Minutes 08-12-03Minutes of the Golf Course Advisory Board Meeting held Tuesday, August 12, 2003
Caddyshack Caf~ at The Links at Boynton Beach Golf Course.
Present:
Jim Smith, Vice Chairman, County Member
Diana Johnson, City Member
Corrado Giangreco, City Alternate
Herb Suss, City Member
Kurt Bressner, City Manager
Joe Sciortino, Golf Director
Absent:
Bill McCarty, City Member
Art Mathews, City Member
Robert Lee, City Alternate
Dan Winters, County Alternate
Prior to the meeting being officially called to order, Mr. Sciortino introduced Herb Suss to
those present. Mr. Suss was appointed to replace George Barrett who had resigned his
position after 24 years continuous service due to health concerns. Mr. Sciortino asked
those present to elect a new Chairman, the position that Mr. Barrett had previously held.
Diana Johnson nominated Art Mathews, seconded by Herb Suss, and passed 4-0. Mr.
Smith agreed to continue as Vice Chairman without objection.
Mr. Smith called the meeting to order at 3:07 and called the roll. Ms. Johnson moved to
accept the agenda as presented, seconded by Mr. Suss, and passed 4-0.
Under Announcements, Mr. Sciortino told the Board that he had ordered two plaques to
recognize Mr. Barrett's twenty-four years of service on the Board. One was a bronze
plaque to be mounted in the Links' Clubhouse foyer, and the other was a wooden one for
Mr. Barrett. He told the Board it would take about a month to get the bronze plaque made
and that he would present them both to Mr. Barrett at a City Commission meeting. The
Board heartily supported this action, and Mr. Sciortino said he would let them all know
which meeting this would occur at and encouraged as many to attend as possible.
Mr. Sciortino reviewed the minutes of the previous meeting of March 12, 2003. Mr.
Giangreco moved to accept these minutes as presented, seconded by Mr. Suss, and
passed 4-0.
Under Reports, Mr. Sciortino asked if the Board had any questions about the activity and
financial reports that he had mailed them. He also distributed updated reports that
included July's figures. City Manager Bressner commented that the Family Course had
had record activity in June and July. Mr. Sciortino said that that was mostly due to the
operational changes that had been instituted this May. He described these changes,
which included eliminating walking on the Championship Course and limiting walking to
the Family Course, going to a two tee system for the Championship Course in the
morning to get all golfers off before 9:15 and in by 1:15, the improved pace of play due to
this change, and the improved conditions on the Family Course.
Mr. Suss noted that perhaps the plans to renovate the Family Course might best be left
on hold for a while since activity on the course was still strong and the economy was still
somewhat weak. Mr. Sciortino agreed, and noted that if the economy turns and
disposable income increases the Links would be prepared to do the renovations since
the plans were complete, but that he agreed it was best to keep the course as it is for
nOW.
Mr. Bressner complimented Mr. Sciortino and the Links' staff for their creativity in
devising and instituting these changes. Mr. Suss commented that he too approved of the
changes, as did his playing companions who also were very pleased with the restaurant.
Mr. Bressner remarked that he was hosting a breakfast at the Caddyshack Caf~ on
Thursday morning to kick off the City's Heart Association and that he had also hosted
one of his "Breakfasts with the Boss" at the course as well.
Mr. Giangreco asked if the course would be going back to its customary procedures in
the winter. Mr. Sciortino said that it was not possible to do a two-tee system in the winter
months due to the high level of activity, but that he did want the Board to discuss the
walking policy for the Championship Course. He told the Board that he and his
leadership team felt that if the Championship Course was to continue to raise the level of
conditioning that all rounds on the Championship Course should be at the "riding cart
included" price. He said that the leadership team thought that, perhaps, walking ought to
be allowed for those who wanted to and were able to "keep pace", but that all
classifications of golfers (permit holders, Links Club Card purchasers, and daily fee
players) should pay the "cart included" rate.
Mr. Giangreco asked if the fees were remaining the same for next year. Mr. Sciortino
responded that the City Commission had approved his recommendation to keep the
annual permit fees and Links Club Card fees at the same levels as last year, but to raise
the rates of the Championship Course and Family Course during the six months from
November to May for daily fee players. In this way residents could achieve a higher
discount, tourists and occasional golfers would contribute more, and that there were still
some forty annual permits still available for City residents.
Mr. Smith asked if we shouldn't just eliminate walking on the Championship Course
permanently since it had worked so well in the summer months and was responsive to
the Links' customers' preferences. Mr. Bressner added that he agreed and feared that
there might be too many confrontations with staff from patrons who paid the full fee, did
not keep pace, and then would not get on a cart. He noted that the Family Course was a
good course for walking and that it provided less expensive golf as well.
Mr. Suss also pointed out that the additional tees on the Family Course made it more
conducive to accommodating all levels of ability, whereas the Championship Course
was, perhaps, somewhat too difficult for many beginners and new players.
Mr. Sciortino asked if anyone on the Board would like to make a motion. Mr. Giangreco
made a motion to allow walking on the Championship Course with certain restrictions.
His motion failed for lack of a second. Mr. Suss then moved to not allow walking on the
Championship Course permanently, seconded by Ms. Johnson. Under discussion Ms.
Johnson noted that the course's perceived quality could only be improved and enhanced
with this change since she was not aware of any "top rated" courses allowing walking
anyway. Mr. Bressner commented that although he is an ex-officio member of the Board
he thought this was best from the standpoint of a clear policy that should reduce or
eliminate confrontations with Staff. Mr. Giangreco asked if this new policy, if passed,
could be advertised immediately in order to give current customers plenty of advance
notice prior to the season. Mr. Sciortino said absolutely and that he would emphasize
this in the renewal letters to both permit holders and Links Club Card purchasers.
Mr. Smith called for a vote and the motion passed 4-0.
Mr. Giangreco noted that April's monthly report had an error in the number of eighteen
hole equivalent rounds on the Championship Course because the nine hole rounds had
not been halved and added to the eighteen holes. Mr. Sciortino said he would check it
and send out any corrections with the minutes (copies included).
Under New Business Mr. Suss expressed concern that Sue and Freda were soon eligible
to retire and inquired if there was anyway that the City could do something to entice
them to stay. Mr. Sciortino and Mr. Bressner explained that the City has a Deferred
Retirement Option Plan that allows City employees to officially retire, have their pension
compensation put into a deferred compensation account, and continue to earn their full
pay for a period of up to five years. Mr. Sciortino assured Mr. Suss that both Sue and
Freda were aware of this option, but that at their age and with their skills they might opt
to go to work for another organization in order to vest themselves in another pension
plan as well as the one they had earned with the City.
There was no Old Business.
Ms. Johnson moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Suss and passed 4-0. The
meeting was adjourned at 4:03 pm.
Jo~'cieftino, Golf Director