HERE WE GO. GOOD MORNING THIS IS THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:09]
14TH AT THE CITY HALL COMMISSION CHAMBERS.ITEM ONE THE MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER.
CAN YOU CALL THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MEMBER SIKORSKI HERE.
CAN WE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE? AND, MR. CORBETT, WOULD YOU LEAD US PLEASE.
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ITEM FOUR APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND BELIEVE WE'RE STILL BEHIND ON MINUTES.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
[INAUDIBLE] MR. RAUSCHENBERGER WAS GOING TO PROVIDE US WITH SOME.CHAIR PELICAN, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
YES, SIR. I WAS IT THE INTENT OF MR. RAUSCHENBERGER, I APOLOGIZE, MR. RAUSCHENBERGER TO DO THE MINUTES.
IF IF NOT, I HAVE A LIST FROM MAY 10TH, JULY 12TH, OCTOBER, 11TH NOVEMBER, THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, THE MONTH OF DECEMBER AND THE MONTH OF JANUARY.
I DO BELIEVE I COULD HAVE, I BELIEVE I HAVE A STAFF AT PARKS AND REC THAT I COULD HAVE CATCH US UP ON THE MINUTES, AND PROVIDE YOU THOSE MINUTES AT THE NEXT MEETING.
THEY WOULD JUST HAVE TO RE WATCH THE MEETING AND DO THE MINUTES OFF OF THE OFF OF THE BROADCAST.
I THINK THAT'D BE WONDERFUL IF YOU COULD PROVIDE THAT.
SO. OKAY. SO I'LL, I'LL TRY TO GET THOSE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
OKAY. AND THEN THAT WOULD INCLUDE, THE MONTH OF OBVIOUSLY TODAY AS WELL.
JUST SO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE IT, WE'RE A WAYS BEHIND.
AND I WOULD PREFER TO EVERY MEETING BE ABLE TO HAVE THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS.
AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT HAPPENING.
YOU GUYS HAVE AN OPINION? I'M FINE WITH THAT.
YEAH, WELL, SOMEONE REALLY WANTS TO TAKE OVER THAT DUTY.
OKAY, OKAY, MR. MIKELSON, THAT'D BE GREAT.
OKAY. THANK YOU. AND, JUST, MR. CORBETT, I'LL MAKE SURE WE GET YOU ASSIGNED FOR OUR NEXT MEETING AS WELL.
I DON'T HAVE A SIGN UP HERE. NO, SIR.
PAM, DID YOU HAVE ONE FOR HIM? ACTUALLY, I HAD ONE LAST MEETING.
THERE IS ONE? YEAH, I WONDER IF THAT.
OH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THAT'S FINE.
ITEM FIVE PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY ANY ITEMS. THANK YOU. ITEM SIX DISCUSSION ITEM 6.1 STATUS OF THE GOLF CLUB.
[6.1 Status Of The Golf Club]
I PUT THAT ON.I ASKED MR. MICKELSON TO ADD THAT TO THE AGENDA BECAUSE I THOUGHT, WITH THE DEPARTURE OF OUR GENERAL MANAGER, DAVID DEMAY, IT WOULD, BE A GOOD TIME TO ASSESS WHERE THE GOLF COURSE STANDS.
I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR THE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS HE MADE AND WISH HIM THE BEST.
AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD A QUICK REVIEW OF THINGS THAT WERE ACCOMPLISHED AND, WOULD BE APPROPRIATE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO I GUESS I'LL LEAD OFF UNLESS SOMEONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO, I GUESS.
IT'S NO DOUBT THE COURSE IMPROVED UNDER MR. DEMAY'S LEADERSHIP.
THERE'S BETTER FOOD AT THE CLUB WITH THE HIRING OF CHEF BENNETT.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT IN ANYONE'S MIND.
HE BROUGHT A LOT OF STAFF ON BOARD, FILLED UNFILLED POSITIONS HE THOUGHT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE CLUB TO PERFORM, IN AN EXCEPTIONAL MANNER.
DURING HIS TENURE, THE GOLF CARTS WERE ORDERED.
THEY WERE ENDED UP BEING FINANCED BY A LOAN GUARANTEED BY THE CITY.
[00:05:04]
AND WE TOOK DELIVERY IN THE FALL.AND THE CONSENSUS IS THE USERS OF THE CARTS ARE QUITE PLEASED WITH THEM.
HE IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM WITH THE FAILING IRRIGATION MAIN PUMPS AND, THEY ARE ORDERED, AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO BE INSTALLED IN A FEW MONTHS.
AND, WE ALL AGREE ON THAT AS WELL.
SO I BELIEVE THAT'S MY OPINION OF WHERE WE STAND.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT? THAT'S PRETTY GOOD SYNOPSIS OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
I DON'T I MEAN THAT NOT A LOT TO BE ADDED.
THEY'RE CLEANING OUT ALSO SOME OF THE AREAS AROUND THE PONDS SO THAT IT ACTUALLY IS MORE ATTRACTIVE WHEN YOU'RE THERE, ESPECIALLY ON SOME OF THE WEST COURSES AND ON THE SOUTH, CUTTING DOWN TREES AND OVERGROWTH RIGHT AROUND THE BANKS.
THAT'S TRUE. IT IS VERY IT LOOKS WONDERFUL.
SO ANOTHER PLACE FOR US TO LOSE OUR BALLS.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE IDEA OF THE STAFF AND THEIR FRIENDLINESS AND GREETINGS AND THEIR ABILITY TO HELP WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
I THINK THE, THE MERCHANDIZING INSIDE THE GOLF COURSE IS EXCELLENT.
IT'S DEFINITELY AN UPGRADE TO WHAT WE'VE WHAT WE'VE EVER HAD IN THERE.
AND NEXT TO THE STAFF BEING FRIENDLY, BUT ALSO BEING HELPFUL IN EVERY WAY IN, IN, ASSISTING BE THERE PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE OR PEOPLE THAT HAVE ARE MEMBERS OR PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST WANT TO PLAY A ROUND OF GOLF.
THEY DON'T CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE.
BUT I GO IN THERE AT 7:00 TO PLAY AT 7:30, AND THEY'RE AS FRIENDLY AS THEY WERE AT 7:00 AS THEY ARE AT 12:30 WHEN I WALK OFF. SO I WANT TO COMMEND THE GOLF COURSE AND THEIR STAFF.
THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? NO. OKAY.
I THINK WE'LL JUST, LEAVE THAT ITEM THERE FOR NOW.
AND DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? YES, SIR, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
JUST A QUICK ADDITIONS TO WHAT YOU HAD SAID IS, AND I DID INCLUDE THIS IN YOUR PACKET.
I BELIEVE THAT THE LETTER FROM MR. GEORGE. AND JUST TO REITERATE THAT CURRENTLY, AT THIS TIME, PAM IS GOING TO PAM MCDONALD IS, WHICH HANDLES THE FINANCES A LOT OF THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND IS KIND OF THE GO TO, WITH SOME QUESTIONS.
SHE IS GOING TO BE THE ON SITE INDIVIDUAL WHERE IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT IF IF THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE THE FOUR DIVISIONS THAT WE WOULD CALL THE FOUR DIVISIONS OF THE GOLF COURSE CAN'T HANDLE AND THEN IT WOULD ULTIMATELY GO TO HER.
I, I PERSONALLY AM, MEETING WITH THE STAFF EVERY THURSDAY AT 2:00 AT THEIR, WEEKLY STAFF MEETING.
SO JUST JUST TO REMEMBER IS THE WAY I, I ENVISION IT IS PAM IS KIND OF THE, THE ACCOUNTANT, THE THE THE PAYER OF THE BILLS WHERE ALL THE FINANCES ARE CHRISTY BENJAMIN IS WITH FNB.
OBVIOUSLY MARK SWOOP IS IS KIND OF LEAD OR IS LEADING THE MAINTENANCE.
AND THEN, MARY POOL IS THE GOLF SIDE, PRO SHOP SIDE.
SO AT THIS POINT, IT HAS BEEN TOLD TO THEM, AS YOU KNOW, YOU'RE HANDLING YOUR, YOUR SIDE OR YOUR DIVISION OF THE GOLF COURSE.
