[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:04]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. THIS IS THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD, REGULAR MEETING FOR AUGUST 22ND, 2024 AT THE CITY HALL COMMISSION CHAMBERS.
ITEM 1, MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER.
ITEM 2, MADAM, COULD YOU CALL THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE?
>> HE IS ABSENT. VERIFICATION. BEFORE WE PROCEED TO ITEM 4, YESTERDAY, WE LEARNED OF THE SUDDEN UNTIMELY PASSING OF MR. CHARLES GEORGE, AND MR. TOMMY CAMERA KNEW HIM WELL, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW REMARKS ON OUR BEHALF.
>> THIS GENTLEMAN WAS TRULY FERNANDINA.
THERE WAS NOT A BETTER PERSON THAT YOU COULD HAVE HAD AS A DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ACTING INTERIM CITY COMMISSIONER.
HE UNDERSTOOD THE CITY, HE LOVED THE CITY, AND MOST OF ALL, HE WAS PROUD OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THIS CITY.
WE LOST A PERSON THAT UNDERSTOOD US, WANTED TO HELP WHEREVER HE COULD POSSIBLY PUT HIS KNOWLEDGE TO.
AT THIS MOMENT, I'D LIKE TO BOW OUR HEADS AND GIVE HIM RESPECT TO HIS DUE TO HIM. THANK YOU.
>> WELL DONE, THANK YOU. WE NOW STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU. ITEM 4, APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
THE MINUTES FOR THOSE TWO JULY MEETINGS ARE IN THE PACKET.ANYONE HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THEM?
>> I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN.
ITEM 5, PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
[5. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITMES NOT ON THE AGENDA]
WE HAVE ONE COMMENT SLIP FROM MR. JOHN SPATOLA.IS IT REGARDING ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR SOMETHING ELSE, SIR?
>> I WOULD SAY SOMETHING ELSE.
>> I GUESS IT'S TIME TO SPEAK THERE.
>> YOU CAN COME RIGHT HERE. YOU GOT TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
MY NAME IS JOHN SPATOLA, AND I'M A RESIDENT ON THE ISLAND HERE ON 2814 OCEAN SOUND DRIVE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'D FIRST LIKE TO THANK YOU YOU PEOPLE.
A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I STOOD BEFORE THIS BOARD AND I CRITICIZED THE TERRIBLE SHAPE YOUR GOLF COURSE WAS IN.
YOU OBVIOUSLY TOOK SOME ACTION BECAUSE IT'S COME A LONG WAY.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT BESIDES I PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH WAS BECAUSE I AM ALSO AN EMPLOYEE THERE NOW WORKING IN THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT.
BUT I GOT TO REMIND YOU, THERE SEVEN OF US THERE, WE GOT TWO YOUNG GUYS PROBABLY IN THEIR 20S JUST RECENTLY, AND THE COMBINED AGE OF THE SEVEN OF US STILL IN THE 60S.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW OLD THE CREW IS, BUT THERE ARE A VERY DEDICATED BUNCH OF GUYS.
THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU IS BECAUSE I'VE HEARD RUMORS THAT THERE'S GRANT MONEY TO BE HAD TO HELP THE COURSE, BECAUSE IT STILL REQUIRES AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY.
AS A MAINTENANCE GUY, WHENEVER WE ASK SOMETHING THE FIRST THING OUT OF MOUTH IS WE HAVEN'T GOT THE MONEY.
IT GETS VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU'RE BUSTING YOUR REAR END AND YOU CAN'T GET WHAT YOU NEED OR KNOW IT'S NOT EVEN A CHANCE OF GETTING IT.
BUT LIKE I SAID, THERE'S BEEN RUMORS THAT THERE'S GRANT MONEY OUT THERE TO BE HAD, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE COURSE IS PURSUING IT OR WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE MORE VIGOROUSLY PURSUED OR WHATEVER.
BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, AND I'M SURE THAT IF IT'S CAPABLE OF GETTING A GRANT, YOU GUYS WOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I HAVE PEOPLE THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THAT HAS SOME KNOWLEDGE ABOUT IT.
THE OTHER THING IS I KNOW IT'S ONLY AUGUST, BUT PRETTY SOON THE SNOWBIRDS ARE GOING TO BE HERE.
[00:05:03]
TWELVE YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME HERE AS A RESIDENT, THIS MAGAZINE IS WHAT SENT ME TO YOUR COURSE.BACK THEN, IT WAS BUY ONE GET ONE FREE, TWO FOR ONE.
I PLAYED THE COURSE AND BACK THEN SHE WAS IN WONDERFUL SHAPE.
I WANT TO RECOMMEND AND I'LL TALK TO JEFF, IF NEED BE, BUT I THINK IT'D BE A GOOD IDEA TO BEFORE JANUARY SHOWS UP, WE OUGHT TO OFFER A CARD THAT OFFERS 12 ROUNDS OF GOLF FOR THE JANUARY TO MARCH AT A PRICE TAG OF ABOUT $700 WITH $100 CREDIT FOR THOSE PEOPLE FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE.
THAT WAY WE COULD GET THEM INTO THE RESTAURANT AS WELL AS PLAY GOLF, AND THEY COULD USE THIS PUNCH CARD WHETHER THEY WANT TO USE IT FOR 12 ROUNDS OF GOLF OVER THE COURSE OF THE THREE MONTHS OR HUSBAND AND WIFE PUNCH THE TWO HOLES FOR THE BOTH OF THEM TO PLAY, BUT 12 ROUNDS NEVERTHELESS.
BUT I GUESS THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO GET SOMETHING LIKE THAT GOING, WE CAN'T WAIT TILL JANUARY, WE GOT TO DO IT SOON.
BUT I THINK IT'D BE VERY ADVANTAGEOUS, I REALLY DO.
THE HARDEST PART ABOUT THE CITY COURSE RIGHT NOW IS IF THEY HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, THEY WON'T COME BACK, AND ALL WE COULD DO IS TRY TO ENTICE THEM TO COME BACK.
AS YOU KNOW AMELIA RIVER HAS SLOWLY TRYING TO PUSH THE AVERAGE PERSON OUT OF THE COURSE, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL AND TOM OBVIOUSLY KNOWS, THEY'RE SLOWLY PUSHING IT INTO A PRIVATE COURSE, AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WIN ALL THOSE GOLFERS AND IT'LL BE FOOLISH IF WE DIDN'T.
