Golf Commission

Commissioners Present: Anne O’Connell (Chair), Andrea Johnson (Vice-Chair), Carl Blanchard, John Kissida, Wyn Morton, Jeff Odell, and David Valcourt

 

Others Present: Jay Packett, Director of Operations, Colin Walsh, Golf Course Superintendent, Rob Harris (CCMGA), Donna Potts (9-Hole Women’s Assn), Sarah Robinson (18-Hole Women’s Association) and Bill Meehan (Finance Committee Liaison)

 

THIS MEETING WAS HELD REMOTELY WITH AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDED. The meeting may be viewed at: http://video.brewster-ma.gov/CablecastPublicSite/show/5359?channel=1

 

Anne O’Connell called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm after reading remote meeting guidelines and procedures.

 

Superintendent’s Report:

 

• Colin Walsh reported aeration has been done on both courses. There were no major issues.  Brian Vinchesi helped to do the pressure testing on the irrigation system and recommends a slight increase in pressure.  He believes wells are on borrowed time and will have suggestions in his report.  Colin Walsh talked about the sink holes that are under construction.  Winter clean-up continues.  Clubhouse grounds will be tidied; clean-up will continue on traps.  Mowing will be started soon.  The course will be in good shape in another two to three weeks.  Dave Valcourt remarked that new employees should be aware of OSHA standards. Colin Walsh is looking into on-line OSHA training.

 

Director’s report:

• Jay Packett said a number of members spoke to him about the cleanliness and playability of the course after aerification. Kudos to Colin Walsh and his staff.  Regarding the financials, the current numbers have been corrected.  The Captains continues to set records for the month of March.  Membership numbers have increased: 70 non-residents, 47 Brewster residents.  There were just over 3,600 rounds played.  John Kissida asked how, with the range closed for the month of March, there was still almost $2800 in revenue.  Jay Packett reported that the range opened on March 27 and has been extremely busy.  Carl Blanchard asked if the maintenance building study needed to be submitted for next year’s capital budget.  Jay Packett anticipates speaking with Mimi Bernardo about this and hopes to have answers by the next commission meeting.  Anne O’Connell stated traditionally golf course capital items come before the fall town meeting.  Jay Packett thinks that capital items can be included in the spring town meeting if presented by the cut-off date.  Bill Meehan agreed, indicating the cut-off date for the spring town meeting has already passed and the focus should now be on presentations for the fall town meeting.  Discussion followed.
• Jay Packett advised the Gannon Memorial Tournament has been cancelled for 2021 and Monday, June 13, 2022 has been requested as a replacement date; he feels The Captains should support this event. The Retired Men’s Club of Cape Cod has asked for May 3 for an 8:30 shotgun for 60 players; this event would be scheduled as a modified shotgun so the course would not be closed for the rest of the day. The memorial tournament for Judy McCarthy has been approved for June 17.  Suzanne Kenny would like a back-up date of September 30 because of Covid protocols. The Cape Cod Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents’ Association would like to host their annual event at The Captains on June 23; Jay Packett would like approval for this event.
• A motion was made by Jeff Odell, seconded by Wyn Morton to approve the Retired Men’s Club Tournament for May 3, the Cape Cod Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents’ Association event for June 23 and the back-up date of September 23 for the Judy McCarthy Tournament. Motion passed unanimously.
• A motion was made by Jeff Odell, seconded by Andrea Johnson to approve the Gannon Memorial Tournament for June 13, 2022 and authorize Jay Packett to amend the date if circumstances require later. Motion passed unanimously.
• There were no emails in the Golf Commission email box.

 

Strategic Planning Updates: 

 