AND THEN IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, PAM, IS THE ON SITE INDIVIDUAL.
AND THEN I WILL ALSO WORK WITH PAM.
SO AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, JUST SO YOU GUYS ARE AWARE, THE, THE GOLF COURSE OR THE DIRECTOR OF GOLF POSITION HAS BEEN POSTED IN THE CITY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY APPLICANTS WE DO AT THIS HAVE AT THIS TIME.
I DO THINK WE WILL GET SOME GOOD APPLICANTS.
THAT IS OPEN UNTIL MARCH 1ST, I BELIEVE IS THE CLOSING DATE.
OKAY, SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A A HEADS UP ON THAT.
[00:10:04]
TREMENDOUSLY, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME.BUT THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO HAVE A GOLF COURSE THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO AND PLAY.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO INVEST OUR MONEY.
SO, THAT'S I THINK YOU I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD IS AND WE HAVE DONE A 180, WITH THE CONDITIONS OF THE COURSE AND WE'RE STILL GOING TO CONTINUE, HOPEFULLY TO EVEN GET BETTER.
ONCE WE GET TO THAT, CATCHING IT UP.
AND THEN ONCE WE GET TO THAT POINT, IT'S EVEN GOING TO BE EASIER.
WITH THAT BEING SAID IS WE DO HAVE, A VERY LARGE GOLF TOURNAMENT, THE BASEBALL HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PUTS ON THEIR GOLF TOURNAMENT, FEBRUARY 23RD.
SO THAT'S A BIG, BIG TOURNAMENT AND, YOU KNOW, MY THOUGHTS IS THERE'S A LOT OF LOCAL A LOT OF LOCAL PLAYERS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MIGHT SEE THAT COURSE.
YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR THEY, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS IMPROVED.
THIS YEAR, I HOPE, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY MEMBERS CAN WE GET OUT OF THAT GROUP? OH, MAN, THIS COURSE IS LOOKING MUCH BETTER.
SO WE HOPE TO PUT ON A GREAT EVENT FOR THAT.
AND THEN ON THE 24TH, THE DAY AFTER IS BEYOND THE BADGES, THE THE GOLF TOURNAMENT THAT THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKS WITH. SO BACK TO BACK TOURNAMENTS AND THEN I BELIEVE THE MGA, THE MGA GOLF TOURNAMENT IS THE 17TH AND THAT'S, THAT'S COMING UP THIS WEEKEND.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE AT THE GOLF COURSE IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.
I'VE SPOKEN TO MARK, AND OBVIOUSLY MARK IS AWARE OF THIS, BUT, WE WANT THAT.
WE WANT THE GOLF COURSE LOOKING GOOD.
IT'S GOING TO BE A TIME TO SHOWCASE WHERE WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE'VE COME FROM.
SO THOSE ARE THOSE ARE IMPORTANT DATES.
SO, AND THAT'S SOMETHING DAVID BROUGHT, BROUGHT, BROUGHT AS WELL SO.
THE GOAL IS TO GET PEOPLE THERE.
ANYWAYS, I JUST I JUST THOUGHT I'D GIVE YOU THAT KIND OF THAT UPDATE, SO THANK YOU, SIR.
ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT STAFF OR, ANYTHING RELATED TO THAT? I HAVE A QUESTION WITH ALL THE CHANGES, HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIPS? I MEAN, WE NEVER GOT A DAVID SAID THEY WERE TRENDING, BUT HE NEVER GAVE NUMBERS AS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
YEAH. SO I'M STILL I'M PERSONALLY STILL WRAPPING MY HEAD AROUND ALL OF THAT.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT MEMBERSHIP HAS INCREASED.
BUT TO BE TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST, I CAN'T GIVE YOU EXACT NUMBERS AT THIS TIME, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALWAYS REPORT BACK TO. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT NUMBERS FOR YOU GUYS TO BE AWARE OF.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THOSE BY NEXT TIME ABSOLUTELY. OKAY.
I MEAN, YEAH THAT'S VERY EASY TO FOLLOW.
AND FROM THE MUNI REPORT MEMBERSHIPS I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS, BUT IT WAS WORTH 220,000 VERSUS 151,000 THE PREVIOUS YEAR AT THAT POINT.
THAT'S AN IMPROVEMENT. BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE THE BREAKDOWN OF NUMBERS.
YEAH. SO WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE.
THAT'D BE GREAT. THE THE ONE THE ONE THING IS, IS IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, THIS LAST MONTH, THE CAN THE WEATHER CONDITIONS HAVEN'T BEEN THAT GREAT. IT'S BEEN RELATIVELY CHILLY.
SO HOPEFULLY THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL WE GET A LITTLE TURN HERE.
AND THESE ARE THE MONTHS THAT ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE GOLF COURSE.
PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT QUARTER.
YES, SIR. THE NEXT TWO THIS AND RIGHT.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 6.2, FIRST QUARTER FINANCIALS.
[6.2 First Quarter Financials]
IN THE PACKET UP HERE, STAFF PROVIDED, PRETTY MUCH JUST A FINANCIAL SUMMARY.AND IT'S MY BELIEF FROM THE YEAR TO DATE BUDGET REPORT YOU SEE HERE AT VARIOUS BREAKS IN IT, LIKE AT THE END OF PAGE 39, IN THE MIDDLE OF PAGE 39, THEY TOTAL IT ALL
[00:15:06]
UP. AND THAT'S WHERE THEY COME UP WITH THOSE NUMBERS FOR THE TOTAL GOLF.AND THEN SAME WITH THE PRO SHOP AND THEN SAME WITH THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE.
[INAUDIBLE] I THINK IT'D BE GREAT IF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD COULD GET FAMILIAR WITH GOING ON AND LOOKING AT IT, AND IT'S NORMALLY OUT ON THE SECOND COMMISSION MEETING OF THE MONTH, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE MEETINGS DO CLOSE NO, IT COMES OUT EVERY MONTH.
I THINK FOR A LOT OF OUR PURPOSES, WOULD YOU LIKE TO JUST LEAD THROUGH THAT, MR. MIKELSON OR. YEAH SO SO JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE, LIKE CHAIR PELICAN SAID IS, THE SECOND MEETING IS, THE THE BUDGET REPORT IS, IS GIVEN TO THE COMMISSIONERS, WHICH, WHICH INCLUDES GOLF.
YOU HAVE GOLF, YOU HAVE GOLF TOPTRACER, YOU HAVE GOLF PRO SHOP, AND YOU HAVE GOLF FOOD AND BEVERAGE.
BASICALLY I JUST PULLED THE A BASICALLY A SUMMARY, WHEN I PULLED THIS, THIS WAS THROUGH DECEMBER, SO YEAR TO DATE THROUGH THROUGH DECEMBER, OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER.
THIS NUMBER RIGHT HERE SHOWS THAT THE GOLF COURSE THROUGH DECEMBER IS $312,500, $313,000 IN THE BLACK.
NUMBER CAN BE NUMBER CAN BE A LITTLE MISLEADING.
SO LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE GOLF CARTS, THE GOLF CARTS WERE TURNED IN THIS YEAR.
SO, THAT NUMBER IS THAT OFFSET THE COST OF THE, OF THE, OF THE GOLF CART.
SO NEXT YEAR THAT THAT FEE FOR THE LEASING OF THE GOLF CARTS WILL BE PUT INTO INTO THE BUDGET.
SO BY, BY JUST PULLING THIS THE THESE NEGATIVE, CAN YOU SCROLL UP.
LIKE TOTAL GOLF RIGHT HERE JUST BY THE BUDGET IS POSITIVE $319.
YEAH. IT'S SO IT'S JUST THE COST.
IT'S THE EXPENSE BASICALLY OVER THE EXPENSE WE'RE POSITIVE $319, THIS ACTUALLY IS WHERE WE'RE UNDER WE'RE $-7,000 IN TOPTRACER.
AND THEN IF YOU SCROLL DOWN FOOD AND BEVERAGE IS WE'RE ACTUALLY POSITIVE HERE.
AND THEN IN THE PRO SHOP WE'RE CURRENTLY NEGATIVE.
