Minutes 11-08-01Minutes of the Boynton Beach Golf Course Advisory Board Meeting Held
Thursday, November 8, 2001 at The Links at Boynton Beach
Present:
Absent:
George Barrett, City Member, Chairman
Bill McCarty, City Member
Art Mathews, County Member
Connie Giangreco, City Alternate
Joe Sciortino, MP, Golf Director
Diana Johnson, City Member (No notification)
Dan Winters, County Alternate (No notification)
Jim Smith, County Member, Vice Chairman (Notified Joe)
Robert Lee, City Alternate (Notified City Clerk)
Meeting was called to order at 3:05pm by Chairman Barrett. Mr. Barrett asked Mr.
Giangreco to sit in as a City Member in place of the absent Dan Winters. Mr.
Sciortino informed the Board that Dan Winters had recently accepted the job of
Director of Parks and Recreation of Belle Glade and was out of town Monday
through Friday. He also mentioned that Ms. Johnson is Executive Director of the
Chamber of Commerce and was probably working as well. He also was called by
Jim Smith, who told him he was in Naples on business, and by the City Clerk to
inform him that Robert Lee could not make the meeting either.
Bill NlcCarty moved to accept the agenda as presented, seconded by Art Mathews,
and passed 4-0. There were no announcements.
The minutes of the GCAB meeting held September 13, 2001 were discussed. The
Board was glad to see the meetings moved to the golf course to avoid future
confusion over City Hall meeting places. Bill McCarty moved to accept the
minutes as presented, seconded by Mr. Giangreco, and passed 4-0.
Mr. Sciortino distributed his report (copy attached) to the Board and read it to
them. He apologized to them for not mailing it out in advance.
Mr. Sciortino went over the "financials" and activity reports for the previous fiscal
year. He noted that the City was in a hiring and capital expenditure freeze in
anticipation of a slow tourist season. He remarked that the course was probably
going to delay the renovation of the Executive Course to make inexpensive golf
available to the local residents this coming summer and to take advantage of a
slow down to come in the construction business.
Further discussion points were the new sign at the front entrance that read
"Public Only". Mr. Mathews said he enjoyed the message being sent that the
public was just as special as those who were at private clubs, where the signs
typically read "Private Only".
Mr. Sciortino spoke about several junior golf initiatives at the course. He thanked
Mr. Mathews for encouraging him to pursue getting the new Boynton High School
Golf Teams to use The Links. He was pleased to report that he had met with the
Boys Team coach, Mike Cummings, and that they had agreed to host the teams
through the winter season to give them an opportunity to practice and play. Mr.
Cummings reported that there were seven boys, all freshman, and three girls.
A lively discussion centered around The Links' "instant employee recognition
award" program. The Board thought that was a great concept and would help to
keep up employee morale and excellent customer service. Mr. McCarty told the
Board of an incident that he had witnessed near his home in Leisureville where
one City employee over several days repaired several broken sidewalks. He
wished the Public Works Department had the same kind of program because he
felt that this employee deserved more than just the complimentary letter that he
had sent the City.
In anticipation of Chairman Barrett asking about it, Mru Sciortino remarked that
Facilities Management had promised him to build the outdoor restaurant deck in
November, subject to getting a building permit from the County in a timely
manner. To date no work has commenced. However, the restaurant was doing
extremely well but was in need of help. The Links was in the process of hiring four
new people and hoped that they did not get jobs elsewhere while waiting for the
City to complete its hiring process.
Mr. Sciortino closed his report. There was neither any new or old business.
Bill McCarty moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:10pm, seconded by Art Mathews
and passed 4-0.
Respectfu I~'~bmitted,
Joe Scion?, MP, Golf Director
AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE LINKS AT BOYNTON BEACH
GOLF COURSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
November 8, 2001 GOLF COURSE RESTAURANT
3:00PM
Il.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
OPENINGS
A.
B.
Call to Order
Agenda Approval
I. Additions, Deletions, Corrections
2. Adoption
C. Announcements
MINUTES
A. Minutes of Golf Course Advisory Committee Meeting of September 13, 2001
REPORTS
Golf Director's Report
NEW BUSINESS
OLD BUSINESS
ADJOURNMENT
NOTICE
IF A PERSON DECIDES TO APPEAL ANY DECISION MADE BY THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD WITH
RESPECT TO ANY MATTER CONSIDERED AT THIS MEETING, HE/SHE WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE
PROCEEDINGS AND, FOR SUCH PURPOSE, HE/SHE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF
THE PROCEEDING IS MADE,: WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE
APPEAL IS TO BE BASED. (F. So 286.0105)
THE CITY SHALL FURNISH APPROPRIATE AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES WHERE NECESSARY TO AFFORD
AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN AND ENJOY THE
BENEFITS OF A SERVICE, PROGRAM, OR ACTIVITY CONDUCTED BY THE CITY. PLEASE CONTACT JOYCE
COSTELLO, (407) 375-6013 AT LEAST TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS PRIOR TO THE PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY YN
ORDER FOR THE CITY TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE YOUR REQUEST.
