1997-08-21
CITY OF ENCINITAS
ENCINITAS RANCH GOLF AUTHORITY
MINUTES of REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21,1997
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chairman Kaiser called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.
Directors present: Ed Kaiser, Kathy Riggins, Lauren Wasserman, Alan Archibald, David
Wigginton, being all of the directors.
Also present: General Counsel Roger Krauel, Manager Jim Benson, Meeting
Secretary Pat Drew; Scott Bentley and John Mason, J.C. Resorts; Art Beardsley,
Encinitas Golf Association.
ORAL COMMUNICATION
None
REGULAR AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes of Regular Meeting of July 17,1997.
Director Archibald moved, Director Riggins seconded, approval of minutes
as presented. Minutes approved 5-0.
2.
Review and Approve Proposed Logo.
(Scott Bentley)
Mr. Bentley explained that the developer, Cornerstone Communities, has not got
back to him with any feedback since he showed them the logo designs discussed
by ERGA board last month. Apparently they (the developers) have ceased their
relationship with the current logo designer. Because of the desire to coordinate
and be consistent with their design we are at a standstill. Mr. Bentley was asked to
put a little more pressure on Cornerstone, stressing our concern with timing
because of our completion date. Feel a need to have this matter resolved by
ERGA's October meeting date so need to have samples for the September
meeting. If no response from Cornerstone will either bring back original designs
from J.C. Resorts' designer, and/or bring some new designs from him.
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3.
Continue Discussion of Proposed Rate Schedule
(Scott Bentley)
Mr. Bentley handed out draft materials on proposed rates for the golf course - a
comparison with other area golf courses, a pro forma for opening in March 1998
through June, and one for the new fiscal year beginning July 1, 1998 through June
30, 1999. Propose offering residents preferred tee times - seven day advance
booking for Monday through Friday. play, and ten days for weekend play. Will
plan to have computer programmed for verification of residency when reserving
tee times. JCR Club members pay $259 per year for five free rounds, Monday
through Thursday, at anyone of the JC Resorts' golf courses. The golf course is
reimbursed $45. The selling course gets the remaining $34 as income, with $20 of
it going as commission to the staff member who sold the membership card.
Members get eight-day preferential advance reservations and a discounted rate.
Discounts vary according to golf course played. Most courses range at about 20-
25% discount during the week and about 15% discount at the weekend. Currently
looking at making changes for next year for the 1800 membership group, who
account for about 5% of players. Their philosophy is to do very little advertising of
special rates but to give discounts to their loyal membership; prefer to sell
memberships rather than offering discount coupons.
Chairman Kaiser made the recommendation that rates for residents and JCR club
members be the same, for both weekday and weekend play. Directors agreed
week day rates should be for Monday through Friday, and week day rates should
be discounted $5. Friday play would be discounted half-way between the base
rates; base rates for the public at $34 pe~ round for weekday play and $48 for
weekend play; special rate for Friday play at $41; rates for residents and JCR
Club members at $29 for week day play, $43 at the weekend and $36 on Friday;
nine-hole rates at 50% of the 18 hole rate. Mr. Bentley to bring back to the
September board meeting pro forma alternatives.
Golf cart rates and policy were discussed and it was agreed that Mr. Bentley would
bring back to the September meeting a revised pro forma showing anticipated
revenue for various scenarios of both mandatory and non-mandatory cart use.
4. Report from Task Force on Grand Opening/Dedication of Golf Course. (K Riggins)
Director Riggins has met with Carrie Stone of the Community Services Department
who will be the City's liaison staff person with the DedicationlTournament Task
Force being formed. Ms. Stone is a very professional and well experienced
special events person. The two of them will be meeting to put together two
schedules; one for the dedication and one for the tournament. They will also do
a schedule of the day with time-line for completion dates, plus an outline of the
events. Requested names of people that could be recruited to work on the Task
Force in coordinating the event.
Director Riggins recommended that she bring back a revised, fine-tuned plan for
the Board's approval at the September board meeting. Once the plan is approved
responsibilities can be assigned and we will start moving on the project. She did
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stress that if the opening event is still scheduled for February 28, 1998, they need
to have a confirmation of this by November 1. Director Archibald advised that at
this point there is very little doubt that the course will be completed and available
for a February 28 dedication/tournament event. Probably the only thing to be
concerned about would be if the event was rained out on February 28. In the
meantime, any time Environmental Golf run into an erosion problem they are
sodding rather than reseeding. This should eliminate erosion problems. Confident
that opening should be on schedule for end of February.
5.
Status Report on Hole Sponsorship.
(Kathy Riggins)
Items 5 and 6 combined for discussion.
Reviewed discussion from last meeting on hole sponsorship. Agreed that we
would selectively market the program to major sponsors on a one-time five-year
basis and decide at a later date whether to continue the program.
Mr. Mason will continue to put together costs for various tee signs and will bring
back to the Board for review and approval at the next meeting. Prospective
sponsors have indicated that they cannot make a decision until they see a sample
or picture of the agreed upon tee sign and plaque and know costs involved.
Board members reviewed pictures of examples of tee markers and discussed their
preferences. Board was unanimous in its preference for the tall granite stone
monument with a plaque that incorporated the diagram of the hole and wording
"donated/sponsored by....." Stone would be large enough that it would take two
plaques - one a permanent one with diagram of the hole and the other naming the
sponsor. Not to include a ball washer but possibly a trash receptacle. Donor's
name not to be engraved into the stone. John Mason to get color samples and
quotations including accessories and park benches, and bring back to the next
Board meeting for discussion and decision.
Director Archibald said that in considering enhancements, may wish to consider
putting in a little wall in areas where there could be some sloughing problems and,
if needed, purchasing additional trees for enhancing certain areas, such as around
the club house. Edgar Engert has advised that the Y's Men's Club is looking at
donating 25 Torrey Pines and planting them this Fall. Their membership has
agreed to contribute $1000 for the trees. It was agreed that there would be an
official "hole digging" ceremony for the trees but that Environmental Golf would
handle the planting. Recognition for donations will be considered at a later date.
6. Discuss Potential Course Enhancements.
Discussion included with Item 5.
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