THAT WOULD BE DUE TO BUYING A BUNCH OF INVENTORY.
THAT WOULD BE DUE TO BUYING A BUNCH OF A BUNCH OF INVENTORY.
YES. IF I COULD I'D JUST TACKLE THAT FIRST SECTION.
FIRST OF ALL, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I THINK THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, $192 OR $200,000.
I THINK THAT'S A SALE OF MAINLY THE CARTS TRADE IN.
AND THEN THE GENERAL FUND GAVE THEM A LOT OF MONEY TOWARDS THE IRRIGATION PUMPS THAT ARE COMING.
AND THEY'RE $30 TO $45,000 A QUARTER.
SO WHEN THEY ADD IT ALL UP, YOU END UP WITH THAT NUMBER.
AND THE BAD THING ABOUT IT IS THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.
AND, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, SHEET I GAVE YOU, THE GREENS FEES YEAR TO DATE, THAT WAS THROUGH DECEMBER.
AND I GUESS, I'M JUST BRINGING UP I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE DO BETTER THAN THAT.
BECAUSE WE RAISED, WE RAISED GREENS FEES.
[00:20:03]
SO WE HAVEN'T DRASTICALLY INCREASED THE GREENS FEES FOR THE CONDITION OF THE COURSE.AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M THINKING.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET MORE PLAY OUT THERE.
YEAH. SO THE REPORT THAT, CHAIR PELICAN IS TALKING ABOUT IS THAT IS THE LARGE REPORT.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S REALLY IT'S DIFFICULT TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND ALL OF THAT.
AND ONE OF THE MAJOR NUMBERS IN THAT REPORT THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT IS ON THE FAR RIGHT.
IT DOES GIVE A PERCENTAGE, I BELIEVE, IF AND I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
BUT YEAH. SO THE PERCENTAGE BASED ON THE QUARTER IS, YOU KNOW, HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO MEETING, WHAT YOU BUDGETED FOR IN REVENUE.
AND CURRENTLY THAT DOESN'T LINE UP WITH WHERE WE ARE WITHIN THE YEAR OR THE QUARTER.
YOU KNOW, ONE QUARTER THROUGH, WE SHOULD BE 25% OR THEREABOUTS OF OUR BUDGET.
SO I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT IS WHAT WAS WHAT WAS BUDGETED, FOR COURSE REVENUE.
WE SHOULD AT THIS POINT BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.
AND MY POINT IS NOT TO CRITICIZE, BUT TO SEE WHAT KIND OF MAYBE SLIGHT COURSE CORRECTIONS COULD BE MADE THAT WOULD IMPROVE THAT.
BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, AS YOU SAID, WE DON'T KNOW.
I ASKED MY WIFE AND SHE SAID, WELL, THE WEATHER'S BEEN KIND OF LOUSY, BUT IT WAS COLD IN JANUARY, SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY, BUT OVER TIME IT UNLESS YOU HAVE A REALLY HORRIBLE WEATHER YEAR, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO MY EMPHASIS IS TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE IF THESE THINGS WE'RE NOT DOING TO GET THE MORE PLAY ON THE COURSE, WHICH IS THAT'S WHERE THE REVENUE COMES FROM, I BELIEVE.
YES. YEAH. THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHERE THE REVENUE COMES FROM IS MEMBERSHIPS.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY PEOPLE COMING AND PLAYING AT THE COURSE AND THAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL.
AND AND YOU KNOW, THE PRICES ARE CURRENTLY SET.
BUT FINDING THAT PRICE POINT OF WHERE, WHERE EXACTLY IS THAT PRICE POINT.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT THE RITZ, WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY THE AMELIA RIVER, BUT WE DO HAVE A NICHE IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND THAT NICHE AND THAT PRICE POINT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO OPTIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COMING TO THE COURSE.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE MR. DEMAY BELIEVED OUR COMPETITION WITH THE PRIVATE COURSES, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S THE AUTOMOBILE WHERE PEOPLE CAN DRIVE FURTHER OR FAR AND GOLF NOW WHICH THE PEOPLE DOING THAT DISCOUNTING ON A DAILY BASIS, DEPENDING ON WHAT.
SO IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A CITY TO SET THAT PRICE POINT WHERE WE CAN.
THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR THE GOLF COURSE.
YOU KNOW, IT IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
IT IS A SET UP TO WHERE IT CAN PAY FOR ITSELF.
THAT I MEAN, THAT INCLUDES I MEAN, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE FUNDED IN THE GOLF COURSE, BUT IT'S WHAT ARE YOUR EXPENSES AND WHERE IS THAT PRICE POINT ON WHERE WE CAN COVER ALL OF THOSE EXPENSES? I MEAN, YES, THE COST OF EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP JUST IN FERTILIZER ALONE HAS GONE UP THREE TIMES WHAT IT USED TO BE.
SO IF YOU WERE JUST TO LOOK AT THAT NUMBER AND THAT SHOWS YOU THAT THE PRICES DO HAVE TO GO UP, BECAUSE IF THOSE PRICES DON'T GO UP, THEN WE CAN'T COVER OUR EXPENSES.
WHAT ARE WHAT IS THAT PRICE POINT TO WHERE WE CAN COVER THOSE EXPENSES, STILL PROVIDE A GOOD PRODUCT WHERE THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT AREN'T GOING TO THESE CERTAIN COURSES, THEN THAT THEY'RE COMING TO OUR COURSE.
MR. CAMERA HAD A QUESTION I'M SORRY.
OH. THAT'S OKAY. COULD I ASK MR., COMMISSIONER ROSS TO STEP UP AND EXPLAIN TO ME HOW HE PERCEIVES THE GOLF COURSE AND OF WHERE HE PERCEIVES THE GOLF COURSES, STAGES TODAY VERSUS LAST YEAR ON, REVENUE AND WHAT HIS EXPECTATIONS ARE FOR THE GOLF COURSE.
THANK YOU, MR. COMMISSIONER ROSS.
[00:25:02]
CHIP ROSS, 210 NORTH 3RD STREET.WHAT EXACTLY IS YOUR QUESTION NOW? EUROPEAN UNION A GOLF COURSE.
GOLF COURSE? NICE GOLF COURSE, I MEAN, BUT IT'S NOT MY OPINION.
THE GOLF COURSE IS AN AMENITY THAT THE CITY OWNS.
IT'S ALSO A ENTERPRISE FUND, AND AN ENTERPRISE FUND IS REALLY AN ACCOUNTING THING BECAUSE YOU ARE USING MONEY, YOU'RE USING REVENUE FROM A SOURCE TO PAY FOR DEBT, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
BUT THAT BEING ASIDE, IF IT WAS A BUSINESS.
THIS BUSINESS WOULD BE BANKRUPT.
SORRY. WE SUBSIDIZING IT? THE COUNTY, THE TAXPAYERS.
JUST LIKE THE MARINA DOWN HERE.
IF THE MARINA WAS A BUSINESS IT WOULD BE BANKRUPT.
THE CITY SUBSIDIZES THE MARINA CLOSE TO $1 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
WE'RE SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT.
I'M SORRY. GOLF COURSE DOES WAY BETTER THAN THAT.
YEAH THEY DO. GOLF COURSE IS NOT AS BAD AS THAT.
[LAUGHTER] I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
SO FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW, I MEAN, FOR ME PERSONALLY, I MEAN WE TALK ABOUT THE ROLLBACK RATE.
I MEAN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO SUBSIDIZE THE GOLF COURSE, THAT'S FINE.
IT'S AN AMENITY. IT'S HERE FOR PEOPLE.
AND I AND I HAVE FOR YEARS SUPPORTED THE GOLF COURSE.
BUT THE REALITY IS WE'RE SUBSIDIZING IT.
THE TAXPAYERS ARE SUBSIDIZING IT.
AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS CITY DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE GOLF COURSE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY WHO REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE MARINA.
AND BOTH OF THOSE ARE HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED BY THE TAXPAYER.
AND, I DON'T THINK IT'S A PRICE POINT THAT THE PROBLEM IS YOU NEED MORE PEOPLE TO COME PLAY.