Report from Joe Sciortino, MP, Golf Director (11/08/01)
Executive Summary: Fisca Year 2000/2001 was a good, though challenging year, for
The Links. We survived a serious drought, we very successfully conducted four events
for the community (the PB Safety Council fundraiser, a Susan G. Komen fundraiser with
our own LGA, our first ever City Amateur Championship, and an Adult Child
Championship), and we survived an economic downturn. In addition, we were the host
site for this year's High'School Girls' Golf Team District Tournament.
During the first seven months of the fiscal year our activity was comparable to last
year's, but the last five months saw a 17% decline in activity on the Championship
Course, while the Executive Course hosted the "normal" 9300 rounds for that period. For
the year the Championship Course hosted the fewest eighteen hole equivalent rounds
ever, 57,181, some 4% (.-2724 rounds) lower than last year, while the Executive Course
was up 3% (+892 rounds) for the year.
One can only speculate on the reasons why. Is this a reflection of our economy? Are our
locals feeling the pinch of layoffs, stock market decreases, and falling interests? Is the
competition from area private courses hosting outside public play a factor? Is g01f a
luxury that people are limiting in these challenging times? Is the aging of our permit
holders dissuading them from playing in the summer heat as often as before? Probably
all of those factors are significant,
Added to this is the effect of our current "War on Terrorism". Wilt tourism be down this
year? Probably so. We are therefore being conservative in our approach to this year.
The City Manager has already instituted a hiring freeze for all non-essential
departmental positions until at least January. We are using temp agencies and labor
pool companies to fill many of our needs, and are hiring part time when appropriate.
However, The Links continues to improve and "reinvent" itself at every opportunity. We
have started a Links Colts program to give juniors organized events through the winter.
We have made an arrangement with our new Boynton Beach High School golf teams to
use our site through the winter to keep their teams active. Dan Hager and I made a
presentation to the Ponte Vecchio Men's Golf Club to let them know of our services and
programs. And we most recently were chosen to host the inaugural South Florida PGA
Section "Junior/Senior Team Championship" next April on the Friday before our City
Amateur ChampionShip.
Once again we hosted the PBC Safety Council Fundraiser for providing bicycle helmets
to disadvantaged children, nearly do _u_bling the funds from last year's $7,000 to $12,000.
We have formed a team to start working on the Susan G. Komen event, and our plans
are to hold this year's Adult/Child event in May, instead of September.
Our quarterly GAP surveys continue to indicate that we are meeting our customers' and
community's needs, and we always make our decisions "customer driven" and not
"organizational driven". It is our goal to set the standard for public golf in the County, Our
teams are motivated and our personnel are second to none. The leadership team has
stepped up our efforts at recognizing and rewarding behavior that models our values and
supports our mission, much to the delight of our teammates.
In short we look forward to, and are fully prepared for, the coming challenge of this year.
Annual Permit Sales: Renewals this year totaled 267 for the County and 105 for the
City. This compares to last year's final totals of 332 County and 132 City. The Links has
also sold fifteen additional new annual permits to City Residents as of Friday 11/02 when
this report was written. Last year the 444 annual permit holders realized a total discount
of $93,168.33, for an average of $210 each~ This is a very reasonable amount, and both
a good value for them, as well as The Links. Prior to 1992 when we instituted the policy
of renewing permits or~ly the discount was in excess of $500,000, about $625 per permit
holder. Perhaps we have reached the point where our permit holder base is where it
should be at about 370. They are getting good value for their permit, we are getting the
benefit of great word of mouth marketing and a loyal customer base, and the general
public is getting reasonable access at a reasonable price, the desired "win-w~n-win"
scenario!
Links Club Card Sales: As of 11/02 we had sold 119 cards. Six permit holders switched
to the Links Club Card during the renewal process. We have gotten excellent coverage
in the press for this new program, and have installed a direct telephone message line
(742-3507) that describes it.
Renovation of the Executive Course and Practice Areas: The FAA has finally
al owed our vendor to fly over our course to get the data to create our aerial topography
map, the first step in the planning process. I have decided to go back out for another
"Request for Qualifications" (RFQ) for a Golf Course Architect with a new "Scope of
Services". description. Our staff knows what we want to do in creating a "Family Golf
Course" out of current Executive Course, and also what we need for a much more
modern "mega" practice area. What we really need is professional guidance and
consulting in drawing it up and bidding it, not so much advice on what needs to be done,
which is what an architect typically envisions as their task. The opening for this new RFQ
~s in early December.
