The following are the minutes of the Brewster Golf Commission meeting held on November 3, 2009. The meeting was called to order at 1:00 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 Steve Mann, Superintendent
Others present: Judy McCarthy, Vice President 18 Hole Asst. Nancy Segall, Pres. Women’s 9 Hole Ass’n Orin Segall, CCMGA Board member Pat Eggers, Secretary
The minutes from the October 6, 2009 meeting were reviewed. A motion made by R. Harris, seconded by C. Bingham, to approve the minutes passed.
CORRESPONDENCE
- Bill White wrote to request a tournament date for the Martha White Golf Tournament for the same time as this past year. Mark is in the process of putting the entire schedule together for approval at the next meeting, and advised that the date requested is fine. A motion made by J. Odell, seconded by J. O'Connell to approve the request passed. Mark will contact Bill White.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
- A total of 70 new nonresident AFP's have joined the club this fall with the new Pay Now/Play Now plan. The total number of nonresident AFP's is now 176.
BREWSTER GOLF COMMISSION November 3, 2009
- Financials through October were discussed. Mark presented a comparison of daily activity in October 2009 vs. October 2008 showing the impact of rainy weather on the results. Rain on the weekends in October impacted the financials terribly. At the end of September, fiscal year performance was comparable to last year. After October, results are behind by $24,000 due to the weather issues. Calendar YTD results are also poor due to the weather in both October and June. Play totals for October year to date and the month of October were the lowest ever for those periods since the expansion.
- Fiscal year end reports were also distributed. The final return to the town for fiscal year 2009 was just over $4,169.89.
- A revised forecast for FY 2010 was distributed and discussed with a projected return to the town of $149,348. This forecast assumes 800 resident members and 158 non resident members next year (currently there are 850 resident members and 176 nonresident members). The forecast is also anticipating an average June performance.
- Based on the financials, additional prioritization will be done on the capital budget for golf improvements approved at Town Meeting. Mark will meet with Steve Mann, K. Ovian and B. Weiss to consider further reductions to the $215,000 plan approved at town meeting. This plan will be discussed with the Selectmen on Nov. 16th.
- B. Weiss was approached by a member suggesting the club consider taking advantage of tax incentives to purchase electric golf carts. This federal program ends this year. Approximate cost to buy a cart is $8,000, with a tax credit available of $5,500. This program is more appropriate in southern climates and golf communities where the cart is also used for local transportation.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
- S. Mann reports that the course is in good condition, but very wet due to all the rain. The irrigation system is being blown out now. Water use this year was only 24 million gallons, a new low. Staff reductions are proceeding according to plan —- there will be 9 full time staffers by Christmas.
- Repair of the irrigation pipe on Port #2 will begin as soon as the irrigation system is shut down. The pipe has been ordered. The front of Port will be closed down within four weeks. Discussion followed as to what course would be open this winter, and it was decided to open Starboard rather than a mix of Starboard and Port.
BREWSTER GOLF COMMISSION November 3, 2009
OLD BUSINESS
- The Rules and Information Guide revised draft was previously distributed to all for comments and corrections. B. Weiss thanked C. Bingham for all her hard work to improve this document. It is expected that the final version will be ready for approval at the next meeting.
SUGGESTION BOX
- Pat Eggers wrote to advise that the red tee box on #17 Starboard does not have an official yardage marker or sprinkler head with yardage. This has been the case since the tee box was reconstructed. Steve will take care of it.
NEW BUSINESS
- R. Harris presented new proposals for consideration for residential AFP's for next year. One program is a Premium Perks package. Discussion followed on these proposals and other ideas for consideration in reviewing all the promotional pricing for next year. More work is needed on the financial impact of the proposals for discussion at the next meeting.
Since there was no other business, the next meeting was set for Tuesday, December 8th at 1 pm. A motion made by C. Bingham, seconded by K. Ovian to adjourn the meeting passed, and the meeting adjourned at 3:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat Eggers Secretary