Minutes 03-12-03Minutes of the Golf Course Advisory Board Meeting held Wednesday,
March 12, 2003 on the deck at The Links at Boynton Beach Golf Course.
Present:
Absent:
George Barrett, City Member, Chairman
Jim Smith, County Member, Vice-Chairman
Bill McCarty, City Member
Art Mathews, City Member
Diana Johnson, City Member
Joe Sciortino, Golf Director
Corrado Giangreco, City Alternate
Robert Lee, City Alternate
Dan Winters, County Alternate
Chairman Barrett called the meeting to order at 3:01pm. Mr. Sciortino told the
Board that Mr. Giangreco had called this morning to let everyone know that he
was ill and would not be attending the meeting. Mr. Sciortino distributed agendas
to the Board.
Mr. McCarty moved to approve the agenda as presented, seconded by Jim
Smith, and passed 3-0 (Mr. Mathews and Ms. Johnson had not arrived at this
point.)
Under announcements the Golf Director reminded the Board that the fourth
annual Concert on the Green was scheduled for May 16th, with a 50's theme. The
Links was hosting the March meeting of the Palm Beach Chapter of the Golf
Course Superintendents Assoc. on March 27th. The Breast Cancer tournament
is scheduled for April 12th, and we have already had sixteen paid entries to date.
The City Amateur Championship is scheduled for April 26th and 27th, followed by
the SFL PGA Section Junior Professional/Senior Professional Championship on
4/28.
Mr. McCarty moved to accept the minutes of the January 30, 2003 meeting as
presented, seconded by Mr. Smith, and passed 4-0 (Mr. Mathews had entered
the meeting at 3:05pm. During the Golf Director's report, which came next, Diana
Johnson joined the meeting at 3:15pm).
Mr. Sciortino referred the Board to the article he had previously mailed to them
on the Lake Worth Municipal GC new restaurant. He reminded the Board that
whenever municipal golf courses, and even some private ones, build bigger and
better clubhouses and restaurants, they invariably underestimate the costs to
maintain them and end up draining resources from the golf operation to pay for
that cost. He was happy that for some $30,000 they could spruce up the
bathrooms, and another $10,000 had built the deck and spruced up the
clubhouse.
He directed the Board to the handout on The Links' restaurant and noted that
sales were up, as well as average income per golfer. Mr. Sciortino was pleased
to report that the new manager was making great improvements in wooing
customers back in to the restaurant with tasty specials. And many patrons were
coming just for lunch as well.
Mr. Sciortino reviewed the activity reports for January and February, and for the
first five months of this fiscal year. Although January was down due to the cold
weather, this year's first five months saw an increase of $40,086.25 over last
year's first five months' golf operations revenues. He further pointed out that
every course depends on its small core of loyal players to play 70-80% of the
total rounds, and that the Links Club Card program was feeding into this very
well.
He also let the Board know that he had hosted the first "Ladies Clinic" with Dan
Hager this past Saturday and that it went very well for a first effort. There were
six ladies, four retired, two working, who had paid $100 each for three, two hour
sessions on Saturday morning to learn about golf, its history, its traditions, its
spirit, its rules, and how to play the game. Diana Johnson noted her approval and
support for this effort.
Mr. Sciortino asked Ms. Johnson to tell the Board about Saturday's presentation
at the Catalina Center on the plans for downtown re-development. Ms. Johnson
gave an enthusiastic re-cap of what was said, and the Board thanked her for the
update.
Mr. Sciortino closed his report.
Under New Business Mr. Smith asked what was being done about Mr. DiFiore's
suspension, and asked what role the Board should be playing in this. Chairman
Barrett replied that he thought the Board should take a stance on this, and
entertained any motions to that effect. He reminded the Board that Mr. DiFiore
had been at several Board meetings in the past, and had often been vehement in
his objections to course policies. He did not understand why Mr. DiFiore
continued to play The Links when he always seemed to have a complaint.
After some discussion and general agreement on the need for strong support for
the golf course staff in carrying out course policies Mr. McCarty asked to make a
motion. He moved that the Golf Course Advisory Board supports The Links' Pace
of Play policy and guidelines, and its enforcement, and would recommend that
uncooperative golfers who abuse golf course employees should be permanently
barred from the course, and not given temporary suspensions. Mr. Smith
seconded it, and it passed 5-0.