THERE ARE A FEW OTHER ITEMS, BUT I'M GOING TO TALK TO JEFF ABOUT GM BEFORE I PRESENT ANYTHING ELSE TO THE BOARD, BUT IT WOULD REALLY BE GREAT IF WE COULD GET THAT 12 ROUND CARD GOING.
LIKE I SAID, NOT BY FEBRUARY, I'D LIKE TO GET IT BY JANUARY AND ADVERTISING.
WHETHER IT'S IN THE NEWS LETTER OR IN THIS LITTLE MAGAZINE THAT I FOUND 12 YEARS AGO, IT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE, AND I THINK IT CAN WORK FOR THE COURSE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I WILL PASS IT BACK TO YOU THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT, SIR.
[6.1 Buy vs. Lease / FY25 Budget]
6.1, BUY VERSUS LEASE IN THE FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET.>> YES, JEFFREY BIGGERS, GENERAL MANAGER, FERNANDINA BEACH GOLF CLUB.
THIS IS COMING FROM LAST MEETING.
I WAS GOING TO ADDRESS THIS, VICE CHAIR CAMERA ASKED.
I WAS JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU GUYS THIS LIST HERE, READ THROUGH IT AND LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE SITTING AS FAR AS THE CITY GOES.
I DID A PROS AND CONS OF EACH.
PROS OF LEASING IS A GOOD OPTION WHEN PROPERTY CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY CASH FOR THE EQUIPMENT.
PROPERTIES DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT EQUIPMENT BREAKDOWNS WITH THE LEASE IF THEY HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTIES.
THE REPAIR COST OF THE LEASE CAN BE KEPT AT A MINIMUM BECAUSE THE PIECES ARE GENERALLY KEPT IN FOUR YEARS, THAT'S WHAT WE LOOKED AT FOUR-YEAR LEASES.
CONS MIGHT BE, INTEREST RATES COULD BE HIGHER POSSIBLY AND SLIGHTLY MORE EXPENSIVE ON THE LEASE. EXAMPLES OF THIS.
DECISION MAKERS, WHICH WE ARE IN THIS SITUATION, WHY IS THIS A GOOD STRATEGY FOR YOUR CLUB? COUPLED WITH THOSE EXTENDED WARRANTIES, LEASINGS CAN MEAN THE EQUIPMENT IS ALREADY COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THUS THE EQUIPMENT MANAGER WILL BE MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE AND REFURBISHING THEM.
LEASING COMES AT A COST, BUT IT ALSO GUARANTEES THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY AT YOUR FACILITY.
PURCHASING. PROS OF PURCHASING, IF YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY TO SPARE, YOU COULD BUY THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE INTEREST PAYMENTS.
PROPERTIES SHOULD PURCHASE THAT EQUIPMENT THEY EXPECT TO KEEP LONG TERM, WHICH WE HAVE IN EVEN PAST SEVEN YEARS.
PURCHASES ARE ALSO UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS CAN GET REDUCED PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION.
I GUESS THE CONS OF IT IS PURCHASING EQUIPMENT REQUIRES LARGE SUMS OF MONEY UP FRONT.
FOR PURCHASING THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN, I GAVE AN EXAMPLE OF LIKE A TRIPLET GREEN MOWER FIVE YEARS.
[00:10:05]
SOME FAIRWAY MOWERS, YOU CAN GET FURTHER FIVE TO SEVEN.TO OBTAIN THAT FULL VALUE ON THE EQUIPMENT PURCHASE, THE FACILITY NEEDS TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT MECHANIC IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
THE LIFESPAN ON THOSE, LIKE I SAID, CAN BE TWO TO THREE TIMES LONGER.
WHEN WE LOOK AT LEASING VERSUS PURCHASING, DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON JUST WHAT I WROTE IN BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU WHERE I STAND AND WE STAND ON GOING FORWARD?
>> DID YOU HAPPEN TO LOOK AT ANY PARTICULAR ITEM AS AN EXAMPLE?
>> I LOOKED AT WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET TO GET NEXT YEAR, AND THAT'S OUR FAIRWAY MOWERS AND OUR GREENS MOWERS.
WE'RE GOING WITH JOHN DEERE FOR THE FAIRWAY MOWERS AND TORO FOR OUR GREENS MOWERS.
THE BIGGEST PLUS I CAN SEE IS BEING GOVERNMENT, WE'RE GETTING ABOUT 24% OFF THE PRICE OF THOSE.
WHEN I LOOKED INTO THE LEASING AND BUYING, THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE IN WHAT OUR MONTHLY COSTS WOULD HAVE BEEN IF WE SPREAD THIS OUT OVER TIME AND PURCHASED IT, SO FINANCE OR LEASE.
I THINK LAST YEAR SOME OF THAT WAS THE SAME WAY WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE GOLF CARTS.
WARRANTY WISE, BOTH ARE GIVEN US A TWO YEAR WARRANTY UP TO 1,500 HOURS.
OPTIONS IN THOSE TWO COULD BE EXTENDED, BUT THAT WOULD BE AN EXTRA COST.
AS FAR AS WHAT I CAN SEE WITH THE CITY BEING GOVERNMENT PURCHASING THESE, I BELIEVE GOING FORWARD IS GOING TO BE OUR BEST PLAN.
QUESTIONS ON THAT? GO AHEAD. YES, SIR.
>> HERE IT GOES. WE ARE LOOKING AT A FOUR-YEAR LEASE.
THE WARRANTIES ARE STILL THE SAME FOR BOTH.
WHERE THE DIFFERENCE COMES IN IS THAT WE'RE CUTTING 27 HOLES VERSUS THE EVERYBODY IN THIS AREA IS CUTTING 18 WITH THESE MOWERS SO THEY'RE GOING A LOT FURTHER IN A SHORTER TIME.
WE'RE ALMOST ADDING A WHOLE TWO YEARS TO IT ALMOST.
IF YOU ADD UP THE HOURS CUTTING IN EXTRA NINE HOLES.
IN ESSENCE, WE'RE WEARING AND TEARING A MACHINE DOWN A LOT FASTER THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON THAT JUST CUTS FOR 18.
>> WELL, I CAN SAY THIS WHEN WE PURCHASED THESE UNITS, JUST TAKE THAT OUT OF CONSIDERATION AND SAY, HEY, THERE'S MORE TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
IT JUST CAME OUT, WE WANT TO GET SOMETHING ELSE. WE OWN THEM.