THAT'S WHAT THE PRICE POINT IS.
YEAH, BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THERE'S A WHOLE BOOK ON PRICING.
SO JUST HAVING YOU NEED PAYING PEOPLE PAY AT A CERTAIN RATE TO PAY FOR IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO ATTRACT.
IF YOU KEEP DRIVING DOWN THE PRICE YOU GOT, THAT MONEY'S GOING TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.
I MEAN, THERE'S COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
I MEAN, IF A THOUSAND PEOPLE PLAY AND PAY A BUCK, OR 100 PEOPLE PLAY AND PAY $2,000 OR WHATEVER, I'M MAKING UP NUMBERS.
BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE A ROLLBACK RATE, AND NOT, HAVE SUBSIDIZING THINGS.
MONEY'S GOT TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.
SO DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? THAT IT DOES. THANK YOU.
BUT THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS THE MONEY THAT WE SPENT THE LAST SEVEN YEARS PRIOR TO THE ACQUISITION OF DAVID DEMAY, IS SEVEN YEARS OF CATCH UP ON THIS GOLF COURSE WHERE THINGS WEREN'T DONE PROPERLY OR NOT DONE AT ALL. SO I BELIEVE THAT THE HIRING OF DAVID DEMAY HAS INCREASED THE VISIBILITY OF A BETTER GOLF COURSE FOR THE FUTURE, BUT IT TAKES TIME.
AND, DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE? YEAH, HE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND I'M NOT I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD DISPUTE THAT.
BUT IF YOU LOOK, YOU AND I ARE GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AFTERWARDS, IF YOU DON'T MIND, BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN THERE'S A BIG NEGATIVE THERE, I'VE DONE ACCOUNTING FOR YEARS AND NEGATIVE TO ME DOESN'T MEAN POSITIVE.
I'M NOT QUITE UNDERSTANDING THAT.
BUT WHEN I SEE A NEGATIVE, YOU THINK IT'S IT'S NEGATIVE.
I MEAN, MY WIFE HAS A DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING, AND, YOU KNOW IT COMES IN NEGATIVE.
I MEAN, SO, I MEAN, WE'RE SUBSIDIZING THE GOLF COURSE.
OKAY. NEW PROJECTS, HMM INTERESTING.
SO THE SAME THING I'M SITTING UP THERE FOR SIX YEARS NOW SAYING, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR THIS? AND IF YOU WANT TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS, THAT'S FINE, BUT THAT'S YOUR CHOICE.
[00:30:01]
THANK YOU SIR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CHARLIE. THANK YOU.YOU, MR. CORBETT, WHAT'S YOUR HOW MUCH SHOULD THE CITY SUBSIDIZE THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
SO, I MEAN, LIKE YOU SAID, IT WAS ORIGINALLY PUT IN AS AN AMENITY FOR THE CITY PEOPLE TO PLAY GOLF.
AT THAT TIME, IT WASN'T A LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO DO WHEN IT WAS PUT IN, IN THE 50S.
AND I THINK IT'S AT ONE TIME, OF COURSE, IT WAS THE ONLY GOLF COURSE ON THE ISLAND, AND IT TOOK CARE OF ITSELF UNTIL IT BUILT UP A FUND, AND THEY DECIDED TO USE THE FUND FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
AND I BELIEVE SINCE THEN IT HAD IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SUBSIDIZED.
SO IT'S A QUESTION OF HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO SUBSIDIZE IT OR IF YOU WANT TO SUBSIDIZE IT.
SO. CAN'T DO MUCH ELSE WITH IT.
I MEAN, IT'S RECREATION LANDS.
I DON'T THINK YOU. I MEAN, YOU CAN'T CLOSE IT AND SELL IT AS FAR AS I KNOW.
YOU CAN, BUT IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT.
I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD. YOU HAVE TO PUT IT ON I CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
YOU HAVE TO DO 4 CITY COMMISSIONERS HAVE TO VOTE FOR IT.
AND YOU NEED 74, 75% OF THE ELECTORATE TO APPROVE IT.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
LIKE YOU SAID IT AIN'T IT AIN'T PASSING.
CAN I CAN I ADD ONE THING AND I THINK IT GOES BACK TO A COMMENT THAT, MEMBER CAMERA JUST MADE IS, YOU KNOW, THE HIRING OF MR. DEMAY. THE GOLF COURSE HAS CHANGED.
AND WE, ALL, I THINK, FEEL THAT.
I MEAN, JUST THE OTHER DAY I MET WITH MARK AND BRIAN AND, THEY WERE SAYING THAT JUST IN THE LAST YEAR OR HALF A YEAR, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE IRRIGATION AND NOT THEM.
BUT THERE'S AN IRRIGATION GUY WHO YOU GUYS ARE AWARE OF.
HE'S RETIRED. HE WORKS PART TIME, AND THERE WAS OVER 130 HEADS THAT WERE LITERALLY JUST BURIED, GONE, NOT WORKING.
THERE WERE HEADS THAT WERE INTO THE WOOD LINES THAT THEY'RE FINDING THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY PUSHING BACK AND AND TAKING BACK THE GOLF COURSE.
AND YOU CAN SEE IT AND YOU CAN SEE IT WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING THERE WHERE IT HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE IRRIGATION HEADS ARE.
SO THAT ALONE RIGHT THERE JUST SHOWS THAT IT'S IT'S HAPPENING.
AND THAT WAS MASSIVE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WASN'T IT.
YES. I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP THE IDEA THAT, IT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF HIRING DAVID DEMAY WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD START A PROGRESS TOWARDS THE IMPROVEMENT OF A GOLF COURSE THAT HAS BEEN LACKING FOR OVER 5 TO 7 YEARS. AND, YOU KNOW, EXPENSES BACK 5 OR 7 YEARS IS WAY LESS THAN WHAT THE EXPENSES ARE TODAY TO RUN A GOLF COURSE. AND, WITH THE MEMBERSHIP BEING EITHER A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS UP OR EVEN IT STILL DOES NOT COVER WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP UP WITH THE EVERYDAY NEEDS OF THE GOLF COURSE.
SO WHAT I MAY SUGGEST IS WE LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES OF HOW WE CAN INCREASE THE, VISIBILITY FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS THAT REPRESENT ABOUT 65% OF FERNANDINA BEACH.
AND I THINK THAT LOOKING FORWARD, WE MAY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, ADVERTISE THAT WE ARE HAVING, A SPECIAL SUMMER RATE FOR SIX MONTHS, WHICH IS THE BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO GET THOSE PEOPLE OUT ONTO THE GOLF COURSE, NOT TO IMPACT THE MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE, BUT TO INCREASE THE VISIBILITY OF THE PEOPLE, FERNANDINA BEACH, AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY THE GOLF COURSE AND SEE THE DIFFERENCE AND POSSIBLY ADD THEM AS MEMBERS THE FOLLOWING SEASON. THAT'S MY SUGGESTION.
TALKING ABOUT A SENIOR RATE FOR INSTANCE, OR SENIOR DAYS OR.
WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WHATEVER THE GOLF COURSE FEELS LIKE, WE CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON HAVING PEOPLE COME OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT COMING OUT THERE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
THERE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE SOME MARKETING INCENTIVES.
[00:35:03]
YOU KNOW OTHER GOLF COURSES DO MAKE A PROFIT.THERE'S NO REASON WHY IT COULDN'T HAPPEN HERE IF IT WAS DONE PROPERLY, I DON'T KNOW.
DO WE HAVE SEASONAL MEMBERSHIPS? I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT SUCH A POPULATION OF PEOPLE WHO COME HERE FROM OCTOBER TO.
I BELIEVE THEY'RE SELLING THEM SIX MONTH MEMBERSHIP.
ARE THEY? OKAY. BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING.
AND THAT'S MONEY UP FRONT WHERE YOU CAN YEAH. SO I THINK SO.
SO I THINK GOING INTO THIS NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE COMMENCING BEHIND THE SCENES VERY SHORTLY IN, YOU KNOW, US STARTING TO GET NUMBERS READY, BUT THAT WE'RE ALREADY HAVE EMAILS COMING OUT FROM THE COMPTROLLER THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STARTING THAT PROCESS.