Mr. Smith went on to further say that the judgment of the Golf Director in these
matters should be supported, and that the only advice the Board should be
offering is the punishment, and not whether or not action is warranted. The Board
was in consensus agreement that the golf course staff went overboard in trying to
deal with uncooperative golfers, and quite unnecessarily. Mr. Sciortino said this
situation was rare in that most golfers who do not approve of course policies
accept the offer of a refund and go elsewhere to play where the course policies
better suit their needs. It is rare that a golfer chooses to continually complain and
refuse to cooperate. He let the Board know that Mr. DiFiore was meeting with the
Assistant City Manager, Dale Sugerman, at 4pm today. The Board asked if it was
possible to get him word of the motion that they had just passed. Mr. Sciortino
said he would try.
Mr. Smith, continuing under New Business, asked if a policy could be created
that encouraged golfers to play from tees appropriate for their level of skill. He
suggested some sort of maximum handicap level be established for each set of
tees, and some way to get golfers to abide by those guidelines, such as a
surcharge if they choose to play from tees too difficult for them based on their
handicap. Mr. McCarty said he thought that that would be a bit of a negative for
golfers. Mr. Sciortino agreed, and said that it would have to be done in such a
way as to make sure the golfers knew this was being recommended to them so
that they could enjoy themselves more when playing our course. He told the
Board that he would present this concept at the next joint meeting of the Golf
Directors and Player Ambassadors for their input and thoughts. He said he liked
the idea, but that he had learned that people do not resist change as much as
they resist the process of change. This would take some thought on how to
introduce it by next fiscal year.
Mr. McCarty moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Smith, and passed
5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 4:45pm.
,e~ sC'iortino, MP, Golf Director
"Gro[~n~ oSe Game and Our People.
March 3, 2003
Golf Course Advisory Board
Dear Board Members, /
Our next regularly scheduled AdvisoryBCoard meeting will be held Wednesday,
March 12, 2003 at 3pm on The Links' clubhouse deck. I have had to alter our normal
meeting time from the third Thursday of the month because of scheduling conflicts, but
Freda tells me that no one that she called had an objection. Thank you.
I have enclosed several documents for your review before the meeting: the
activity/revenue reports for the months of January and February; the restaurant report year
to date; the total rounds reports for both the Championship Course and The Family
Course; and a copy of an article that appeared in The Post newspaper on March 3, 2003
regarding the restaurant at the Lake Worth Municipal Golf Course.
Obviously weather played a factor in the activity in January, (although the restaurant
did quite well), and with good weather we met projected, budgeted activity for February on
the Championship Course. However, as we discussed at the special January meeting,
rounds on The Family Golf Course were slightly below budget as those customers'
disposable incomes continue to shrink. Although we are $33,291.48 below budgeted
revenues for the first five months of this fiscal year, we do have about a $75,000 cushion
due to not having budgeted Family Course and Driving Range revenues for this summer in
anticipation of the renovation project that we are no longer scheduled to do.
The good news is that our courses are in great shape, the restaurant is steadily
improving each month, and customer compliments are a daily occurrence. Our Links Club
Card sales are now at 448 (500 sales were budgeted for the year), and we plan on selling
more in April by giving purchasers a full year from April through the following March. And
we anticipate increased summer activity with Delray Municipal GC being closed for
renovations and with Links Club Card purchasers taking advantage of their $22 rate.
The locker room bathroom renovations were completed on schedule. The
construction cost was $23,758, and the Crowd Pleaser bathroom rental was $7980, for a
total cost of $31,738. We have received many compliments on this project, and are
thankful that our customers were patient with us during this six-week period. Our female
customers, in particular, have thanked us for increasing their stalls from two to five.
Looking'~rward to seeing you all,
Joe Si;i'ortino, MP, Golf Director
8020 Jog Road, Boynton Beach, FL 33437
Phone: (561) 742-6500 Fax: (561) 966-1700
Mailing: P.O. Box 310, Boynton Beach, FL 33425-0310
Web Site Address: ci.boynton-beach.fl.us/golf/index.htm
AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE LINKS AT BOYNTON BEACH
GOLF COURSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
March 12, 2003 GOLF COURSE RESTAURANT 3:00PM
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
OPENINGS
A. Call to Order
B. Agenda Approval
1. Additions, Deletions, Corrections
2. Adoption
C. Announcements
MINUTES
A. Minutes of Golf Course Advisory Committee Meeting of January 30, 2003
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.S. 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 PR/OR TO THE PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY 1N
ORDER FOR THE CITY TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE YOUR REQUEST.
