GAC Report - July 26, 2010 - from John Jones
The big news of the recent Golf Advisory Committee meeting was the freeze on signing any new RFP contracts
with any golf concessionaire, including the Rancho restaurant RFP, until further notice.
It turns out that the Mayor has continued to request that the Park Commissioners have RFP manager Robert
Morales start working on an RFP for the Privatization of our City golf courses, in the meantime they don't want any
new contracts.
RAP manager Jon Mukri has stated that it will be a 2 year or longer process, which may not be done before the
current Mayor completes his term in 3 years.
What this means for us is that there will be no investment beyond the necessary by Golf Division or any of the
concessionaires who will probably remain on month to month rent over the next few years.
As for the Driving Range at Rancho, the height variance for the fence has been approved by the City
zoning/planning department.
To quote James Ward, GD Manager -
"Now it's a matter of having Steve Oh actually go in to the building administration and take his plans in, bring them
back up again and start moving, and we've sent him a letter to that effect to get started. Because if he's going to do
that, he would probably do it this fall, and do it during the winter months, because during actual construction,
because he will be closed and not getting any revenue from that site.",
Question - "What is the time limit for Steve Oh to start construction"?
James Ward - "30 days. A letter was sent out 14 days ago"
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Good News on LOWER RATES during the Heat at Valley courses this summer, they're lowering them $4 or $5
dollars depending on who you believe.
To quote Golf Division:
VALLEY DISCOUNTS
Available only at
Hansen Dam, Woodley Lakes, and Encino/Balboa Golf Courses
11 AM to Twilight
August 2, 2010 to
September 30, 2010
|
Classification
|
Current Fee
|
Discount Fee
|
|
Resident
|
$30 Monday-Thursday
$34 Friday
|
$26
$30
|
|
Resident Senior
|
$19 Monday-Thursday
$22 Friday
|
$17
$20
|
|
Resident Senior Lifeline
|
$15 Monday-Thursday
$17 Friday
|
$13
$15
|
|
Non Resident
|
$35 Monday-Thursday
$39 Friday
|
$31
$35
|
|
Non Resident Senior
|
$24 Monday-Thursday
$27 Friday
|
$22
$25
|
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The Squirrels are now attacking the green plastic garbage bins and the new lids on the teeing grounds. What will these vermin think of next!
June 28, 2010 Golf Advisory Committee (GAC) Report from John Jones
As we have all been expecting, the fee increases go into effect on July 1. The new fees are here to stay until changed by the Park Commission. James Ward, the golf manager, will be able to offer discounted rounds on very hot days or after aeration and the like at his discretion. Expect teething problems with credit card payments at the starter window this week.
We will get the "forensic accounting" of Golf Division at or before the July 14 RAP Commissioner meeting.
The GAC are sending a letter to the Commission urging them to come up with a contingency plan if Golf Division fails due to the new price increases.
Overcast weather has been a big help to all of the courses recently, they are all in great shape. July 4th holiday weekend is the start of summer for Golf Division staff.
Water is still an issue and is being restricted at non-reclaimed water course like Rancho, Penmar, Roosevelt etc. Fairways will look browner but the greens and teeing grounds will remain the same.
As for the new tournament policy changes, the only change is that we will be allowed to field a Saturday SCGA team along with our current Thursday team.
We will be allowed to continue booking weekend tournaments that start before 8 AM until the end of the year. Allowing our early start time on weekends is at the discretion of James Ward.
Completing our tournaments within the block of time we book will be even more important in the coming months.
No word on the Driving Range construction start dates or permit approvals.
The Golf Advisory Committee voted in new officer's for the coming year beginning July 1; Gene Vano is Chair and Larry Cloud is Vice Chair.
Thanks to Bob Davis, Dan Ward and Calvin White for the garbage lids on the Ball Washer's. No more surprise at the bottom of the bin! Please remember to put the lid on properly.
If we could only get rid of the kitchen on the 12th...
There was one golf bag damaged by vermin during our tournament on Sunday according to Rick Reinschmidt.
Junior Golf will still offer an after school program this summer but there will be no all day child care as in prior years due to budget cuts.
Harbor Park's Reggie golf cafe has been shut down by the city health department and a replacement operator is being sought on a month to month basis.
The new fee increases will go into effect on July 1 when Golf Division becomes an Enterprise Fund.
Rancho and Wilson are now Premium Golf Courses and residents will pay:
$33 Mon-Thu
$37 Fri
$43 Sat-Sun-Hol
The other five non premium 18 hole golf course rates are:
$30 Mon-Thu
$34 Fri
$40 Sat-Sun-Hol
Senior rates have also increased but there is no change for Juniors or at any of the 9 hole facilities.
The new rates have been posted at all the city golf courses.
Due to their increased income from the new green fees, Golf Division will be spending more time and money on our courses (what?). They will begin a frequent light aeration and sanding in the coming weeks along with other promised enhancements. They have also promised double cutting and rolling of the greens for our major tournaments.
In addition to this, the Federal Stimulus package is likely to provide 100 orange suited student workers for the summer on our courses. This will most definitely help make up for the dozens of staff that have been lost over the past months.
At the moment they are not planning on having marshal's on any of their courses after July 1st.
New garbage lids for the teeing grounds with no hole-in-the-top are on order and will be installed shortly. These lids are not attached to the bins and will require the user to replace them. They also expect to change the bins around the clubhouse which have been known to attract the 'odd' animal including rats.
The Driving Range planning permission is all but "inked" and we are now waiting for our professional Steve Oh to tell us his timeline for the completion of the construction work. (he originally said 90 days in 2003 when he won the contract by 1 point from Ron Weiner)
Again we have to thank all involved, especially our ex-President Steve Pompan for working for a compromise with our community.
The fence will be 80 feet all around and will be designed with poles that can increase the height at a later date if desired and allowed.
As Oh's 15 year contract is already half way completed it might not be a done deal just yet!
Once the work is underway Golf Division will move the starter window to the driving range and turn the locker room into a banquet facility. We might want to keep an eye on this one?
The threat of changing Tournament Policy and reducing our club's access to our golf course on the weekends has subsided. We will continue to study the proposals in our Fees and Charges Sub-Committee but Golf Division will not be implementing the proposed changes as of July 1.
We are being asked to begin a sweeping overhaul of our club's Pace of Play policy. Our President will be having more to say about it at our next board meeting.
John Jones
RPGC - GAC/MGA/Historian/2009 Senior Net Champion :)
John Jones
GAC Representative 