IF WE WANTED TO TRY TO SELL THEM, WE COULD SELL THEM AFTER TWO YEARS.
LIKE I SAID, KEEPING THESE UP WITH A MECHANIC THAT WE HAVE, YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW HE HAS BEEN EXCELLENT AND THEN WE CAN GET THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGY.
IF WE WERE STUCK IN A LEASE, WE WOULD BE IN THAT SITUATION WITH PAYMENTS FOR THOSE FOUR YEARS. THAT OPTION IS THERE.
ALSO, YOU COULD FLIP THAT IF WE KEEP THESE UP AND THE TECHNOLOGY IS GOOD, WE MAY BE ABLE TO GO FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS DOWN THE LINE.
IF WE KEEP THEM UP, OBVIOUSLY, THE VALUE OF THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE END WON'T BE THERE, BUT THAT COULD BE TWO OR THREE FREE YEARS THERE WHERE WE'RE NOT HAVING THAT COST OF LOOKING INTO PURCHASING ANOTHER PIECE.
>> THEN MY LAST QUESTION FOR ALL THIS IS, WE ARE LOOKING AT A 15 FOR THIS YEAR, 15-18% JUST IN FERTILIZER AND PESTICIDE PRODUCT BY COULD BE SAME FOR NEXT YEAR.
I JUST THINK HAVING A FIXED BUDGET BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON EVERY YEAR, HERE'S OUR BUDGET, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE PAYING, WHEN YOU OR ME MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THAT $900,000 THAT WE MAY NEED DOWN THE ROAD TO BUY ANOTHER MOWER OR 90, I'M SORRY.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT CREATING THAT PLAN TO HAVE A THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEAR PLAN OUT WITH CAPITAL AND STAGGERING THAT WITH EACH UNIT WE HAVE.
LIKE I SAID, YOU'RE RIGHT. WE HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT.
THERE ARE OTHER AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO NEED ASSESSMENT OTHER THAN JUST EQUIPMENT.
I THINK SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, THAT'S BEEN THE FOCUS ON WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH OUR EQUIPMENT ON THE GOLF COURSE?
[00:15:06]
[BACKGROUND] YES. SURE.>> SCOTT MICHAELSON, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
WE LOOKED AT IT THE NUMBERS AND HERE'S A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE, THE GREENS MOWERS.
THE GREENS MOWERS ARE $50,000.
I MIGHT BE OFF BY 1,000 BUT LET'S JUST USE $50,000 AS OUR NUMBER TO PURCHASE.
WE WENT, WE LOOKED AT LEASING OPTIONS.
THE LEASING OPTIONS IS $50,000.
IT'S IT'S THE EXACT SAME PRICE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT IF THAT NUMBER CAME IN AND IT WAS AT, LET'S SAY $35,000 OR $40,000, I THINK WE NEED TO DIG DEEPER.
THAT'S WHERE THE LEASE WOULD SHOW THAT WE COULD THEN IN TURN, BE POSSIBLY SAVING A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT WHEN THESE NUMBERS COME IN AND THEY ARE IDENTICAL THE GOAL WILL BE FOR FOUR TO FIVE YEARS.
AT 4-5 YEARS, YES, IT HAS A TON OF HOURS ON IT.
HOWEVER, THERE'S STILL A GOOD CHANCE THAT WE MAY HAVE $5,000 IN EQUITY OR 7,000 OR EVEN 10,000 DEPENDING ON HOW WELL, IT'S MAINTAINED.
THEN AT THAT POINT, WE'RE AHEAD.
WELL, MY POINT IS THE NUMBERS ARE ARE BASICALLY RIGHT, THEY'RE COMING IN AT THE SAME.
LEASING IT AND THE NUMBERS ARE SHOWING US THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY BENEFICIAL AT THIS TIME.
JUST LIKE WHEN YOU BUY A CAR, IF YOU'RE GETTING IN YOUR CAR PAYMENT, YOU'RE LEASING IT AND IT'S GOING TO COME IN LOWER, I THINK YOU LOOK AT THOSE OPTIONS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
AND THEN AFTER FOUR YEARS, LET'S SAY WE CAN KEEP IT FOR ONE MORE YEAR WE'RE PLAYING WITH HOUSE MONEY AT THAT POINT.
WITH A LEASE, LET'S SAY FOUR MORE YEARS FROM NOW AND OUR LEASE COMES OUT AND WE HAVE A COMMISSION THAT WE NEED MONEY TO LEASE THIS, AND WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET THAT AT LEAST AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, AND IF WE HAVE TO AND WE HAVE TO PUSH IT OUT ONE YEAR, WE OWN THE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, IT HAS SHOWED US THAT THESE ARE THE SAME NUMBERS, AND WHY WOULD YOU NOT PURCHASE IT AT THAT TIME? WE HAVE A MECHANIC ON STAFF.
THAT'S THE REASONING WHY WE ARE STAFF IS GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE DO CONTINUE TO PURCHASE.
>> I HAVE ONE COMMENT AND YOU ALLUDED TO IT.
IF WE WERE STRICTLY A BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS OWNER COULD MAKE THE DECISION THE LEASE, BUT AT LEAST THIS COMING YEAR, WE'RE DEPENDENT ON CITY SUPPORT IN THE BUDGET AND WE'RE KIND OF ON A YEAR-TO-YEAR BASIS.
THEY'RE LOCKED INTO SOME STUFF, THE AGREEMENT ON THE CART, SOMEHOW THAT HAS TO BE PAID BUT ANYTHING NEW, THAT COULD CHANGE DEPENDING ON THE CITY ENVIRONMENT AT THE TIME, ELECTIONS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> THAT'S ANOTHER PRIME EXAMPLE WITH THE LEASE.
YOU LOOK AT THE LEASE FOR THE GOLF CARTS COMPARED TO PURCHASING THEM.
IF YOU CAN PURCHASE THEM FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU CAN LEASE THEM FOR, FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, I THINK THAT'S THE NUMBER OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE WORTH ZERO DOLLARS.
NOW WE SELL THEM AND EVEN IF WE MAKE WHATEVER LET'S JUST SAY $100,000 I'M THROWING THAT NUMBER OUT THERE, BUT THAT'S MONEY THAT WE SAVED.
AT THE END OF THE LEASE, WE HAVE ZERO TO SHOW FOR.