SO I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND GET THIS, THE NEW GOLF DIRECTOR IN PLACE AND PAM AND I HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM OR HER, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE ITEMS. AND THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GET PEOPLE OUT THERE SO THEY CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
IN TURN, YOU HOPE THAT THEY THEN BECOME A MEMBER.
OR AT LEAST PLAY THERE MORE REGULARLY.
IF THEY PLAY THREE TIMES A WEEK, HOPEFULLY THE CITY COURSE IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES IN THEIR ROTATION.
DO THE TOURNAMENTS BRING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES? LIKE, I KNOW YOU JUST SAID YOU HAD THE TWO THAT ARE COMING OR ARE THEY KIND OF BREAK EVEN SITUATIONS? NO. YEAH, THEY DEFINITELY MAKE MONEY.
BECAUSE ANOTHER AREA TO LOOK AT GETTING HOSTING MORE TOURNAMENTS AT THE GOLF COURSE.
THEY JUST WHAT YOU CAN ADD TO THAT IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO PARTS THAT BENEFIT WHEN WE BRING SOMEBODY OUT THERE AT EITHER A GOLF PASS RATE OR WHATEVER, IS THAT THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE GAINS FROM IT.
EXACTLY. THE PRO SHOP GAINS FROM IT.
YES. AND ALSO THE ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT THE GOLF COURSE TO OTHER PEOPLE, TO TAKE THAT NEGATIVITY THAT IS OUT THERE AND MAKE IT A POSITIVE THING.
SO I THINK WITH ALL THREE OF THOSE THINGS, IT'S A VALUE ADDED THAT WE GET AS MANY PEOPLE AS ONTO THE COURSE, BECAUSE WE'VE LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING TO THE COURSE IN THE PAST.
THE GOLF COURSE IS FRIENDLY TO WOMEN.
THE GOLF COURSE IS BEING RERATED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO TOPTRACER THERE.
OKAY. I WAS ON THE BOARD WHEN IT OPENED.
I WASN'T ON THE BOARD WHEN IT WAS AUTHORIZED.
I CAN SEE ACCORDING TO THOSE NUMBERS, IT'S 7500 IN THE RED OVER ON THE RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK THAT REALLY TELLS THE WHOLE STORY.
AND I'M NOT JUST WANT TO START A CONVERSATION IN THE FUTURE ABOUT IT.
I THINK WITH THE BREAK IN, THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER COMING, IT'S TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. THIS IS HEARSAY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TRUE.
SUPPOSEDLY, THE DRIVING RANGE USED TO NET ABOUT $100,000 PROFIT, A HIGH NUMBER, IF NOT 100 AND A HIGH, YOU KNOW, 70, $80,000 NOW. IT'S YEARS AGO, AND I'M NOT SURE TOPTRACER HELPS THAT AT ALL.
I THINK WHEN YOU AMORTIZE THE LABOR ABOUT $60,000 A YEAR ON IT IN THE, TOPTRACER RENTAL $24,000, YOU'RE SPENDING $85,000 BEFORE YOU GET OUT OF THE BOX.
AND THE ONLY REASON I BRING THAT UP NOW IS WE'VE HAD TWO GENERAL MANAGERS NOW THAT HAVE RUN IT, MR. MIKE COONEY AND MR. DEMAY, AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH WHERE IT'S BEEN.
IT MIGHT HAVE DONE EVEN A LITTLE BETTER WHEN IT OPENED THEN.
SO I'M ONLY BRINGING THAT UP IS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE HIRING A NEW GENERAL MANAGER.
[00:40:04]
HE HAS NO STAKE IN IT.NO FACE SAVING IT WOULD BE A TIME THE BOARD OR THE COMMISSION YOURSELF TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT IT AND KIND OF REMOVE THAT MONKEY FROM THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER'S BACK, TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT BE THERE. BECAUSE WHEN YOU ADD UP ALL THOSE EXPENSES, IT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR NOTHING, REALLY.
IT'S AN AMENITY, IT'S AN ATTRACTION.
BUT IF YOU HAD $75,000 OR $100,000 OF PROFIT COMING BACK TO GO INTO THE RANGE AND THE GOLF COURSE, THAT'S NOT A SMALL NUMBER.
AND I ONLY WANT TO BRING THAT UP BECAUSE I FOLLOWED IT.
THESE NUMBERS GO BACK MONTH BY MONTH OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
YOU MAY GET A MONTH OR TWO WHERE IT OPERATES IN THE BLACK AND THEN REVERTS TO THE RED.
SO I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT UP.
THE NUMBERS A NUMBER, FROM THAT BUDGET NUMBER, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY IN IT TOWARDS BAY RENTALS AND SPONSORSHIPS THAT ARE THERE IN THE BUDGET, BUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE EFFECTIVELY ZERO.
SO IT KIND OF DISTORTS YOUR BUDGET, I THINK.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD TAKE.
AND SO CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION.
YES, SIR. SO THE INDIVIDUALS YOU GUYS AS THE BOARD MEMBERS AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WHAT IS THE FEELING FROM THE GOLFERS? I'LL JUST SAY HOW I FEEL.
I REALLY DON'T USE TOPTRACER AND I'M NOT INTERESTED.
I'M RETIRED. I KNOW WHERE MY GAME IS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO GET A LOT BETTER.
IT'S, I'M MORE INTERESTED IN GETTING OUT ON THE COURSE WITH FRIENDS AND PLAYING GOLF.
THERE'S NOT A I DON'T THINK THERE'S A HUGE IN THE MIDDLE AGE TO SENIOR.
I BELIEVE IT'S MORE SOME OF THESE GUYS AFTER WORK, THE YOUNGER 20S, 30S CROWD.
SO YOU MADE A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT, SO.
YES. SO, SO RIGHT NOW THROUGH DECEMBER, AND THE NEGATIVE.
SO YOU'RE CORRECT, LICENSING FEES ARE AROUND $24,000.
AND THEN STAFFING IT IS, IS $60,000 OR THEREABOUTS.
BUT OBVIOUSLY SPONSORSHIPS ARE GOING TO WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY GET IN RETURN TOO.
NO, IT'S THE DRIVING RANGES AT GOLF COURSES DO MAKE MONEY.
THAT'S CORRECT. THEY MAKE MONEY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A CRAZY NUMBER FOR A GOLF FOR A DRIVING RANGE TO MAKE, WE HAVE MATS.
THERE IS A COVERED AREA THAT COULD BE USED, AND WE'RE AND ULTIMATELY IT'S REPLACED.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THOSE NETS, POLES.
BUT YES, THE DRIVING RANGE CAN MAKE MONEY.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE JUST BRINGING IT UP AS A QUESTION.
AND WE CAN HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
THERE IS A FEW WAYS TO LOOK AT IT IS IT BEING USED RIGHT NOW WITH ITS INTENDED PURPOSE? AND TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS NO.
AND MAYBE THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF TOPTRACER IS NOT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WANTS TO COME OUT AND GO GOLFING AND HIT A SMALL BUCKET OF BALLS BEFORE THEY PLAY.
SO I THINK IT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL IF TOPTRACER IS TO REMAIN HERE, THAT YOU USE IT AS SOMEWHAT OF A DRIVING RANGE DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS UNTIL A CERTAIN TIME, AND THEN IT'S OUR GOAL TO THEN BRING IT OUT WHERE THEN TOPTRACER IS MORE OF A RECREATIONAL FAMILY ORIENTED, WHERE YOU'RE ACTUALLY USING IT, BRINGING KIDS OUT ALMOST LIKE A TOP GOLF SITUATION. BUT DURING THAT MIDDLE, DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS TO WHEN PEOPLE ARE USING IT AS A.
SO THAT'S HOW I SEE HOW IT COULD WORK BOTH WAYS.
[00:45:10]
AND I THINK, PAM, I DON'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT I THINK YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY AS MOST PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.IT'S BEING USED AS A DRIVING RANGE.
WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT? YES. THE ONE PROBLEM THAT I'VE HEARD IS I SPOKE TO MR. DEMAY ABOUT THIS, AND THEY CHANGED THE PRICING WHERE IT BECAME INCLUDED IN THE BALLS.