THE LINKS AT BOYNTON BEACH MONTHLY REPORT
ROUNDS PLAYED
CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE
ACTUAL % BUDGETED ACTUAL VS
JANUARY GF PLAY JANUARY BUDGETED
2003 VS APN 2003 +/-
9 HOLE GREENS FEES
686 73.90% 1000 -314
3 YEAR
AVERAGE
95/
RESIDENT GREENS FEES
ANNUAL PERMIT HOLDERS
257 325 -68
333 26.10% 400 -67 437
2701 71.21% 3500 -799 3381
1011 4O0 611
1501 28.79% 1600 -99 1946
18 HOLE GREENS FEES
RESIDENT GREENS FEES
ANNUAL PERMIT HOLDERS
EXECUTIVE COURSE
9 HOLE GREENS FEES
RESIDENT GREENS FEES
ANNUALPERMIT HOLDERS
3175 94.42% 3600 -425
257 250 7
203 5.58% 250 -47
67 97.10% 50 17
0 0 0
2 2.90% 0 2
18 HOLE GREENS FEES
RESIDENT GREENS FEES
ANNUAL PERMIT HOLDERS
CARTFEES
ACTUAL
JANUARY
2003
MOTOR/CHAMPIONSHIP
MOTOR/EXECUTIVE
PULL/CHAMPIONSHIP
PULL/EXECUTIVE
SKINS/COUPONS CARTS
$68,166.31
$9,O39.O5
$129.80
$748.44
$0.00
GREEN FEES
CHAMPIONSHIP
EXECUTIVE
LINKS CLUB CARD GREEN FEES-CH
LINKS CLUB CARD GREEN FEES-EX
APH SURCH. CHAMP
APH SURCH. EXEC
TOTAL CART & GREEN FEES
$81,379.20
$41,793.28
$26,158.62
$2,78O.78
$6,288.21
$194.54
$236,678.23
BUDGETED
JANUARY
2003
$74,469.00
$10,129.00
$148.68
$737.04
$0.00
$107,100.00
$46,878.5O
$14,234.50
$2,665.5O
$6,804.00
$235.00
$263,401.22
3666
423
61
2O
ACTUAL VS
BUDGETED
($6,302.69)
($1,089.95)
($18.88)
$11.4O
$0.00
($25,720.80)
($5,085.22)
$11,924.12
$115.28
($515.79)
($40.46)
($26,722.99)
YEAR TO DATE
ACTUAL
JANUARY
2003
LINKS CLUB CARDS $2,550.00
MISC FEES $10,256.77
(Incl. League Fees, CIP, Jr. Fees, Hdcp. Computer Service & Club Repairs)
INCLUDES
CURRENT
MONTH
$21,850.00
$36,715.09
CLUB RENTALS
9 HOLES $136.00
18 HOLES $250.00
$811.00
$654.00
$34,077.18
$34,433.29
S53,549.66
RANGE BALLS $10,622.96
MERCHANDISE $8,814.54
FOOD & BEVERAGE
$13,634.42
TOTAL BAD WEATHER DAYS
Restricted/Limited Cart Days
BUDGETED
FOR ENTIRE
YEAR
$25,000.00
$85,961.00
$4,500.00
INCW/9 HOLES
$75,000.00
$124,700.00
$145,000.00
THE LINKS AT BOY. NTON BEACH MONTHLY REPORT
ROUNDS PLAYED
CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE
9 HOLE GREENS FEES
ACTUAL % BUDGETED ACTUAL VS
FEBRUARY GF PLAY FEBRUARY BUDGETED 3 YEAR
2003 VS APH 2003 +/- AVERAGE
880 75.03% 900 -20 1123
RESIDENT GREENS FEES
ANNUAL PERblIT HOLDERS
18 HOLE GREENS FEES
RESIDENT GREENS FEES
ANNUAL PERMIT HOLDERS
EXECUTIVE COURSE
9 HOLE GREENS FEES
RESIDENT GREENS FEES
ANNUAL PERMIT HOLDERS
18 HOLE GREENS FEES
RESIDENT GREENS FEES
ANNUAL PERMIT HOLDERS
CART FEES
268 125 143
382 24.97% 350 32
2942 71.46% 3400 -458
1010 650 360
1578 28.54% 1500 78
3434 94.05%
266
234 5.95%
61 98.46%
3
I 1.54%
ACTUAL
FEBRUARY
2003
MOTOR/CHAMPIONSHIP
MOTOR/EXECUTIVE
PULL/CHAMPIONSHIP
PULL/EXECUTIVE
SKINS/COUPONS CARTS
GREEN FEES
CHAMPIONSHIP
EXECUTIVE
LINKS CLUB CARD GREEN FEES-CH
LINKS CLUB CARD GREEN FEES-EX
APH SUP, CH. CHAMP
APH SURCH EXEC
TOTAL CART & GREEN FEES
$72,870.56
$9,806.38
$202.96
$924.21
$0.00
$90,564.52
$44,947.04
$26,271.53