• Andrea Johnson and Anne O’Connell have been walking the golf course looking at possible settings for the forward tees and ended up with a golf course of 4,300 yards. John Kissida spoke about the impact of the tees on the cart paths.
• Carl Blanchard asked to be brought up on the HVAC system in the restaurant and the sink holes in the cart barn. The sink hole project is in the capital submittals for next year’s budget and should be submitted at the fall town meeting.  Jay Packett reported he has had a response from the company that will be doing the HVAC work.  There is a 2- to 3-week lead time, and he expects to hear tomorrow as to when the project should be started.  Regarding the cart barn, the project is scheduled for the fall town meeting.  Rob Campbell from the maintenance department suggested the cart barn  project might be started in-house, making a temporary repair to level the area.  Colin Walsh thinks this is a good possibility.  John Kissida reminded of the timing of the paving plants and suggested talking to the DPW.
• Dave Valcourt gave kudos to the grounds crews for their recent work and asked if the NGF is coming through with prioritizing equipment requirements for the 10-year plan. OSHA violations need to be prioritized.  He again suggested the commission calendar include a timeline for pending projects.  Carl Blanchard discussed possibilities for this calendar as suggested by Rob Harris.  Bill Meehan discussed the scheduling and timing for the fall town meeting and suggested Jay Packett discuss the process with Mimi Bernardo.  Discussion followed regarding the commission calendar, its use, the items to be included and whether it should be for internal use and not on the website.
• Jeff Odell spoke about the solar projects and lobbying Eversource for the hook-ups. Lighting has been added at no additional cost near the service building.  There is some equipment still on the premises.  He discussed upcoming staging and the availability of the parking lot.  There is now a full-time foreman on the job.  Jay Packett acknowledged the company is 97% finished.  Parking will be available section by section as work proceeds.
• John Kissida reported he has met with Colin Walsh regarding landscaping and planting.
• Wyn Morton reported on member and non-member communications. Kudos to Jay Packett and Freemans Grill for recent emails.  Publicity is new and impressive.  Thanks to the commissioners for sending in their biographies and photos; the page will materialize when all the commissioners’ information is available.  The website pictures and videos are being upgraded.  Longer range marketing projects are in process.  John Kissida asked if there will be another “state of the Captains.”    Jay Packett discussed transparency of communications and possibly creating a digital “Captains Log.”  Discussion followed.

 

Update on NGF Consultant Study:

 

• Jay Packett reported on the comments and questions email sent to the NGF. Thanks to Andrea Johnson for her work in this effort.  He anticipates hearing from them in another three to four weeks.

 

Questions and comments from Associations and liaisons:

 

• Sarah Robinson asked if moving the forward tees would remove the red tees. Andrea Johnson answered there would be another set of tees.  Rob Harris updated the CCMGA events.  There are more members than last year, and a record amount of money has been raised for the scholarship fund.  Jay Packett commented on issues involved with the new forward tees which he hopes to revisit in the fall.

 

Preliminary Discussion CPC Funding Request:

 

• John Kissida reported on the NGF looking at funding through the CPA in Massachusetts and commented on the handout that Anne O’Connell provided talking about Brewster and the Brewster by-law which puts 50% to open space, 10% to housing, 10% to historic preservation and 30% to recreation and to be determined. Peter Lombardi reports per town counsel that golf courses are eligible for funding under the CPA. John Kissida indicated there are numerous examples of golf courses receiving money through the CPA, and he listed the golf courses and the amounts they received and possible uses.  In 2009 the inspector general talked about municipally operated golf courses as a public benefit and recreation resource.  Peter Lombardi suggested if the golf commission is interested in pursuing this, they become part of the five-year planning process for potential funding associated with CPA.  Discussion followed as to various community programs connected to The Captains.  Jeff Odell would like to see this program tied to environmental preservation related to water usage, i.e. the irrigation system and things of that nature rather than just as a funding source for golf.  Bill Meehan suggested this might not be well-received by the community.  John Kissida stated he feels with all the programs in which Captains is involved, the golf course makes a considerable contribution to the community and would like the commission to agree to becoming part of the planning process.  Wyn Morton would like to see an upcoming article regarding the advantages of the golf course to the town.  The NGF will be asked for their thoughts on this.

 

Review and approve minutes:

 

• A motion was made by Andrea Johnson, seconded by Wyn Morton to approve the minutes of the meeting of March 9 as written.
• John Kissida said under the director’s report there was information on the monitoring budget, and since then Jay Packett has come up with additional information, the question being how to handle this addition. Ann O’Connell will research the possibility of an amendment being added to the minutes.
• Motion passed unanimously.
• A motion was made by Jeff Odell, seconded by John Kissida to approve the minutes of the meeting of March 23 as written. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Topics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate:

 

• Jeff Odell acknowledged Pat Fannon as a new employee.
• Jay Packett thanked Dorothy Vesperman for her work for the commission.

 

Future agenda items and meetings:

 

• The next philosophical meeting will be on April 27, 2021.

Tee time allocation

• The second meeting in May was changed to May 18, 2021.

NGF revision

 

A motion to adjourn was made by John Kissida, seconded by Andrea Johnson, to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed unanimously.  The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Dorothy Vesperman

Department Assistant