We are proceedin~c as if we will do this work next summer, but a tot of factors will affect
the final decision. This winter we are planting rye grass test sites for new teeing areas to
see how our customers respond. We suspect that the golf course construction industry
will likely see a downturn in the summer of 2003, as banks are much more reluctant
NOW to make loans on new courses. We may therefore benefit from lower bids in 2003
than we might receive 'n 2002. And if the economy stays soft, the demand for less
expensive golf this summer may encourage us to keep the Executive course open to
service this need, instead of closing it for the renovation. Nonetheless we proceed.
Compliance: It's somewhat hard to believe, but we are now eighteen years old. And so
are our facilities. Our new Superintendent, Scott Wahlin, is working with the City's
Engineering Construction division in building a new Chemical Storage Building (Hazmat
Facility) and removing the underground fuel storage tanks and replacing them with
above ground fuel storage tanks. We have awarded a contract for these two tasks and a
pre construction meeting is scheduled for November 8. Total cost is $47,000, and a
$5,000 contingency, paid for from golf course retained earnings.
Drainage: The Engineering Division has also awarded a contract for us to finish up our
drainage plan for the clubhouse area. We will be spending some $15,000 from our
retained earnings to hook into the drainage structures to our west in the new PBC
Regional Park to drain our west parking lot area, and into our own drainage system to
further drain the east side.
GPS System: We continued to try and purchase a GPS system by funding it through the
nstallation of a communications monopole on our property as was discussed at our last
meeting. I wrote to the County Administrator for permission (as required by our lease for
the land) and he directed me to contact County Commissioner Newell in whose district
we reside. I called him and he suggested that the vendor contact County staff to see if
the repeaters can be mounted to the light poles in the regional park next door. I guess
we'll continue to search for other funding sources.
Emergency Phone System: Our underground wired emergency phone system is
terribly unreliable. We are going to the City Commission to get approva to buy seven
solar powered "walkie-talkie" emergency stations to replace it. They wilt be located near
the three relief stations where they previously were, as well as at four other locations
that will enable any golfer on the course to get to one without having to go around a lake.
Restaurant: Where's the deck???!!! Facilities Maintenance has said they will do this
project on weekends during this month, subject to permitting from the County. After
review with their supervisor, Jeff Livergood, they were asked to have an engineering firm
do wind load calculations to make sure the deck would not be a flying hazard in a storm.
Interestingly enough when this was done it was found that the systems offered by
Lowe's and Home Depot would not meet that standard.
The Links is still going through staffing woes and shortages, although we have
processed the hiring of five new part time people this week. We managed to survive the
summer, and all of our special events, with help from all of our teams' members.
Revenue exceeded $145,000 for the past year, more than ever before by some $25,000.
It's been a great start and we look forward to more ~mprovements in the future.
Driving Range: Activity on the range this year literally wore the grass right off
Revenues were up 7% from last year's record of $91,000 to $97,000. Over the last five
years our revenues have grown 42%! The Links just installed two new range ball
dispensers to better serve our oustomers, and we will wash the balls in a newly
purchased washer rather than in the machine as in the past. This should allow the balls
to last longer and eliminate the internal rusting problem with the old dispenser. We are
just never complacent in any area of our operation!
