IRON/OAK GOLF COMMITTEE MEETING

MINUTES

February 11, 2008 

Members Present:  Dick Wiggins (Chair), Marcia Gaudioso (Secretary), Lonni Hocker, Karen Kenyon, Joe Mandour, Jimmie Maramonte, Rudy Vraspir (sitting in for Bill Coleman, OW Lakers Niners), Dick Winkelman;

Golf Staff: Bob Pancratz, Dennis Allen, Jon Whitmyer

The meeting was called to order by Dick Wiggins, at 3:10 p.m.

I.                   Dick advised Arnie Pinsly is home recovering from triple by-pass surgery.

II.                 He then welcomed Bruce Stead who was elected at the January meeting as Member-At-Large.

III.              Minutes of January 14, 2008, were approved.

IV.             MAINTENANCE – Jon Whitmyer

A.    Discussion was held about why there was an hour of cart paths only on January 15 and 22 when there was no frost delay.  Jon explained that there was frost (it normally shows up between 6:00 and 7:30).  In November and December, the newly over-seeded grass is damaged severely by walking or driving on it when there is frost.  After January 1, the grass is more mature and can withstand some walking on it, but not extensive walking and not carts.  Thus, the range and practice green are closed and there is a period of time when it is cart paths only.   Dennis agreed to have the message from the pro shop be clearer when a frost delay occurs (hopefully no more during this Spring season) indicating that there will be cart path only for a designated period of time.

B.    Discussion was held regarding the bird waste on the grass at OW.  Jon indicated there are several ways to alleviate the problem, the most sufficient way is to get the State involved, which then becomes an expensive solution.  However, because the coots seem to have returned in full force since the last time the State came in and assisted in the removal of these birds, this will now become an issue to be addressed in November.  It is too late in this season to have it be productive.  The process includes “baiting” the birds for a period of time so when the State comes in with their

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February 11, 2008

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tranquilized seed the birds will go to the bait site, eat the seed and then go to sleep, so the State can then gather them and relocate them.  He also indicated he is looking at a site where you can purchase “Coyote’s on a Stick” that actually turn and sway in the wind as another option.   Bob Pancractz concurred that funding the removal of the coots in the fall will be investigated.

C.    Jon reported the reason the IW #14 is roped off is due to the new grass put in last summer, so that this is the first time it has been over-seeded.

D.    Wink asked if the buckets of sand could be more evenly distributed between holes to assist the Adopt-a-Hole Program.   Jon explained he had just purchased new buckets for this purpose.  Joe agreed he had seen these new buckets and thanked Jon for the large gray buckets with the sand as well as the smaller buckets on the par 3’s.  Joe indicated it makes it easier to repair divots, etc. 

E.     When questioned regarding wet sand, Jon said “sand comes in wet, gets put in the buckets wet, and stays wet.”  He has had discussions regarding sand only in the buckets, with the players putting sand in the divots; the maintenance folks would then come around and reseed, making the entire process more cost effective, less waste of seed.

F.     Jon also asked how the rake situation was holding up.  There was a consensus the rakes were in good shape, enough per hole, and still there!

G.    Jimmie asked whether the holes on the greens were placed in the same spot on the designated day each week; or were they supposed to be more randomly placed?  Jon indicated they were working with the greens keepers to help them understand they do not have to be in the SAME spot each time, just in the same designated area (i.e., day 1, anywhere in the day one spot on the map, etc.).  Jimmie also asked whether there was a specific distance designated between markers on the tee box; there sometimes appears to be different spacing and also the way the

 

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markers are placed.  Jon indicated there were times when the mowers were mowing in the dark and sometimes got the markers in the wrong position or with not enough space.  It was approved by both Jon and Dennis that the first group out could make adjustments to the tee markers, but it had to be done by the first group in order for it to be fair for following groups.

V.               GOLF COURSES/PROSHOP – Dennis Allen

A.    Dennis advised an agreement between MOGA and OW Laker’s 9er’s regarding fall play has been reached.  OW Laker’s 9er’s will begin play between 6:00 and 6:15 a.m. and MOGA will begin approximately one hour later, between 7:00 and 7:15 a.m.  During fall over seeding, for approximately five weeks the 9er’s will move to Monday at IW.

B.     Bob Pancratz reported that the membership sales are down from last year.  The play-card sales are down by 71 and the annual memberships are down 31.  The breakdown is as follows:

OW 5 day annual                  -13

OW 5 day 2nd person                        +8

OW 7 day play card              -55

IW 7 day play card               -16

OW/IW 7 day annual            +6

OW/IW 7 day 2nd person      +5

OW 7 day annual                  -20

OW 7 day 2nd person                        -10

IW 7 day annual                      -1

IW 7 day 2nd person                -1

OW/IW 5 day annual              -4

OW/IW 5 day 2nd person        -1

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The total dollars from membership sales is the same as last year at this time.

C.    Wink showed a mock-up of the updated score card.  Jimmie asked whether a slash could be added to each square allowing for “pops” or putts, etc.  Dennis felt there would probably be no additional charge, but no final decision was reached.

D.    Wink also discussed the ranking of holes for handicap strokes.  500 rounds need to be sent in for the ranking to take place.

E.     The dress code was discussed . . . whether to enforce it or get rid of it.  After a lengthy discussion regarding whether denim or blue jeans should be allowed Bob Pancratz stated the dress code should remain as is to be in conformance with all of the Arizona Robson properties.

 

VI.           MISCELLANEOUS

A.     AGA’s re-rating of OW is complete.  Each attendee was presented with a copy of the new ratings. The slope is 3-5 points down; course rating is up a little.  This new rating allows for a more balanced rating of all handicaps for all courses. 

B.     Jimmie will talk to Eleanor to determine whether plans are in the works for AWGA to re-rate OW.

C.    Jimmie indicated there is a need for additional alternates at OW.  

D.    There will be a committee viewing of OW during the April 14th meeting; IW will be viewed during the May 12th meeting.

E.     Next meeting:  March 10, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.

Meeting adjourned at 4:28 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Marcia Gaudioso

Secretary