brien, a motion to approve the corrected minutes made by K. Ovian, seconded by C. Bingham passed.
B. Weiss summarized his discussion with Charlie Sumner on town budget issues and reviewed the status of the plans under consideration by the commission. The commission is on the agenda for the August 31 Selectmen’s meeting as requested.
M. O’Brien noted that to date 22 members had joined at the half price/half year offer.
BREWSTER GOLF COMMISSION August 18, 2009
NONRESIDENT TAXPAYER SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT
The committee has obtained taxpayer data from the town for analysis. A survey of other neighboring golf course policies on this issue by M. O’Brien was done. Dennis allows anyone with a minimum tax bill of $350 to join at the Residential rate. Yarmouth allows anyone with a tax bill to join at the residential rate. Harwich allows only owners of a residential dwelling (no commercial owners) to join with a limit of 2 adults/residence. At this time there is no estimate as to the size of the market opportunity for this plan. The committee will continue to work to come up with a recommendation for the commission.
NONRESIDENT ANNUAL FEE PLAYER FEE
B. Weiss distributed a straw man proposal for consideration and input. He noted that if a $1,500 NR AFP plan were implemented, in order to generate comparable revenue, there were need to be 35 more NR AFP members than there are today. Discussion followed on the proposal, risks, benefits and potential impact on other programs (frequent player card and $350 card) and other ideas for consideration.
K. Ovian made a motion, seconded by J. Odell to recommend the following proposal to the Selectmen for approval on August 31:
1. Establish the Nonresident annual fee for 2010 at $1,500 per person. (No change to the Charter Nonresident rate of $1,300; eliminate the Couples rate; eliminate “free” $100 range balls and free handicap processing fee of $35).
2. Offer this as a “Pay Now, Play Now” rate, where the golfer joins immediately and may play through March 11.
3. Allow a payment option that permits the fee to be paid 50% immediately, and 50% prior to the commencement date of the upcoming new season of April 1, 2010.
The motion passed unanimously.
PROMOTION UPDATE
J. Odell provided an update on his progress in generating interest with clubs off Cape to organize golf outings to Captains. He will continue his work to develop this program.
BREWSTER GOLF COMMISSION August 18, 2009
B. Weiss advised that no meeting is necessary for next Tuesday, and that the next scheduled regular meeting of the Golf Commission will be Tuesday, September 1 at 4 PM. J. O’Connell asked members to be thinking of ideas for celebrating and promoting the 25th anniversary of Captains for future discussion.
A motion was made by C. Bingham, seconded by J. O’Connor to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat Eggers Secretary