YES. BUT YES, IT MAKES THE BALLS KIND OF EXPENSIVE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT JUST WANT TO HIT BALLS.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHAT SOME OF THESE OTHER THEY CHARGE LIKE $20 FOR THEM.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE I SPOKE TO MS. MCDONALD, AND IT'D BE HELPFUL IF YOU ALMOST FORMED AN ALTERNATIVE BUDGET WITHOUT IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TO SEE WHERE IT BRINGS YOU.
NOT THAT YOU'RE COMMITTING TO ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF A PLAN A, PLAN B, PLAN C.
SEE OKAY. THAT'S MY ONLY IDEA THERE.
SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT? I JUST WANT TO ADD TO WHAT WE'VE SAID IN THE PAST, WHERE DO WE GET OUR MONEY FROM THAT DOESN'T COST US A LOT AND THAT IS THROUGH THE DRIVING RANGE.
IT IS VERY LITTLE YOU PICK TWICE A DAY.
NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF BALLS OUT THERE THAT YOU KNOW CAN BE REPLENISHED TWICE A DAY AND REUSED.
IT'S AN ASSET TO ANY GOLF COURSE TO HAVE, PRACTICE RANGE AND TO GET THE MAXIMUM THAT WE CAN GET OUT OF IT. WE DO OFFER THAT AS PART OF OUR MEMBERSHIP THAT PEOPLE THAT HAVE A FULL MEMBERSHIP GET THE BAGS OF BALLS FOR FREE.
CORRECT. BUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING A CITY COURSE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO OUT THERE AND PRACTICE FOR A REASONABLE RATE WOULD ALSO ENTICE PEOPLE TO COME OUT THERE AND PLAY ON THE GOLF COURSE BECAUSE THEY GET TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
THE FAILURE OF TOPTRACER IS TWOFOLD AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
A WE NEVER REALLY CONSTRUCTED IT SO THAT THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE COULD GAIN FROM IT.
NUMBER ONE, AND WE LOSE MONEY BECAUSE TOPTRACER, IF YOU GO TO THE OTHER ONES, THEIR FOOD AND BEVERAGE IS RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT AND BE ABLE TO, ENJOY ADDITIONAL REVENUE WHILE OUT THERE.
SECOND OF ALL, TOPTRACER IS NOW BECOMING A THORN IN EVERYBODY'S BUDGET, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD.
AND UNLESS WE, LIKE YOU JUST SAID, SEPARATE IT AND SEE WHERE THE REVENUE IS COMING FROM WITH GOLF BALLS AND TOPTRACER. TOPTRACER HAVING ITS OWN LINE AND GOLF BALLS HAVING THEIR OWN LINE, I WILL TELL YOU, I'LL BET YOU $5 RIGHT NOW THAT THE GOLF BALL INDUSTRY FOR HITTING OUT THERE ON PRACTICE RANGE WILL BE THREE TIMES AS MUCH AS WHAT TOPTRACER BRINGS IN. YEAH, I GO OUT THERE AND HIT BALLS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I PLAY, LIKE BUY A BUCKET OF BALLS TO HIT BEFORE I PLAY.
SO AND I WILL SAY THIS TO YOU, TO YOUR OTHER POINT, GOLF NOW HAS A PURPOSE.
GOLF NOW, NOW ADVERTISES FOR YOU WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE SLOTS THAT ARE NOT BEING TAKEN UP AND CAN BE FILLED AT A VERY NICE RATE AT TIMES, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE COMING OUT THERE.
AND THE MORE PEOPLE THAT YOU GET ON GOLF NOW, THE MORE CHANCES YOU HAVE OF GETTING MORE PEOPLE TO COME OUT THERE AS A SECOND AND THIRD AND FOURTH TIME USER OF A GOLF COURSE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? MR. MEADOWS WILL COME UP TO ADDRESS THE PANEL.
BEEN BEATING OUR HEAD TWO YEARS ON THIS.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MIKE MEADOWS, 2601 VIA DEL RAY.
JUST ONE THING. I WAS AT THE GOLF COURSE.
MY WIFE AND I WENT DOWN TO EAT AN EARLY LUNCH 3 OR 4 WEEKS AGO.
THERE WASN'T A SEAT IN THE BUILDING TO BE HAD LITERALLY.
THEY WERE HAVING MEETINGS IN ONE ROOM.
[00:50:02]
IT WAS FULL AND I MEAN FULL IN THE OTHER ROOM WHERE THE GRILL IS.SO THAT'S BEEN A BIG, BIG HELP.
IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME ABOUT THE DRIVING RANGE, IT USED TO BE A BIG PROFIT MAKER FOR THE CLUB.
I MEAN, YOU'RE RIGHT. IT WAS WAY UP THERE.
$80,000 OR MORE A YEAR FOR JUST THE DRIVING RANGE.
AND DID YOU SAY THAT WE'RE PAYING $60,000 A YEAR STAFFING? WELL, THAT'S WHAT'S BUDGETED.
NOBODY'S REALLY THAT I KNOW OF REALLY GOES DOWN AND USE IT THAT MUCH.
I THINK IT'D BE BETTER JUST TO TAKE THAT MONEY.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SELL GOLF BALLS AND WHAT HAVE YOU DOWN THERE FOR THAT.
SO, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE GOLF COURSE AND I WANTED TO THANK SCOTT. LAST NIGHT I WATCHED YOUR MEETING AT THE PARKS AND REC COMMITTEE.
HE GOT RAVING REVIEWS AFTER THE MEETING ABOUT WHAT A GREAT MEETING HE RAN.
AND I AGREE, THE BEST MEETING I'VE SEEN PARKS AND REC.
A LOT OF THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IN A LONG TIME.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MEADOWS. THANK YOU, MR. MEADOWS. THERE YOU GO.
I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN BEATING OUR HEADS FOR TWO YEARS ON.
THIS SEEMS TO BE IN THE SAME PLACE.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY WATER DOWN THERE.
I MEAN, TO SAVE MONEY WE DON'T WANT ANY WATER DOWN THERE.
BUT ANYWAY, SO EITHER YOUR IDEA WAS A NICE ONE.
I MEAN, USE GOLF BALLS IN THE MORNING AND TOPTRACER IN THE AFTERNOON.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T SPEND ANY MONEY, YOU AT LEAST SAVE IT.
SORRY. AN AUTOMATIC BALL MACHINE, I THINK WOULD BE IN THE CARDS AS FAR AS 5 TO $10,000.
PROBABLY, BUT IT WOULD REMOVE YOU.
COULD THAT GOLF COURSE COULD RUN OR THE RANGE COULD RUN FROM, DAWN TO DUSK WITH THAT, WITHOUT ANY PERSONNEL, IF THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE.
SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT FOR NOW IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO ADD, A COUPLE REALLY QUICK THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SAY TO YOU.
AND I KNOW THIS IS A THERE WAS ONE OTHER THING, BUT I KNOW THIS IS A REALLY SMALL THING, BUT, MARK, THE SUPERINTENDENT, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU COME OFF OF THE PARKWAY IN OFF VIA DEL RAY WHERE OUR SIGN IS MARK IS, I ACTUALLY SPOKE TO HIM THIS MORNING.
IS HE'S GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND CLEAN UP THAT FIRST LITTLE ISLAND AREA EITHER TODAY OR TOMORROW.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING.
THERE'S ALWAYS A TON OF PEOPLE ON THE PARKWAY ANYWAYS.
BUT I DO THINK THAT WHEN PEOPLE SEE, YOU KNOW, THEY SEE THE GOLF COURSE SIGN, THEY MIGHT SEE THOSE TREES AND AT THEIR ROSES OR WHATEVER THEY ARE THERE.
AND HE'S JUST GOING TO CLEAN UP AZALEAS.
YES, SIR. HE'S GOING TO CLEAN UP THAT AREA IN HOPES OF, YOU KNOW, HEY.
A LITTLE BIT MORE VISIBILITY AND JUST LIKE, OH THAT LOOKS NICE NOW.
LIKE, ALL RIGHT, WELL, NOT THAT IT'S MAYBE THE GOLF COURSE IS NICER, SO.
