Golf Commission

Commissioners Present:  John Piemontese (Chair), Carl Blanchard, Wyn Morton, Andrea Johnson, Ed Pavlu and Jeff Odell. Anne O’Connell was absent.

 

Others Present: Mark O’Brien (Director of Operations), Pete Ervin (Superintendent), Paige Ferraguto (18-Hole Women’s Association and Friends of Captains), Cindy Bingham (Select Board liaison), Bill O’Brien (CCMGA), and Orin Segal.

 

This meeting was held at the Town Hall and was televised. The video of the meeting may be viewed at: http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerFlex.aspx?PGD=brewsterma&eID=1499

 

Call to Order: John Piemontese called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

 

Public Comment:  

 

• None.

 

Correspondence and Suggestion Box:

 

• Mark O’Brien received a request from Neil Bolan, School Resource Officer for the Nauset Middle School, who would like to develop an after-school club that would provide the student the opportunity to play 9 holes on a weekly basis.  He will supervise the kids on the course and to work with them to improve their game.  The purpose of his email was to inquire about the possibility of using the Captains Golf Course.  Depending on approval, availability and interest from the kids, he would like to develop two different groups of students and bring enough for two foursomes to play once a week; bringing 7 students, one day of the week and 7 students on another day.  He would like to run this for four weeks around April/May.  The students would take the bus to the course arriving at approximately 3:15 – 3:30.  The parents would need to pick the kids up afterwards.  Mark O’Brien sees a problem as Captains hosts the girls from Nauset High School in April and May starting at 3:30.  He would be open to something later in the day if that would work for them, possibly around 4:30.  He would also be open to allowing them to use the driving range at no cost.  This would be a good feeder-program for the high school teams. Discussion followed.  A motion was made by Jeff Odell, seconded by Ed Pavlu, to permit Mark O’Brien to make appropriate arrangements with Mr. Dolan.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Superintendent’s Report:

 

• The recent storms have caused 100-150 trees to be lost on the course.  Peter Ervin thanked his staff for cleaning up the downed trees.  Hiring outside contractors for this job would have cost the town a considerable amount.  Other repairs were discussed.
• Thanks to the Water Department for donating a leech pit for water clean-up.
• The sink hole on 9 Port has been excavated resulting in the removal of 200-300 trees, some of them whole, giving the crew an idea of what’s underneath these sinkholes.  There are approximately 25- 30 sinkholes.
• Well reconditioning will be started shortly depending on the weather.  The jockey pump will be replaced.  The aeration schedule hopefully will start the first or second week of April depending on the snow.
• Rob Campbell taught a lecture at the New England Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents’ Conference entitled Tips and Tricks for Golf Course Mechanics, showing off what has been done here at Captains during Rob’s thirty years of employment.   Kudos to the maintenance staff.
• The net construction is on hold until the weather is better.
• Carl Blanchard complimented the staff on the enormity of the work on the sink holes.
• The safety of the maintenance staff was discussed.

 

Director’s Report:

 

• Mark O’Brien gave an update on memberships to date showing the revenues for the calendar year through March 19.   Mark O’Brien reported February was not too bad a month.  Discussion followed.
•  There were significant changes in the electricity because of improvements due to the energy audit.
• .Mark O’Brien is going to the Finance Committee tomorrow with reference to the FY 19 financials.
• Zach and Sean are doing great work in the restaurant and are going to the Board of Health on April 4 the restaurant will be opening on April 6.
• The member orientation/open house will be on April 28.
• The bid is out for credit card services.  78% of golf course business is done with credit cards.
• Mark O’Brien attended both the Boston and Maine golf shows.
• Jeff Odell reported there were 3,000 people at the West Springfield show.
• The tournament calendar is included in the rules and information guide.

 

 

Web Site Updates:

 

• There was a discussion of updates and upgrades needed on the website.

 

Back 9 Reservations:

 

• There are reservation systems in place for the Back 9. Carl Blanchard would like to meet with the subcommittee and would like to keep this matter on the agenda for next month.
• Mark O’Brien reviewed a handout showing the available tee times and bookings for back-9 play.
• Ed Pavlu commented the USGA is pushing 9-hole play.  Discussion followed.

 

Future Agenda Items:

 

• Back-9 play.
• Open House

 

Review and Approve Minutes:

 

• A motion was made by Jeff Odell, seconded by Carl Blanchard to approve the minutes of February 13, 2018 as written.  Motion passed 6-0-0.

 

 

 

 

 

Topics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate:

 

• Some of the shingles blew off the roof in the breezeway.  A contractor is coming to give a price for repair.
• The Friends are purchasing repair equipment for the patio furniture.
• The sprinkler system went off during the last storm causing water in the pipes and a small leak in the basement.  These items will be repaired.
• Peter Ervin will be getting prices for the purchase of a stand-by generator for the pump house.

 

Adjourn:

 

• A motion was made by Carl Blanchard, seconded by Ed Pavlu to adjourn the meeting.  Motion passed 6-0-0.  The meeting was adjourned at 5:05.

 

The next meeting of the Brewster Golf Commission will be held on April 10, 2018 at 4:00.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Dorothy Vesperman

Senior Clerk