IN THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THOSE NUMBERS COME IN IDENTICAL, TO ME, YOU PURCHASE.
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION. I ACCEPT YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
THAT'S FINE. WHERE ARE WE GOING TO STORE THE EQUIPMENT IF WE BUY IT?
>> THAT'S AN ISSUE. JEFFREY AND I ARE WORKING ON IDEAS IS WE HAVE THAT ONE SHED, EVERYONE'S AWARE OF THAT.
AS THIS NEW EQUIPMENT COMES IN,
[00:20:01]
THE NEW EQUIPMENT IS GOING INTO THE SHED.WE ARE COMING UP WITH IDEAS AT POSSIBLE LOW COSTS A POLE BARN IN OUR POLE SHED, WHERE AT LEAST IT'S COVERED SO THE SUN AND THE RAIN.
YES, WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE LIFE EXPECTANCY IS GOING TO BE EVEN HIGHER IF IT'S STORED APPROPRIATELY.
>> ANYBODY ELSE WITH A COMMENT?
>> DO YOU MIND IF I ASK YOUR QUESTION, JOHN? [INAUDIBLE]
>> AGAIN, MY NAME IS JOHN SPATOLA.
I'M GOING TO LEARN HOW TO DO THIS EVENTUALLY. I APOLOGIZE.
BUT MY QUESTION IS WITH AN AUTOMOBILE, YOU TAKE OUT A LEASE AND AT THE END OF THAT LEASE, YOU HAVE AN OPTION TO BUY IT AT A MUCH REDUCED PRICE.
IF YOU GO WITH A LEASE, MY OPINION IS THEY WILL KEEP THAT MAINTAINED FORT FOR THAT FOUR YEARS SO WHEN WE BUY IT AT A CHEAPER RATE AT THE END, IT'LL STILL BE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WHEN WE DECIDE TO BUY IT IF WE CHOOSE TO.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S AN OPTION WITH LEASING GOLF EQUIPMENT.
>> I JUST WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT HE SAID, PLEASE ANSWER, JEFF.
IS THAT WITH ANYTHING THAT WE BUY, IF IT'S A NEW CAR, YOU NEVER KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE A LIMIT, AND TO ME, I'D RATHER HAVE MY MONEY SOMEWHAT SAFE THAT IF WE DO HAVE A LIMIT, IT'S A LEASE LIMIT, AND THEY HAVE TO HONOR IT VERSUS ONCE WE BUY IT, IT'S OURS, AND WE OWN THE LIMIT SO WE HAVE TO KEEP MAINTAINING THAT LIMIT.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO ADD TO IT.
>> JEFFREY BIGGERS, GENERAL MANAGER FERNANDINA BEACH.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BUT YOU COULD LOOK AT THE OTHER WAY TOO WITH THE RESIDUAL VALUE, WHATEVER THAT IS AT THE END OF THE LEASE, THAT MARKET VALUE, WE WOULD HAVE AN OPTION TO BUY IF WE STAYED WITH THE LEASE, THE COMPANY IS GOING TO SAY HOW MUCH WE HAVE REPAIRS ON IT.
THEY COULD STICK US WITH ALL OF THAT.
I'VE LOOKED AT THAT TOO, BUT YEAH, IF YOU BOUGHT A LEMON, YOU COULD.
BUT FROM WHAT I'VE REVIEWED AND WHAT I'VE GONE THROUGH AND TALKED WITH SCOTT, AND THE PURCHASES LIKE THIS THROUGH THE CITY ARE TYPICALLY PURCHASES.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. ANYTHING ELSE?
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME AND DOING THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT IT TOOK TO PUT THIS OUT SO WE HAD ALL THE OPTIONS AND NOT JUST ONE OPTION AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
>> I'M MOVING ON TO ITEM 7, THE WGA UPDATE.
[7. WGA UPDATE]
>> DO WE NEED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT WHAT JEFFREY BIGGERS HAS DECIDED HE'D LIKE TO DO WITH THE GOLF COURSE?
>> I THINK WE MAKE A MOTION SO THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE ALL APPROVED THE IDEA THAT THE GOLF ADVISORY BOARD SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF BUYING THE EQUIPMENT.
>> WHEN JEFFREY GOES BEFORE THE COMMISSION I'D LIKE HIM TO HAVE THIS IN HIS BACK POCKET BEFORE IT'S APPROVED. WHAT HE'D LIKE TO DO?
>> SOMEONE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? GO AHEAD.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE PLAN AS PRESENTED BY THE GENERAL MANAGER JEFFREY BIGGERS.
>> ANYONE SET ON THE WGA UPDATE? WOMEN.
>> THAT'S WOMEN'S. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STILL ON HIATUS.
OUR SEASON STARTS SEPTEMBER 10TH.
WE JUST SENT OUT THE INVITATION FOR OUR 27-POLE INVITATIONAL TWO WEEKS AGO.
THIS HAS BEEN THE FASTEST RESPONSE I'VE EVER GOTTEN.
WE ARE ALREADY UP TO 62 GOLFERS, AND IT'S JUST THE FIRST TWO WEEKS.
WORD OF MOUTH HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD AND I PLAY ALL OVER THE PLACE,
[00:25:04]
SO I KEEP BRINGING IT UP.LAST YEAR, WE HAD 72, AND I'M HOPING WE CAN GET WAY OVER THAT NUMBER NOW SO IT'S BEEN VERY GOOD.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'VE NEVER HAD ANYBODY SAY, ARE WE IN SO I'M REAL PLEASED WITH THIS AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T RESPONDED YET ARE OUR OWN LEAGUE MEMBERS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN FROM GEORGE.
YOU GOT A FEW GIRLS FROM JEKYLL SAVANNAH.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE COMING FROM SAVANNAH, BUT I DID SEND OUT TO THE TRAVELING LEAGUE ALL THE INFORMATION, THAT CLASS GROUP THAT MEETS, AND THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE WE GET GOOD EXPOSURE THROUGH ALL THE CLUBS IN GEORGIA.
WE MIGHT AS WELL ATTRACT THEM BECAUSE IT'S ONLY A HALF HOUR AWAY SO I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THAT.
>> IT'S A 27 HALL INVITATIONAL.
>> YEAH, WE DRESS UP LIKE PIRATES AND BLOUSE BALLS ALL OVER THE COURSE AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.
>> YEAH, THEY DO THAT TOO. THE REFRESHMENT CARDS UP.