$2,921.70
$6,671.15
$221.78
$255,401.83
3600
275
275
5O
0
0
BUDGETED
FEBRUARY
2003
$70,788.00
$9,421.00
$377.6O
$884.39
$0.00
$102,995.00
$46,878.50
$15,131.00
$2,913.25
$6,331.50
$258.5O
$255,978.74
490
3633
1980
-166 3956
-9
-41 408
11 69
3
1 25
ACTUAL VS
BUDGETED
+/-
$2,082.56
$385.38
($174.64)
$39.82
$0.00
($12,430.48)
($1,931.46)
$11,140.53
$8.45
$339.65
($36.72)
($576.91)
ACTUAL
FEBRUARY
2003
LINKS CLUB CARDS $350.00
MISC FEES $10,717.51
(Incl. League Fees, CIP, Jr. Fees, Hdcp. Computer Service & Club Repairs)
CLUB RENTALS
YEAR TO DATE
INCLUDES
CURRENT
MONTH
S22,200.00
$47,432.6O
9 HOLES $229.00 $1,040.00
18 HOLES $345.00 $999.00
RANGE BALLS $10,595.52 $44,672.70
MERCHANDISE $9,363.53 $43,796.82
FOOD & BEVERAGE $16,444.91 $69,994.57
TOTAL BAD WEATHER DAYS 1 7
Restricted/Limited Cart Days 1 4
BUDGETED
FOR ENTIRE
YEAR
$25,000.00
$85,961.00
$4,500.00
INCW/9 HOLES
$75,O0O.OO
$124,700.00
$145,000.00
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MONTHLY RESTAURANT GROSS DOLLARS/PLAYER
THE LINKS
MONTH
NOVEMBER '99
DECEMBER
JANUARY '00
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
TOTAL
NUMBER OF
ADJUSTED NUMBER OF GROSS PER BAD WEATHER
GROSS SALES PLAYERS PLAYER DAYS
closed
$9,202.42 10,022 $0.92 1
$11,535.40 11,293 $1.02 1
$14,235.15 12,583 $1.13 0
$13,352.64 12,784 $1.04 3
512,509.37 9,617 $1.30 3
$8,317.85 7,953 $1.05 2
$6,871.85 7,669 $0.90 2
$8,829.98 6,861 $1.26 6
$9,740.74 6,117 $1.59 0
$7,210.85 5,101 $1.41 11
$101,606.25 90,000 $1.13 29
NUMBER OF
ADJUSTED NUMBER OF GROSS PER BAD WEATHER
MONTH GROSS SALES PLAYERS PLAYER DAYS
OCTOBER '00 $7,964.68 6,473 $1.23 8
NOVEMBER $9,826.86 8,486 $1.16 0
DECEMBER $12,797.39 9,525 $1.34 4
JANUARY '01 $13,857.19 11,194 $1.24 0
FEB RUARY $15,108.64 12,308 $1.23 0
MARCH $17,332.94 12,096 $1.43 1
APRIL $17,557.43 10,296 $1.71 0
MAY $10,912.53 7,367 $1.48 4
JUNE $10,877.17 6,560 $1.66 5
JULY $10,510.78 6,704 $1.57 9
AUGUST $9,145.50 5,651 $1.62 6
SEPTEMBER '* $9,197.77 4,345 $2.12 10
TOTAL $145,088.88 101,005 $1.44 47
**included $2,532 for Amateur Champ., Adult./Child Tourney, Jr. Program
NUMBER OF
ADJUSTED NUMBER OF GROSS PER BAD WEATHER
MONTH .GROSS SALES PLAYERS PLAYER DAYS
OCTOBER '01 $9,632.07 6,688 $1.44 6
NOVEMBER $11,820.91 8,424 $1.40 2
DECEMBER $13,122.89 10,035 $1.31 2
JANUARY '02 $14,150.50 11,805 $1.20 0
FEBRUARY $12,306.16 11,041 $1.11 4
MARCH $15,780.81 11,611 $1.36 2
APRIL $14,105.64 9,265 $1.52 4
MAY $15,132.16 7,695 $1.97 2
JUNE $9,467.85 5,541 $1.71 8
JULY $10,854.09 5,781 $1.88 7
AUG UST $12,653.75 6,787 $1.86 2
SEPTEMBER $10,352.80 5,753 $1.80 3
TOTAL $149,379.63 100,426 $1.49 42
NUMBER OF
ADJUSTED NUMBER OF GROSS PER BAD WEATHER
MONTH GROSS SALES PLAYERS PLAYER DAYS
OCTOBER '02 $12,222.38 7,691 $1.59 0
NOVEMBER $13,056.90 8,132 $1.61 2
DECEMBER $14,635.96 9,234 $1.59 3
JANUARY '03 $13,634.42 10,343 $1.32 1
FEBRUARY $16,444.91 11,149 $1.48 1
MARCH #DIV/0!
