Commissioners Present: Rob Harris (Chair), Jim Ehrhart (Vice Chair), Cindy Bingham, Anne O'Connell, Ed Pavlu, Marc Fontaine.
Others Present: Mark O'Brien (Director of Golf Operations), Herb Montgomery (FinCom Liaison), plus large audience.
Call to Order: Rob Harris called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
Association Reports and Public Comment:
- None
Approval of minutes:
The minutes of the October 8, 2013 meeting were not distributed as yet and will be voted at the next meeting.
Tee Time reservation Policy:
Rob Harris began the discussion by citing stats from the survey conducted after the random placement reservation system trial period. 314 people answered the survey; 53.8% were in favor of the new system; 33.4% were against it; and 12.7% had no preference. He also stated that a number of emails have been received recently, both for and against. Rob then opened up for Commissioner comment:
- Cindy Bingham is in favor of the random placement system. She is not in favor of the points system since we did not do a trial or a survey on that system.
- Mark O’Brien stated that he would support the point system because he believes that it distributes tee times more fairly than the random system and is much more convenient than the current call in system.
- Jim Ehrhart thinks the current call in system (first come first served) is the fairest and should not be changed.
- Anne O’Connell stated that she is in favor of the points system.
- Ron Harris explained how the points system would work as far as points being applied and how they would impact tee time placement.
- Marc Fontaine said he is sorry that the “Tradesmen” group could be hurt by the new system, but he believes the current system is antiquated and supports the randomized placement system and not the points system.
- Ed Pavlu believes that the current system is the fairest and should not be changed.
- Rob Harris stated that using a 12 day window as the period for assessing points would be fair for the people that can only play weekends and that there is a feature for linking groups that could be beneficial for groups such as the “Tradesmen”. Also, using the feature of the requesting the earliest time someone would like to play and the latest time that someone would like to play will be helpful.
Comments were then invited from the audience:
· Mike Gallagher asked if points would be issued to those playing in block times. The answer was yes.
· Alan Godfried stated that the “Tradesmen” have players that play only on weekends as well as some that play often during the week, and therefore the points system would negatively impact their group. He also felt that this would cause some of our non-resident members to look at other courses as we would now not be the only course to use the first come first served call in system. He went on to suggest that the fees be increased for the “Early” afp category so there would not be so many vying for so few tee times.
· Orin Segall asked how many afp golfers can be accommodated before 9:00 a.m. in a one week period. The answer was 280 afps.
· Joanne Liberles asked about points for walk ons. The answer was one point would be issued for the play, but not a point for making a reservation.
· Bob Bassett said he does not care when he plays and said we should search for some compromise.
· Alan Godfried said no points should be issued for afternoon play. A response was given that we could set up the system that way if we desired.
· Steve Litwinowich stated that the points system should not be used since we did not do a trial period on it. The response was given that we do not do a trial period every time we consider a new policy.
Marc Fontaine made a motion to institute the randomized tee time placement system. There was no second.
Jim Ehrhart made a motion to use the current call in system (first come first served), but change the call in time to 5:00 p.m. Ed Pavlu seconded the motion. The vote was 2 in favor, 4 against. (Jim Ehrhart and Ed Pavlu in favor).
Anne O’Connell made a motion to institute the points reservation system (request system) beginning April 1, 2014, using a 12-day window for issuing points, using linking for groups, and no points given for tee times after 12 noon. Jim Ehrhart seconded. The vote was 4 in favor and 2 against (Ed Pavlu and Marc Fontaine against). Motion carried.
Rob Harris made a motion, seconded by Anne O’Connell, to allow Mark O’Brien to institute the new system before April 1st. Motion approved unanimously.
Annual Fee Player rates will be discussed at the November 12, 2013 meeting.
A motion to adjourn was made by Cindy Bingham, seconded by Jim Ehrhart, passed 6-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mark O’Brien, Director of Operations