1997-03-20
CITY OF ENCINITAS
ENCINITAS RANCH GOLF AUTHORITY
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1997 at 3:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chairman Kaiser called the meeting to order at 3:07 p.m.
Present:
Directors Kaiser, Riggins, Archibald, Wigginton
Also Present: Chris Calkins, Manager Jim Benson, Meeting Secretary Pat Drew, Scott
Bentley and John Mason of JC Resorts.
Public Present: John Conover, Donna Westbrook, Art Beardsley - President of Encinitas
Golf Association.
Guest Presenters: Bill Pultz, Newell Pinch and Ray Tippet, of the SCGA
Absent:
Director Wasserman and General Counsel Roger Krauel.
ORAL COMMUNICATION
No oral communication.
REGULAR AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes of Regular Meeting of February 20, 1997
In Item 2, request was made to include statement "talked about consideration
being given to imposing an additional fee for using hard spikes."
Scott Bentley requested removal of the statement "they (JC Resorts) are inclined
to go wiith soft spikes."
On motion by Director Archibald, seconded by Vice Chair Kathy Riggins, the
minutes were approved as corrected..
2. Presentation by SCGA.
The gentlemen from the SCGA introduced themselves: Bill Pultz, member of the
Board of Directors and resident of Cardiff for 25 years; member and active Board
Member and Past President of the Torrey Pines Mens Golf Club for about 20
years - also a member of Coronado Municipal Course; has been a member of the
SCGA Board for three years.
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Ray Tippett, Director of Handicap and Membership;
Newell Pinch past Executive. Director of SCGA for 28 years
Ray Tippett gave an overview of the SCGA. They are one of two organizations that
primarily represent male amateur golfers in Southern California. Also represent a
few women's clubs with about 4500 women but the majority of the women are in
affiliate clubs. They are a direct arm of The United States Golf Association,
carrying out all the policies they hand down regarding handicapping, rules, course
reading; anything that involves amateur golfing and golf courses. The SCGA's
main focal point is to provide service not just handicapping. They conduct about
100 tournament days within the association, some of which are USGA events,
read, rate and measure golf courses etc. They have always been a leader on the
cutting edge of things involving golf. For instance, they took lead in developing an
electronic handicap system with a company called IDC. This is now used at all
golf courses in Southern California.
They have a lobbyist in Sacramento that monitors golf very closely and
subsequently any changes in climate with regards to the golf industry and how it
might be affecting SCGA and its member clubs, from taxes to play policies, etc.
Reports are provided to member clubs regarding particular changes taking place.
Association was founded in 1899 with five member clubs. Looking forward to
having big celebrations for their centeniary. Currently have about 333 golf course
facilities that they represent. Of those facilities 60% are public facilities. They
have another 767 affiliate clubs (clubs without real estate) with about 44,000
individual members. Brings overall Association total to about 131,000
represented individuals. Cover area from current Los Angeles County line to the
north all the way to Palm Springs. Also have some courses in Cabo San Lucas,
Mexico, giving them a very wide geographic range.
In 1969 the SCGA purchased some property in North Hollywood and built what
they call Golf House West. All their operatioins are conducted from this location.
Have a full-time staff of twenty-one individuals participating in all daily operations of
the association - from rules, to rating to handicapping to communications. Feel it
is important to have someone at the other end of the line able and available to talk
when a member calls in for information.
Several of their committee members and several staff members are actually sitting
on USGA committee. One of their executive committee members is on the USGA
Executive Committee. The SCGA is one of the largest regional associations in the
country.
In addition to the 100+ tournament days they put on each year, they offer a team-
play program which encompasses about 216 golf course facilities out of the 333
member clubs. This is like a hole-in-one event. Over 5000 individuals participate
in the program. In San Diego County the majority of member clubs are members
and participate in the program. Believe this is a natural for Encinitas. Also
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provide what they call their "delegate" program which is basically communication
between the Association and the golf facility. Have a number of meetings with
delegates in each County per year. These are not "public" meetings.
Other benefits involving rules and competitions include: rules workshops at the
clubs; rules visitations where they work with the golf professional to make sure the
course is marked properly, the score card language is correct; have rules quizzes
that they send out to individuals. All entries and results are sent via the internet.
They currently field about 8200 hits a day off their internet site. Also have
handicaps on their web site (e-mail SCG.org). Have links into the USGA,
Women's WSCGA and some others. Rules are also on the web page which
allows individuals to familiarize and/or refresh themselves on rules. Also have
sections for clubs seeking membership, promoting different clubs in certain areas,
etc. Currently working with golf course facilities to have them "umbrella" if they
would like to develop a site and/or promote their course. That is another feature
now available to member clubs.
For course ratings, they come out and rate the course, measure the course,
checking the 150's etc., 100 and 200 yards markers. Provide a form with those
official measurements~ Then their committee comes out and actually plays and
rates the golf course, checking all the obstacles involved - e.g. fairway bunkers,
the speeds of grains, etc. There are 13 different obstacles involved in rating the
golf course. When that is done the Club will receive final rating within about two
weeks. They do not charge club to rate the course, nor do they charge club
dues. Their only charge is $25 per member per year.