BUT ANYWAYS, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
IF YOU SEE HIM OUT THERE, HE'S JUST GOING TO CLEAN UP THAT FIRST LITTLE ISLAND AREA.
EYE SIGHT FIRST SITES IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE REMEMBER.
I THINK THE OTHER PART IS WE'RE COMING INTO CONCOURSE.
EVERY GOLF COURSE IS GOING TO BE PACKED FOR CONCOURSE.
[00:55:01]
I'M JUST GOING TO USE AMELIA RIVER.THEY HAVE ABOUT A 25 TO 30% INCREASE OF OUTSIDE GOLFERS COMING IN FOR CONCOURSE.
IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO PUT SOME KIND OF ADVERTISING IN THERE.
IT'S JUST AN IDEA, BUT YOU HAVE IT'S THE LARGEST, POPULATION, ITEM NEXT TO THE SHRIMP FEST THAT WE HAVE HERE ON THE ISLAND.
AND LET'S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
THOSE PEOPLE PLAY GOLF, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT AT CAR SHOW ALL DAY LONG.
THEY WANT SOMETHING TO FULFILL THEIR TIME WHILE THEY'RE HERE.
SO THAT WAS JUST A SECOND THOUGHT.
THE SECOND THING IS PAM AND I ARE GOING THROUGH AND THERE ARE CERTAIN EXPENSES THAT WE ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE A REALLY CLOSE LOOK AT AND SEE IF WE'RE OPTIMIZING WHAT THAT EXPENSE IS AND WHAT THAT REVENUE IS BRINGING INTO OUR GOLF COURSE.
SO THERE MIGHT BE A FEW THINGS THAT WE KIND OF STOP USING.
BUT WE'RE CURRENTLY WE HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY.
SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME OF THOSE EXPENSES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A TWO, $3,000 EXPENSE AND WE'RE NOT GAINING MONEY OFF OF THAT, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE BETTERMENT OF THE GOLF COURSE, THEN AT THIS POINT, WE MIGHT CUT SOME OF THOSE SUBSCRIPTIONS OR PROMOTE STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT AS WELL.
ANY LAST COMMENTS FROM ANYONE ABOUT THE FINANCIALS? OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7 THE MGA UPDATE.
[7. MGA UPDATE]
WE STILL DON'T HAVE AN MGA REPRESENTATIVE ON THE BOARD.SO I'LL JUST SAY A FEW THINGS.
THEY HAVE THESE THINGS CALLED A BLITZ ON WEDNESDAY MORNING.
AND FRIDAY MORNING THEY GET BETWEEN 30 AND 50 OR SO PLAYERS.
IT'S ALMOST RAIN OR SHINE UNLESS IT'S REALLY BAD WEATHER.
YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE A PLAYING PARTNER.
YOU PAY FOR THE GOLF AND THEN YOU PAY MONEY TO ENTER THAT TOURNAMENT AS SUCH.
A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY TALK ABOUT PLAYING GOLF, BUT THEY DON'T.
I'VE GOT A NEIGHBOR WHO'S LIVED NEXT TO ME FOR THREE YEARS, AND I STILL HAVEN'T GOT HIM TO PLAY A ROUND OF GOLF ON THE GOLF COURSE, IT'S ALWAYS [INAUDIBLE]. SO, THE BLITZ IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
ON SATURDAY MORNINGS THEY DO THE MIXER.
OH, BY THE WAY, WITH THE BLITZ, THEY GIVE YOU A SCORE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO ACHIEVE BASED ON YOUR HANDICAP, AND YOU'RE MATCHED UP INTO A 3 OR 4 PLAYER TEAM.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE THAT PLAYS THERE TO JOIN THE MGA.
I ONLY JOINED, I THINK, TWO YEARS AGO.
I THINK THIS IS JUST MY SECOND YEAR, I THINK.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG TO DO IT.
SO THAT WILL CONCLUDE MY MGA UPDATE.
CAN I JUST ASK A QUESTION ON THE MGA.
YES, SIR. WHY WE HAVE ADVERTISED FOR THAT MGA POSITION FOR THE, IS IT IN THE BYLAWS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AN MGA MEMBER ON THE GOLF ADVISORY BOARD? YES. AND GO AHEAD SIR.
YEAH. SO SO, YES, CURRENTLY IT IS IN THE RESOLUTION THAT ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IS A MGA IT IS SPECIFIC TO AN MGA POSITION. CAN THAT CHANGE? YES. THERE'S A LITTLE WORK BEHIND THE SCENES IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD ULTIMATELY YOU KNOW I THINK OBVIOUSLY WITH CHAIR PELICAN HERE HE IS A MEMBER OF THE MGA.
[01:00:05]
BUT YES, AS OF RIGHT NOW, IT IS IN THE RESOLUTION THAT ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IS AN MGA, MEMBER.RIGHT. SORRY. MY RATIONALE WAS THAT WE HAVE IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE YOU'VE ADVERTISED FOR A PERSON TO SIT AT THAT SEAT.
AND I WOULD THINK THAT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THIS BOARD, MAYBE WE SUSPEND THAT BECAUSE AND GET A PERSON ON THE BOARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO REPRESENT GOLF.
AND I THINK IT'S NECESSARY TO HAVE A FULL BOARD, WHEN THAT, YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE GIVE IT ANOTHER TWO MONTHS, I DON'T CARE, BUT MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOSING OUT ON A POSITION HERE WHERE WE MAKE CAN USE ANOTHER MIND ON THIS BOARD TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GOLF ADVISORY BOARD.
ONE OF THE OBJECTIONS PEOPLE GIVE MR. MEADOWS, PLEASE APPROACH, IS THAT I LIVE IN THE COUNTY.
EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE ONE HOUSE NEXT TO A HOUSE IN THE CITY.
[LAUGHTER] AS A COUNTY RESIDENT, THEY'RE NOT ABLE, BY THE BYLAWS TO BE ON THE BOARD.
YES, SIR. MIKE MEADOWS, 2601 VIA DEL RAY.
IS THAT THE TIME THAT THIS BOARD MEETS WEDNESDAY MORNING? AND I'VE HEARD THE WOMEN ASSOCIATION TALK ABOUT THAT HAVING DIFFICULT TIME BECAUSE A LOT OF THE LADIES PLAY ON DIFFERENT THINGS.
LIKE MOST OTHER BOARD MEETINGS.
I'D REALLY, REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU SPEND SOME TIME ON THAT.
GOOD POINT. YEAH. [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU.
BECAUSE I HAVE HAD OTHER WOMEN THAT I PLAY GOLF WITH IN OUR LEAGUE SAY IF IT WAS A THURSDAY MORNING, THEY'D BE HERE TO BE THE WOMEN'S REPRESENTATIVE OR A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
AND WE USED TO HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING.
AND A LOT OF THEM ARE PLAYING GOLF THIS MORNING.
SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE YOU YOU JUST WENT THROUGH IT.
THE REASON THEY'RE NOT HERE AND WHY THEY'RE SO.
AND HERE'S ANOTHER THING THAT I HAVE SEEN ESPECIALLY.
WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO GO THERE.
WE NEVER, EVER SEE A SIGN UP ABOUT IT AT THE CLUBHOUSE IN THE ADVERTISING FOR IT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME SIGNS PUT UP AT THE GOLF COURSE ADVERTISING THE VACANCY HERE FOR THAT.
AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT COMES OUT.
THE NEWSLETTER HAS BEEN GREAT.
SO LET'S GET IT IN THE NEWSLETTER.
SOME ADVERTISING FOR THIS PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE ON THIS BOARD.
AND I THINK YOU'LL FIND PEOPLE THAT WANT TO IF THEY KNOW ABOUT IT.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T.
AND THEY SAID, WELL, BUT THERE WASN'T ANYBODY.
I SAID, MOST PEOPLE DON'T READ THE AGENDA.
I'M NOT A NORMAL PEOPLE. I READ THE STUFF.
SO I HOPE YOU WILL DEFINITELY CONSIDER MOVING THE TIME OF THIS MEETING.
AND LET'S GET SOME SIGNS UP ADVERTISING.