APRIL #DIV/0!
MAY #DIV/0!
JUNE #DIV/0!
JULY #DIV/0!
AUGUST #DIV/O!
SEPTEMBER #DIV/0!
TOTAL $69,994.57 46,549 $1.50 7
Lake Worth
in flap with
golf eatery
There's a food fight in Lake
Worth between the city and its
golf-course restaurant tenant.
The city filed suit last week to
evict the Lake Worth Country Club,
accusing the eatery of not paying
rent in February and its share of
utilities since September.
It also says the year-old restau-
rant owes more than $16,600 in
property taxes.
Lake Worth Country Club
owner Robert Radice denies the al-
legations and says the city hasn't
given him the support to make
the venture successful.
Radice said he went 17 days in
October without air conditioning
and that the city reneged on a
promise to provide him with a 6-
foot sign. He also said he's been
"publicly ridiculed" at city com-
mission meetings.
'~111 wanted to do is have a
nice restaurant in Lake Worth,"
said Radice, former managing di-
rector of the Gulfstream Hotel in
Lake Worth. "Everybody knows it
takes three years to find your way
in this business, especially when
you're isolated on a golf course." '
City Manager Wendy Newmyer
said Radice has offered to settle
the dispute and close the restau-
rant. She expects to discuss the
matter at tonight's city commis-
sion meeting.
Newmyer encouraged the city
tO do business with Radice. But
the eatery's hours were inconsis-
tent, and he "never really liked ca-
tering to the golf community."
Newmyer said.
The deals don't ston
"Gro in G, ae , nd Our People.
February 26, 2003
CERTIFIED MAIL #7099 3400 0002 2536 862(
Mr. Sal DiFiore
230 N.E: 26th Avenue, # 413
Boynton Beach, FL 33435
Dear Sal,
I have thought long and hard about our conversation last Saturday. I agree with you that you should never
feel threatened by, or be fearful of, anyone on my staff when you come to The Links to play golf. But I also
feel that they should not have to be fearful either of approaching you or your group to ask for your
cooperation in keeping pace with the other groups on the course, or to honor any other course policy. This is
so that everyone can enjoy their golf without negatively impacting others.
I do not question that you believe that you did not use foul language. But I also have no reason to doubt what
my Player Assistant says he heard you say. When you are angry you probably do not realize how loud your
voice can get, how intimidating your physical demeanor and facial expressions can be, or maybe even recall
the words you might have said. The key point is that you acknowledged to me that you did not think your
group was out of position and therefore did not feel you should have to cooperate with the Player Assistant's
request to "close the gap", and you told him so. A simple "OK, we'll try our best" was all he was expecting.
But the response you chose is just not permissible at most golf courses, and certainly not here. If you take
issue with the performance of any of my Staff you are invited to come talk to me, or Dan, about it at the
completion of your round. You have done so on many previous occasions and I thank you for those
opportunities to explain why we do what we do, even though you still may not agree. But the golf course is
not the proper venue to do that and all you accomplish by arguing.with Staff is to further delay play.
You also told me on Saturday that you question my authority to suspend your playing privileges. However
the very essence of my job is insure everyone has a good time by formulating policies approved annually by
the Golf Course Advisory Board, clearly communicating them to our customers, training my staff to monitor
them, and enforcing them if and when necessary by appropriate means.
Because you disagree that I have this authority I am not starting your two-week suspension until March 19,
2003. In the interim I am giving you reasonable time to make any contacts that you deem appropriate. My
immediate supervisor, Assistant City Manager Dale Sugerman, can be reached at 742-6456. The next
scheduled Golf Course Advisory meeting is on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 at 3pm on The Link's restaurant
deck. And, of course, you have other options that you may choose to pursue. I hope you take the time to
consider the points that I have raised before acting.
Joe ~~,~ ~ctor
Cc./K~,rt B~ressner, City Manager
~,Dale Sugerman, Assistant City Manager
Golf Course Advisory Board
8020 Jog Road, Boynton Beach, FL 33437
Mailing: P.O. Box 310, Boynton Beach, FL 33425-0310
Phone: (561) 742-6500 Fax: (561) 966-1700
Web Site Address: ci.boynton-beach.fl.us/golf/index, htm