Costs for SCGA: Actual membership cost is $25 per year per member. For
multi-membership would be $15 per course. Have about 22,000 multi members
within the Association. Benefits from membership are: receiving six issues of
SCGA Fore Magazine per year, handicapping, club directory (often referred to as
the golfer's bible), ability to participate in all SCGA tournaments, bag tag, the
internet site, the delegate program (link between SCGA and member.club). They
have info on different member clubs on their web page and they can also do an
analysis of members, scores etc. and do a comparison with the Association and
other clubs, etc.
There are minimum requirements to handle the electronic handicap system (EHS)
computer. They come out and train once the club has set up its computer system.
The EHS is compatible with most systems. They provide at no cost all soft ware,
training, and the tournament module/training. They have also developed a
scanablescore card which when put through a scanner posts and adjusts the
individual's score. All done in a matter of seconds. The initial set up cost, other
than the hardware, is for a phone line. They have an '800' number so any
transmissions would go through that line; sending and receiving is usually once a
month.
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If all a club is looking for is a handicap seNice, then they are not the ones to go
with. A membership with the Association includes all the seNices listed above.
The advantage over PubLinks is the seNice they offer.
3. Resolution 97-01 approving Supplemental Agreement NO.1 to Trust Indenture for
1996 Revenue Bond (Finance Manager Suelter)
Director Wigginton made motion, seconded by Director Archibald, to
approve Resolution 97-01. Unanimously approved. 4-0
4.
Change Orders/Cost Overruns
(Chris Calkins/John White)
Mr. Calkins expects to have the cost overruns for the next meeting. Reminded
Board members that the mechanism to finance is that basically Carltas will carry
the overrun costs until they can be funded.
Item carried to next meeting.
5.
Continue Discussion on Spikes vs. No Spikes
(Scott Bentley)
Scott Bentley advised that there are six courses in the Bakersfield area, four of
which are adopting a spikeless rule. J.C. Resorts has asked its staff to use
(spikeless shoes) in order to see how they work. One of their concerns is the
liability/risk factor. Right now people have a choice of what they can wear on the
course, so if they slip/have an accident, the operator is not liable.
Mr. Calkins suggested that since this is a new course why can't a policy be set
indicatingwhat players cannot use - e.g. spike-shoes, hobnailed boots, high heels.
There would be more liability if the rules are changed in mid-stream.
J.C. Resorts will follow the public use of soft-spikes and look at insurance claims
etc. Will bring back issue at a future meeting. Director Archibald made the
motion to continue the item until the August meeting. Approved.
6.
Status Report on Landscaping Program
(John Conover)
Mr. Conover said that he has pulled together a group of about eight members from
the Encinitas Rotary and Encinitas/La Costa Rotary groups but will not limit
membership. Any seNice group canbe represented. The member can then go
back to their club and report on how it can participate by raising money, etc. The
committee was conceived to work on making the course as beautiful as possible
and to get as many people in the community to donate and feel a sense of
ownership. Edgar Engert, President of the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce has
suggested that the YMCA's Wisemen group be asked to participate. He was very
enthusiastic about the program. Would like to propose to the Wise men that they
take on contributing a quarter of all the larger trees as part of the celebration of
their upcoming 50th anniversary.
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It was suggested that consideration be given to identifying specimen trees, for
example, as "donated by" either by a plaque attached to tree or on ground in front
of the tree. To have further discussion.
Mr. Conover also proposed that the first day of play be dedicated to supporting the
course. Could ask special charges, for instance, for maybe a charter player
membership. All proceeds to go into beautifying the course landscaping. This
would not replace a kick-off tournament.
Chairman requested that an item be added to next agenda for "consideration of
dedication of golf course."
7. Review Request from Encinitas/North Coast Chamber of Commerce to Host the
First Tournament at the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course.
Mr. Calkins suggested sending out a flyer/enquiry to all prospective interested
parties asking for their proposal.
No promises have been made to the Encinitas Chamber by anyone. Still an open
issue.
Chairman Kaiser asked for a recommendation on how to respond to letter. Vice
Chair Riggins suggested sending a letter right away saying it is a bit premature to
be considering this matter and that we will be reviewing their proposal along with a
number of other options.
Vice Chair Riggins offered to sit on a task force to review prospective options.
Others named to the task force are Manager Jim Benson, Director Wasserman
and Scott Bentley.
8. Directors and/or Manager Reports
Director Archibald reported that the Golf Course got some promotion time on KUSI
through Rod Luck. Interviewed Cary Bickler and Alan Archibald.
9. Next Meeting - Thursday, April 17, 1997 at 3:00 p.m.
10. Agenda Items for Next and Future Meetings:
a) Presentation by SCPLGA (April meeting)
b) Review Draft Policy on Donation Requests (April) (Roger Krauel)
c) Consider Logo Design (April) (David Wigginton/Scott Bentley)
d) Cost Overruns/Change Orders (April) (Chris Calkins)
e) Spikes vs. No Spikes (August meeting) (Scott Bentley)
f) Consideration of Dedication of Golf Course (April)
g) Discussion of Major Sponsors for Holes (April)
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h) Recommendation from Landscaping Group (John Conover)
i) Report from Task Force on Opening Tournament Proposals (Kathy Riggins)
j) Consider Sponsoring a Joint Grant Application to National Forestry (May)
(David Wigginton)
11. Adjournment
Adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
(_~CtfUIIY Supmitted, .
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Patricia Drew
Meeting Secretary
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Edward Kaiser
Chairman
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