SO WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO TO DO THIS? IT'S A MOTION. IT'S A MOTION.
PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT TIME AND MAKE A MOTION SECOND AND VOTE ON IT.
BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO VOTE.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT WITH THREE PEOPLE TO CHANGING THE TIME.
YEAH, I WOULD I WILL MAKE A MOTION RIGHT NOW IF WE CAN DO IT.
WELL, HOW ABOUT THIS, IS PAM AND I WILL DO A LITTLE RESEARCH.
TALK TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE, SEE WHAT THE SCHEDULE IS FOR THIS CHAMBERS.
THIS CHAMBERS IS BUSY AT 5:00 TO.
YOU KNOW, MOST MEETINGS ARE, LIKE MR. MEADOWS DID SAY AFTER HOURS.
SO LET US DO A LITTLE WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO YOU NEXT MONTH.
YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE, BECAUSE PERFECT SENSE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SCHEDULE IS FOR THE AFTERNOON.
YES. I MEAN, ON DAYS, BUT, THAT SOUNDS I MEAN, THAT SOUNDS PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT
[01:05:06]
AT 5:00, I'M NOT AVAILABLE.RIGHT FOR PARKS AND RECREATION.
[LAUGHTER] IS THURSDAY, A GOOD DAY FOR PEOPLE IN THE MORNING.
I'M FINE. JUST AS SOMETHING TO LOOK AT A THURSDAY MORNING.
IS THAT WORK? SO I CAN LOOK FOR THURSDAY MORNING AND THEN I CAN ALSO LOOK, I'LL BASICALLY PULL THE SCHEDULE AND WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION OF, YOU KNOW, CHANGING IT TO A DIFFERENT DAY IN THE MORNING OR CHANGING IT TO A DIFFERENT DAY IF WE CAN.
I THINK AFTERNOON WOULD BE BETTER, OBVIOUSLY.
AND ALSO LOOK AT THOSE DAYS IN THE AFTERNOON.
PEOPLE PLAY GOLF IN THE MORNING.
LET ME JUST SAY THIS TO YOU IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY.
GOLFERS LIKE ALL OF US, WE LIKE TO PLAY MORNING.
AND, BY 10:00, WE LIKE TO BE ON THE COURSE AT THE LATEST.
4:30 MEETING 90% OF THE GOLFERS ARE OFF THE GOLF COURSE, AND THEY'RE HOME AND WE CAN HAVE A MEETING.
I THINK LOOKING ANYTHING AFTER 4:30 IN THE AFTERNOONS IS A VERY POSITIVE WAY OF ENSURING THAT, WE GET POSSIBLY MGA MEMBERS TO JOIN BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE OFF THE GOLF COURSE.
SO I WOULD, PLEASE LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF ANYTHING AFTER 4:00 ON ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, WHATEVER SUITS AND GETS YOU THE TIME THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS MEETING.
THAT'S WHEN I GOLF, THOUGH TOM.
THE ONLY NEGATIVE THING ABOUT IT WOULD BE MAKE STAFF WORK LATE INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW.
DOES STAFF WORK? SO HERE LET'S.
THE STAFF WORKS AT FOR PRAC AT 5:00.
WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO AT THE NEXT MONTH.
AND WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON WHEN YOU GUYS AND WHEN STAFF FEEL IS THE BEST TIME.
AWESOME. YEAH. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO GET WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO, YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE MAKING CHANGES, THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO WITH THE RESOLUTION AND THAT IT WOULD, I BELIEVE, AT THAT POINT HAS TO BE, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH THE CITY COMMISSION AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT I DON'T THINK THE CITY COMMISSION NECESSARILY WILL HAVE AN ISSUE ON THE DAYS AND TIMES THAT YOU GUYS ARE MEETING, AS LONG AS IT FITS, OBVIOUSLY, IN THESE CHAMBERS.
THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 8 WGA UPDATE.
[8. WGA UPDATE]
NOT A LOT TO REPORT.WE ARE HAVING OUR, PAR THREE WITH THE NINE HOLE LEAGUE ON FEBRUARY 27TH, OF THIS YEAR, WHICH IS ALWAYS FUN BECAUSE THE TWO LEAGUES GET TO PLAY TOGETHER.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR MEMBER MEMBER TOURNAMENT COMING UP IN MARCH.
DO YOU HAVE A DATE ON THAT MARCH? WE JUST CHANGED IT BECAUSE IT OVERLAPPED WITH ANOTHER ONE.
WE ARE DOING IT MARCH 19TH AND 26TH.
YOU'VE BEEN UP THERE THE WHOLE TIME.
STAFF COMMENTS. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? NO, SIR. OKAY.
ITEM TEN BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
[10. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
ANY LAST MINUTE THINGS TO SAY? THING I HAVE IS I KNOW THAT THE FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA ARE GOING TO HAVE A BASICALLY A FUNDRAISER NEXT MONTH IN MARCH, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DATE IS.YEAH, I KNOW, THE FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA ARE HAVING A COCKTAIL RECEPTION PARTY THANKING THE DONORS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THIS YEAR. THEY WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS, WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR THE GOLF COURSE IN THE PAST YEAR.
THEY, WILL HAVE ENTERTAINMENT.
I BELIEVE THEY'VE ASKED SOME COMMISSIONERS TO COME THERE.
THEY'RE GOING TO HONOR THE STAFF FOR ALL THEY'VE DONE.
IT'S SORT OF A COMBINED THING.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A FUNDRAISER, BUT THERE WILL BE FUNDRAISING ITEMS IN THERE.
THEY'RE GOING TO DO A FEW THINGS IN THERE.
THANK YOU. THAT'S MARCH 7TH THE DATE.
OKAY. MARCH 7TH, ITEM 10 BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
I JUST WANT TO THANK SCOTT AND EVERYBODY THAT STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE TO HELP US THROUGH THIS TIME.
I THINK IT, TODAY'S MEETING HAS JUST BEEN, AN EYE OPENER FOR ALL OF US, THAT WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN A VERY SHORT TIME, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A GENERAL MANAGER.
AND I THINK THE FUTURE IS SO BRIGHT FOR US THAT, WE CONTINUE ON THIS ROAD FOR IMPROVEMENT.
[01:10:03]
IT WILL TAKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.AND NOBODY, I THINK, EXPECTS THAT.
BUT I THINK WE'RE OFF TO A GOOD START.
NO. SO I GUESS IN MARCH OR SO, WE NEED TO HAVE AN ELECTION FOR THE POSITIONS HERE.
SO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO RUN FOR AND STEP UP.
IF YOU FEEL YOU WANT TO TAKE A CERTAIN POSITION IN.
RIGHT? RIGHT. [LAUGHTER] I'LL SEE YOU GUYS.
I GOT ONE COMMENT FROM A PEOPLE I KNOW OUT THERE ON THE COURSE AND THEY SAID, OH, FIND A GM THAT'S NOT LOOKING AS A STEPPING STONE JOB. AND I DON'T BELIEVE MR. DEMAY TOOK THAT.
I THINK HE WAS HERE TO PLAN TO STAY UNTIL AN OFFER HE COULDN'T REFUSE CAME ALONG.
BUT, I THINK WHEN YOU PICK A GENERAL MANAGER, ASIDE FROM BEING EFFICIENT MANAGER OF THE GOLF COURSE RESOURCES, I THINK HE NEEDS TO BE SOMEWHAT OF A SALESMAN.
ENGAGING WITH THE GOLFERS, OPEN DOOR, SELLING MEMBERSHIP.
YOU KNOW, JUST BY VIRTUE OF NOT GOING TO A SALESMAN TYPE PERSONALITY IN ADDITION TO THOSE OTHER QUALITIES WOULD GO A LONG WAY THAT LIKES PEOPLE, LIKES TO TALK TO THEM.
AND I THINK THAT IN ITSELF WILL GET MORE PEOPLE JUST BY VIRTUE OF FORCE OF PERSONALITY, PEOPLE THAT JOIN THE CLUB BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T WANT TO SAY NO.
BUT THEN THAT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT, QUALITY OF THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER, IN MY OPINION.
ITEM 11, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
AYE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.