>> WE'RE GOING ON TO ITEM 8 THE MGA UPDATE.
[8. MGA UPDATE]
>> WE HAVE OUR 666 TOURNAMENT, WHICH IS OUR TOURNAMENT FOR THIS MONTH.
IT'S ON SATURDAY. EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
WE'VE ALSO JUST PUBLISHED OUR TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AND WE HAVE TOURNAMENTS SCHEDULED EVERY MONTH, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT FORMATS.
THE MGA CONTINUES TO ATTRACT NEW MEMBERS, AND WE'RE VERY STRONG FINANCIALLY.
WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT THE GENERAL MANAGER HAS SHOWN TO US IN TERMS OF T TIMES AND IN TERMS OF OTHER SUPPORT THAT HE PROVIDES WITH CARDS AND HANDICAPS.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, SIR BUT WE'RE DOING REALLY WELL.
>> TO DO THE SATURDAY TOURNAMENTS, YOU HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OR GUEST, CORRECT?
>> FOR MOST OF THE TOURNAMENTS, YES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE, I THINK, TWO TOURNAMENTS DURING THE YEAR WHERE WE TRY TO ATTRACT OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER FAMILY MEMBERS OR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN TOWN WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE GOLF COURSE MEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION TO GET THEM TO COME IN AND PLAY AS A MEMBER GUEST.
WE HAVE FATHER-SON, WE HAVE PARENT-CHILD.
WE'RE TRYING THROUGH OUR TOURNAMENTS TO SATISFY THE NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERS, AS WELL AS PULL IN NEW MEMBERS FROM FAMILIES AS WELL AS THE TOWN.
>> WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME AN MGA MEMBER?
>> IT DEPENDS ON THE TIME OF THE YEAR YOU JOIN.
IF YOU WERE GOING TO JOIN RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT WOULD BE $30 FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR.
YOU NEED TO PAY $60, I BELIEVE, FOR NEXT YEAR, AND THAT COVERS YOUR HANDICAP AND YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND THEN WHENEVER YOU WANT TO PLAY GOLF, YOU PAY BY THE FEE SCHEDULE PUBLISHED BY THE GOLF COURSE.
>> THANK YOU, MIKE. WE'RE NOT VERY FUSSY.
>> ITEM 9, NO STAFF COMMENTS, 9.1 STAFF UPDATE.
[9. STAFF COMMENTS]
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE REALLY QUICK STATEMENT AND I REALLY THINK THAT THE GOLF COURSE IS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I THINK JEFFREY, PAM, CHRISTIE, MARK, SWOOP, I THINK ARE GOING TO MAKE A GOOD COHESIVE TEAM AND ALL THE STAFF AT THE GOLF COURSE.
I THINK ONE THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS CONSISTENCY.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TURNOVER AT THE GOLF COURSE AND I HOPE NOW THAT WE HAVE A TEAM WITH CONSISTENCY THAT WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW INTO THE FUTURE.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT AND I REALLY ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW AND I KNOW MR. KELLY AND I'VE SEEN SOME OF YOU AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP WIITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSION.
WE'RE EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE THAT THE GOLF COURSE WILL BE GETTING THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE THE GOLF COURSE BETTER AND BETTER.
I THINK WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE WANT TO JUST KEEP ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE POSITIVE BECAUSE I THINK THE NUMBERS MIGHT BE SHOWING THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GOLFING THERE.
THANKS. THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY.
[00:30:05]
>> THANK YOU, SCOTT. I'M A PIGGY TAIL ON THAT AND I WANTED TO THANK THE CITY COMMISSIONERS TOO FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE GOLF COURSE.
I'VE BEEN HERE A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS, AND I'M LEARNING THE CITY PROCESS.
YOU GUYS COMING TO THOSE MEETINGS MEANT A LOT.
WITH THAT SAID, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH STAFF COMMENTS.
GOING DOWN THE LINE WITH THE SHEET I GAVE YOU GUYS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ASK ME.
I'M WILLING TO SHOW THE NUMBERS FOR EACH MONTH.
FOR ROUNDS OF GOLF IN THE GOLF SHOP, AND THESE NUMBERS ARE JULY.
I KNOW WE'VE CHANGED OUR BOARD MEETINGS, AND I'LL COMMENT A LITTLE BIT ON AUGUST AS WELL BUT WE DID 3,343 ROUNDS OF GOLF, 2,098, WERE 18 WHOLE ROUNDS, 1,245 WERE NINE WHOLE ROUNDS, AND AT THE BOTTOM THIS MONTH, I PUT WHAT'S YOUR AVERAGE CART FEE GREEN FEE ROUND PER DOLLAR IS BECAUSE I THINK LAST MEETING, WE TIED ALL THOSE NUMBERS TOGETHER.
THAT'S UP A TICK FROM A LITTLE OVER, WE WERE ABOUT 29, MAYBE LAST MONTH.
TOTAL GOLF COURSE REVENUE, 122,716.
CART FEES WERE 33,143, GREEN FEE 6,8028, MERCHANDISE SHELVES AND SHOP WERE 13,031, AND RANGE BALLS WERE 6,907, AND THAT'S SPLIT BETWEEN THAT AND TOP TRACER.
EVERYTHING'S KIND OF TRENDING UPWARDS THERE FOR THOSE NUMBERS.
GOING ON TO THE GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE, I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND TALK NUMBERS FOR AUGUST HERE.
IF YOU LOOK, WE'VE HAD TROPICAL STORM DEBBY.
THE SHOWERS FOLLOWING IT, WE'VE HAD OVER 10 INCHES OF RAIN.
IT'S BEEN CRAZY BECAUSE WE'VE ONLY LITERALLY HAD NINE HOLES OPEN FOR A BIT.
WE WERE CLOSED FOR TWO DAYS AND YET WITH THAT SAID, FOR OUR MEETING WE HAD THIS MORNING, I PULLED NUMBERS FOR AUGUST AND WE'RE ABOUT $7,400 OVER THROUGH THE FIRST 17 DAYS OF AUGUST THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR.
THAT'S INTRIGUING TO ME, CONSIDERING HOW MUCH WE'VE BEEN CLOSED THIS YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, BUT THAT'S A GOOD TREND, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR IN THE SUMMER.
THE ERRORFICATION SCHEDULES, THAT'S WHAT CALLS SOME OF THAT WITH THE TROPICAL STORM WE'VE BEEN AIRFRYING FEELS LIKE FOR A MONTH.