THE LINKS AT BOYNTON BEACH MONTHLY REPORT
ROUNDS PLAYED
CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE
ACTUAL % BUDGETED ACTUALVS
OCTOBER GFPLAY OCTOBER BUDGETED
2001 VS APH 2001 +/-
3 YEAR
AVERAGE
9 HOLE GREENS FEES
ANNUAL PERMIT HOLDERS
18 HOLE GREENS FEES
ANNUAL PERMIT HOLDERS
EXECUTIVE COURSE
9ROLE GREENSFEES
ANNUALPERMITHOLDERS
18HOLE GREENS FEES
ANNUALPERMITHOLDERS
683 63.12% 750
399 36.88% 500
1785 59.22% 1800
1229 40.78% 1500
1544 81.95% 1500
340 18.05% 400
-67
-101
-15
-271
44
-60
729
514
1815
1565
1411
465
50 100.00% 40 t0 46
0 0.00% 20 -20 40
CART FEES
ACTUAL
OCTOBER
2001
MOTOR/CHAMPIONSHIP
MOTOR/EXECUTIVE
PULL/CHAMPiONSHIP
PULL/EXECUTIVE
SKINS/COUPONS CARTS
GREEN FEES
CHAMPIONSHIP
EXECUTIVE
RESIDENT CARD GREEN FEES'CH
RESIDENT CARD GREEN FEES-EX
RESIDENT CARDS SOLD
AFTER 2PM SPECIAL CH GF RATE
APH SURCH. CHAMP
APH SURCH. EXEC
TOTAL CART & GREEN FEES
$31,358.65
$3,718.22
$120.36
$241.92
$857.15
$24,702.40
$8,421.73
$2,364.26
$387.01
$4,O5O.OO
$0.00
$2,697.95
$159.80
$79,079.45
BUDGETED
OCTOBER
200t
$31,172.00
$2,771.00
$202.96
$258.46
$1,630.44
$25,326.00
$8,124.60
$o.oo
$o.oo
$o.oo
$o.oo
$3,29O.OO
$206.80
$72,982.26
ACTUAL VS
BUDGETED
+/-
$186.65
$947.22
($82.60)
¢16.54)
($7~3.29)
($623.60)
$297..13
$2,364.;.)6
$387.01
$4,O5O.OO
$o.oo
($592.05)
($47.00)
$6,097.19
YEAR TO DATE
ACTUAL
OCTOBER
2001
MISC FEES $5,255.01
(Incl. League Fees, CIP, J?. Fees, Hdcp. Computer Service & Club Repairs)
CLUB RENTALS
INCLUDES
CURRENT
MONTH:
$5,255.01
9 HOLES $53.00 $53.00
18 HOLES $210.00 $210.00
RANGE BALLS $6,591.90 $6,591.90
MERCHANDISE $7,220.95 $7,220.95
FOOD & BEVERAGE $9,632.07 $9,632.07
TOTAL BAD WEATHER DAYS 6 6
Restricted/Limited Cart Days 5 5
BUDGETED
FOR ENTIRE!
YEAR
$45,679.0O
$4,000.00
INCW/9 HOLES
$75,000.00
$110,000.00
$157,400.00
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MONTHLY RESTAURANT GRObo DOLLARS/PLAYER
THE LINKS
ADJUSTED
MONTH GROSS SALES
NOVEMBER '99 closed
DECEMBER $9,202.42
JANUARY '00 $11,535.40
FEBRUARY $14,235.d 5
MARCH $13,352.64
APRIL $12,509.37
MAY $8,317.85
JUNE $6,871.85
JULY $8,629.98
AUGUST $9,740.74
S EPTEMBE R $7,210.85
TOTAL $101,606.25
NUMBER OF
PLAYERS
10,022
11 293
12 583
12 784
9 617
7 953
7 669
6 861
6117
5 101
90 000
GROSS PER
PLAYER
$0.92
$1.02
$1.13
$1 .O4
$1.3O
$1.05
$O.9O
$1.26
$1.59
$1.41
$1.13
MONTH
OCTOBER '00
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
JANUARY '01
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
ADJUSTED
GROSS SALES
$7 964.68
$9 826.86
$12 797.39
$13 857.19
$15 108 64
$17 332.94
$17 557.43
$10 912.53
$10 877.17
$10 510.78
$9 145.50
$9 197.77
TOTAL $145 088.88 101
**Included $2,532 for Amateur Champ., Adult/Ch
NUMBER OF GROSS PER
PLAYERS PLAYER
6 473 $1.23
8 486 $1.16
9 525 $1.34
11 194 $1.24
12 308 $1.23
12 096 $1.43
10 296 $1.71
7 367 $1.48
6 560 $1.66
6 704 $1.57
5 651 $1.62
4 345 $2.12
005 $1.44
ild Tourney, Jr. Program
ADJUSTED NUMBER OF
MONTH GROSS SALES PLAYERS
OCTOBER '01 $9,632:07 6,688
NOVEMBER $0.00 0
DECEMBER $0.00 0
JANUARY '02 $0.00 0
FEBRUARY $0.00 0
MARCH $0.00 0
APRIL $0.00 0
MAY $0.00 0
JUNE $0.00 0
JULY $0.00 0
AUGUST $0.00 0
SEPTEMBER ** $0.00 0
TOTAL $9,6!32.07 6,688
GROSS PER
PLAYER
$1.44
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
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#DIV/O!
#DIV/O!
$1.44
NUMBER OF
BAD WEATHER
DAYS
1
1
0
3
3
2
2
6
0
tl
$29.00
NUMBER OF
BAD WEATHER
DAYS
8
0
4
0
0
I
0
4
5
9
6
10
47
NUMBER OF
BAD WEATHER
DAYS
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
w- 0
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