WE MAY DO A TEMPORARY GREEN ON NUMBER 3.
IT'S BEEN ARIFIED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FIVE WEEKS JUST TO YOU, THAT'S ONE OF OUR PROBLEM GREENS, BUT WE'RE DOING STUFF OUT THERE RIGHT NOW WITH SOME OF THE TOP DRESSING AND SAND.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT. MARK GOT SOME GREAT IDEAS AND HOPEFULLY, THAT'S GOING TO HELP THAT GREEN SUBSTANTIALLY.
>> FOOD AND BEVERAGE, WE DID $32,696.
THAT IS JULY'S NUMBER, WHICH WAS DOWN A LITTLE BIT FROM LAST MONTH, BUT IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT EVENTS WE HAVE GOING FORWARD.
SOME OF THOSE WERE WELL ATTENDED LAST MONTH.
THIS MONTH GOING INTO AUGUST, THE SOUTHWEST DINNER WAS A LITTLE DOWN.
I'M GOING TO BLAME A COUPLE OF OTHER EVENTS IN THE AREA.
I THINK WE HAD THE PARADE FOR POE PINSON, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WENT TO THAT.
I'VE ALSO HEARD THAT MAYBE WE'RE NOT A BIG MEXICAN TYPE CROWD, SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE MENUS THAT WE HAVE AND MAYBE DUPLICATE SOME AS OPPOSED TO USING THAT MENU NEXT YEAR.
THE NINE AND DINE, THAT I HAD ON THE 25TH.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE ONLY HAD ABOUT SIX SCHEDULED THIS MONTH, SO WE'VE CANCELED IT FOR SUNDAY, THIS UPCOMING SUNDAY.
IT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING, BUT I THINK THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE OFF A LITTLE MORE WHEN WE GET INTO THE MORE OF THE BUSY SEASON WHEN WE HAVE SOME OF OUR SNOWBIRDS DOWN AND WHATNOT.
MEMBERSHIP SALES, NOT A LOT, BUT A LITTLE FOR THE LAST MONTH, A COUPLE NON-RESIDENTS.
WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE DOING THAT NEXT YEAR.
IT WILL EITHER BE A RATE TO JOIN OR YOU CAN PLAY GOLF BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET TO THE END OF OUR FISCAL YEAR, IT'S NOT VERY BENEFICIAL TO US.
WITH THAT SAID, I'VE GOT A SEPTEMBER REMINDER TO SEND OUT, WE'RE GOING TO SEND OUT AN EMAIL FIRST OF THE MONTH TO LET ALL THE MEMBERSHIP KNOW YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND START COMING TO THE SHOP, FILL OUT YOUR APPLICATION AND MEMBER AGAIN.
AS FAR AS THOSE RATES GO, WE WERE JUST INTO THE FEE SCHEDULES WITH THE CITY, AND WE'RE NOT CHANGING ANYTHING.
[00:35:02]
ALL OUR RATES, PUBLIC RATES, DRIVING RANGE, AND MEMBERSHIPS WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH THIS PAST YEAR.SPEAKING OF THE RANGE, TOPTRACER, I'VE APPROVED.
WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT THE MAGAZINE AMELIA NOW.
I JUST UPDATED WITH CHARLES LITRICO WITH THEM OUR NEWEST ADVERTISEMENT.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE JOHN HAD IN THERE, BUT I PUT IN THERE ABOUT ALL THE GRASS THAT'S BEEN GROWING.
LIKE WHAT SCOTT AND I DID ON FACEBOOK.
[LAUGHTER] IT TIES IN BECAUSE I THINK I MENTIONED TO ONE OF YOU GUYS EARLIER, ONE OF OUR REVIEWS ON GOLFNOW MENTIONED ABOUT THE ROUGH NEEDED TO BE CUT, IT WAS TOO HIGH.
IT'S A GOOD THING. WE'VE GOT GRASS NOW.
I'M GOING TO RUN AN AUGUST GOLF DAY ON THURSDAY THE 29TH.
I THINK I'VE GOT A FLYER OF THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT IN FACEBOOK TOMORROW AND PROBABLY RUN IT AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY.
IT'S ONE OF THE DYNAMIC FEES WE'RE ALLOWING EVERYONE TO PAY.
IF THEY MAKE A TEE TIME, THEY'LL PLAY FOR OUR TWILIGHT RATE, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A LITTLE COOKOUT AT THE TURN.
I SAW 85 DEGREES LOW HUMIDITY, NO RAIN.
THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
YOU CAN GRAB YOUR FOOD WHEN YOU MAKE THE TURN.
YOU'LL SMELL IT OUT THERE WHEN IT'S COOKING AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCOUNT RATE AS LONG AS YOU CALL THE GOLF SHOP OR MAKE YOUR TEE TIME ONLINE, AND THAT'S ON THURSDAY THE 29TH.
TOPTRACER. AGAIN, THAT RANGE REVENUE WAS SPLIT TO $6,907 BETWEEN TOPTRACER AND THE GOLF SHOP.
ONE THING ABOUT TOPTRACER, WE DID SECURE A SPONSOR FOR TOPTRACER.
I THINK IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD A SPONSOR SINCE ABOUT THREE YEARS, FIRST FEDERAL [INAUDIBLE].
I WANT TO THANK JIM WEAVER WITH FIRST FEDERAL AND LISA BERRY FOR A HAND ON THAT.
THAT'S GOING TO RUN FROM OCTOBER 1ST OF THIS YEAR FOR TWO YEARS TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR IN 2026.
MGA TOURNAMENT, WE MENTIONED THAT EARLIER.
MEMBER, KELLY, WE HAVE 28 SIGNED UP RIGHT NOW.
I JUST GOT THAT THIS MORNING FROM MARY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO FLIGHTS OF SEVEN TEAMS, AND THAT FORMAT IS SIX, SIX, SIX.
SIX HOLES OF SCRAMBLE, SIX OF BEST BALL, AND SIX OF ALTERNATE SHOT.
LET'S SEE UPCOMING EVENTS FOR NEXT MONTH.
WE'VE GOT THE FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER, THE 13TH, AND THE SCHEDULED MGA TOURNAMENT IS A TWO DAY, AND WE'LL FIND OUT IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ONCE I TALK TO MORE OF THE MGA.
WITH THAT SAID, THAT'S A GOLF COURSE UPDATE.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING? AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENED THE LAST MONTH, AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU GUYS SOMETHING LIKE THIS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF OUR NEWSLETTER.
I'M AWARE OF A FEW PEOPLE THAT DON'T COME UP ONCE AND THEN STAY AND THEN GO BACK UP NORTH FOR THE SUMMER.
I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE INTERESTING IF YOU COULD SCHEME UP A LITTLE BIT AS FAR AS A WAY TO GIVE THEM SOME FORM OF MEMBERSHIP.
THEY DON'T EVEN SPEND HALF THE TIME HERE, BUT SOME WAY TO INDUCE THEM INTO A MEMBERSHIP.
>> WELL, I'VE LOOKED AT THE RATES.
WE HAVEN'T CHANGED ANYTHING FROM LAST YEAR, AND I THINK IT'S A MATH EQUATION.
WHEN I WAS AT MY PREVIOUS POSITION, WE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT DEALS AND DISCOUNTS.
I THINK OUR COURSE CONDITIONS ARE GETTING BETTER.
OUR COMPETITION, WE'RE GETTING BETTER TO COMPETE WITH THE OTHER COURSES IN THE AREA, AND SOME OF THE OTHER COURSES IN AREA ARE CHANGING THE WAY THEY'RE DOING THEIR BUSINESS.
I'M LOOKING FOR OUR INCREASED COURSE CONDITIONS TO INCREASE THE INTEREST IN PLAYING THE GOLF COURSE, AS WELL AS POSSIBLY WITH MEMBERSHIP.
BECAUSE THESE RATES HAVE TO BE SET WITH THE CITY, YOU'RE LIMITED TO WHAT YOU CAN GET, BUT I REALLY THINK OUR MEMBERSHIP RATES ARE VERY AFFORDABLE.
OBVIOUSLY, IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY ROUNDS YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT BECAUSE THE WAY I SEE IT WITH US BEING AFFORDABLE, BETTER CONDITION, AND IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY THAT MUCH, LIKE YOU SAID, COME DOWN, LYNN, I'M NOT TRYING TO DETER SOMEONE FROM BEING A MEMBER, BUT MAYBE YOU JUST NEED TO PAY THE FEE.
I SAY THAT WHOLEHEARTEDLY BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE MEMBERS, CORRECT?
[00:40:03]
IF YOU HAVE A GUEST, WE DO HAVE A GUEST MEMBER RATE.IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE PAYING OUR PREMIUM TOP DOLLAR RACK RATE, THEY'RE GETTING A DISCOUNT IF THEY PLAY WITH A MEMBER.
I KNOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THOSE THAT PLAY IN OUR BLITZ ON WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. THAT'S FINE.
BUT IF THAT'S HOW MANY ROUNDS THEY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY, THEN THAT'S APPLICABLE.
BUT IF THEY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY MORE ROUNDS THAN THAT, MAYBE THEY NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT MEMBERSHIP, BECAUSE I THINK OUR UNLIMITED MEMBERSHIP IS A GREAT DEAL.
>> SPEAKING OF THAT, I WAS WONDERING IF YOURSELF WITH THE PRO SHOP FORMULATE A LITTLE BIT OF PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION, MAYBE A HANDOUT, JUST DOING THAT BASIC MATH FORM.
IF YOU PLAY TWICE A WEEK, YOU'D BE BETTER OFF BUYING A MEMBER, WHATEVER IT IS.
>> I COULD FIGURE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE SELL THAT ENOUGH TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
>> WELL, THE NUMBER IS KEY BUT EVEN TWICE A WEEK, IT ALSO IS HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO BE HERE, HOW MANY MONTHS ARE YOU HERE? I'M WILLING TO HELP ANYONE THAT WALKS IN THE DOOR.
WE HAD A LITTLE COUCH AT MY LAST CLUB, AND THEY WOULD SIT DOWN OVER THERE AND HAVE A CALCULATOR AND THEN SEE HOW MANY ROUNDS THAT WAS.
WE DETERRED AWAY FROM HAVING ALL THE CARDS AND THE DISCOUNTS.
TO ME, IT'S A LOT EASIER KEEPING IT CONSISTENT BECAUSE PEOPLE GET CONFUSED, AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE THIS OVER THAT THE NEXT YEAR, OH, WELL, WE HAD THIS LAST YEAR, WHY ARE YOU NOT DOING THIS? WELL, LET'S MAKE IT SIMPLE.
HERE ARE YOUR OPTIONS, BUT I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TRY TO PUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT TOGETHER.
>> ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, YOU COULD PROBABLY RUN THROUGH YOUR NUMBERS.
MOST PEOPLE CHARGE AND FIGURE OUT, OH, YOU SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT AN ALL INCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP.
YOU SPENT $500 MORE BY NOT BEING.
>> DEPENDS ONLY IF YOU RIDE OR WALK. THAT THAT'S ANOTHER KEY.
>> BUT YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS THERE AS FAR AS WHAT THEY SPENT BECAUSE I THINK SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THAT WAS PRESENTED TO ME.
OH, YEAH, YOU WERE MUCH BETTER OFF BEING A MEMBER THAN NOT. THAT'S MY POINT.
>> I'M SPEAKING JUST FOR THE MEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION MEMBERS.
IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE, IF THERE IS A WAY FOR SOMEONE IN THE MEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION TO MANIPULATE THE SYSTEM TO SAVE 30 CENTS, THEY'RE GOING TO TRY IT. [LAUGHTER]
>> SO STICK WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
YOU'RE DOING ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THIS IS THE NUMBER, TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.
YOU GOT A GREAT GOLF COURSE, GREAT STAFF.
GO TRY TO PAY AT LONG POINT, SEE WHAT IT GETS YOU.
>> I THINK AMELIA RIVER CLUB IS $129 IF YOU'RE OUT OF STATE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY IT IS, BUT IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
>> YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH A MEMBER AS WELL.
>> YEAH. BUT I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE AWAY TRADE SECRETS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT ARE WE GOING TO USE LIKE A TWO O'CLOCK IN THE FALL AS THE RATES DROP?
>> OUR TWILIGHT RATE WILL START AT ONE O'CLOCK, AND IT'S 3:00 RIGHT NOW.
AGAIN, COMING IN AS I DID WITH SCOTT REVIEWING, I DON'T KNOW THE MARKET THAT WELL.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO STAY WITH.
SO YES, WHEN WE GET INTO OCTOBER, WE WILL BE GOING TO ONE O'CLOCK WITH OUR TWILIGHT.
SO YES, IT WILL DROP AT THAT POINT.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP WITH GOLFNOW?
>> YES. AT THIS TIME, I AM GOING TO STAY WITH GOLFNOW.
THE DYNAMIC PRICING OPTION FOR US WHEN POSSIBLY WE GET A LITTLE SLOWER, I CAN ADJUST SOME OF THAT.
I'M DOING THAT RIGHT NOW WITH NEXT THURSDAY'S GOLF DAY.
>> THE LAST THING, WE TESTED OVER AT THE RIVER.
I'M JUST SAYING WE TESTED IT AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING.
IT'S TOO LATE TO DO IT NOW, BUT FOR NEXT SPRING IN SUMMER WHEN THE CLOCK CHANGES AGAIN, AT THAT FIVE O'CLOCK RATE PLAYING NINE HOLES FOR X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, THEY CAN GET THEY ARE GUARANTEED TO GET NINE HOLES IN.
IT'S A SPECIAL NINE HOLE RATE STARTING AT 5:00 OR 5:30 TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GOLF COURSE IS BEING USED.
>> TRYING TO USE ALL YOUR TEE TIMES IN OTHER WORDS.
>> AT 5:30, THAT'S A SUMMER TYPE WHEN YOU'RE ON AUGUST DAYS, CORRECT?
[00:45:02]
>> THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT I CAN TOUCH ON.
PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING POSTED JUST BECAUSE THE RATES HAVE TO BE WHAT THEY ARE BUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT THAT'S 5:30. I WILL TELL YOU THEY'RE AVERAGING ABOUT 20-24 GOLFERS FROM 5:30-7:30 WITH A CART.
>> WELL, I CAN BE HONEST WITH WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED HERE, IN THE SUMMER, MY FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE'RE BUSIER ONCE WE GET AFTER THREE O'CLOCK.
THE 4:00-5:00 RANGE, THAT'S WHEN WE'RE GETTING GOLFERS.
WE'RE GETTING GOLFERS EARLY, OBVIOUSLY, THE HEAT AND THEN LATE BECAUSE THE RATES DROPPED.
I DON'T WANT TO DROP IT ANYMORE, BUT IF WE CONTINUE, DO YOU THINK [OVERLAPPING].
>> NO, I DON'T THINK WHAT IT DOES IT DOES. BUT YES.
>> THAT'S AN EVEN LATER TIME AND RATE.
I DID BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
[10. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
>> YOU HEARD MINE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AND PUTTING THE ENERGY BEHIND LOOKING, BUYING, RELEASING.
THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS BUDGET THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING, AND YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB.
I'VE KNOWN JOHN FOR FOUR YEARS.
YOU GOT AN EXCELLENT EMPLOYEE.
PLUS HE PLAYS A LITTLE BIT OF GOLF.
[LAUGHTER] THANKS, JOHN. I APPRECIATE YOUR BUDDY.
>> JUST A SHOUT OUT TO MARK AND THE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, THE PART TIME EMPLOYEES, AND THE VOLUNTEERS FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DID TO GET THAT COURSE PLAYABLE IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AFTER ALL THAT RAIN WHILE THEY WERE DOING THE GREENS.
IS GREAT, GREAT JOB. PLEASE PASS THAT ON TO THEM.
>> I HAVE JUST ONE COMMENT AT ONE OF THE COMMISSION MEETINGS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I ATTENDED AND I THINK YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH THIS, THE DECREPIT BATTING CAGE?
>> I WAS LOOKING AT THAT BATTING CAGE, AND I WAS GOING, OH.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT OUR DRIVING RANGE NETTING AS FAR AS BEING ANOTHER NEED.
I KNOW COMMISSION HAS BEEN PRETTY GENEROUS THIS YEAR, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD TRY, EVEN IF WE GOT TO TRY TO DO IT THROUGH SOME KIND OF FUND RAISING OR PARTNERSHIP, GETTING AN UPDATED FACILITY IN PLACE AS FAR AS AROUND THAT.
>> YES. I JUST WANTED TO ADD REALLY QUICKLY IS JEFF AND I GUESS YOU SHOULD HAVE CAME, YOU CAME UP HERE, SORRY, I APOLOGIZE.
JEFFREY AND I HAVE LOOKED INTO THOSE NUMBERS OF LOOKING AT THAT.
BUT WE ALSO ARE GOING TO, I BELIEVE THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR, IS WE HAVE TO MAKE A REPAIR.
ONE GOOD THING WITH WITH THE RAIN AND STUFF IN THIS EXISTING BUDGET, WORKING WITH ANDRE DESILET IN THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON SOME OF THE FLOODING ISSUES AS WELL.
THE REASON WHY I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE OF THE DRIVING RANGE AND THAT STUFF.
I THINK GET THAT FIXED, AND THEN I THINK WE CAN WORK AND JEFFREY'S ALREADY REACHED OUT TO MAKE THAT, ESPECIALLY ON THE NORTH SIDE.
YES, I THINK WE CAN WORK TO GET THAT FIXED.
BUT THEN IN TURN, JEFFREY AND HIS STAFF ARE COMING UP WITH A LARGE LIST OF WHAT IS WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE ROAD, WHAT'S COMING UP SO WE CAN INFORM EVERYBODY AND THE DRIVING RANGE IS ONE OF THEM WITH POLES AND NEW NETTING.
I KNOW HIM AND HIS TEAM ARE WORKING ON THAT.
>> BRIEFLY, I WOULD LIKE THAT WHOLE AREA TO THE EAST CLEANED OUT OF VEGETATION TO THE EAST AND NORTH ON BOTH ENDS, IF YOU COULD SEE GRASS INSTEAD OF THIS FOREST.
>> YES, SIR. WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT.
I THINK WHAT I WOULD DO IS I'LL REACH OUT TO KATHY RUSSELL FIRST BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE CONSERVATION LAND RIGHT THERE.
BEFORE WE WOULD TOUCH IT, I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
I'M SURE THERE'S A SMALL AREA BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THAT STUFF IS GROWING UP INTO THE NETTING, AND WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
BUT YEAH, BEFORE WE DO ANY SORT OF THAT STUFF, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO SOME DUE DILIGENCE.
[00:50:03]
>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS.
>> MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.