Golf Course Authority

To: NGCA Members From: Barney Caulfield, Chairman NGCA Re: Minutes of NGCA monthly meeting of April 24, 2013 Members Present Bernard Caulfield Charles Whitty Richard Podurgiel Michael Driscoll Richard Strouse David DiBattista Others Present Mike Svab, Pro Manager Tony Madeira, Finance Department – until 7:30 p.m. Arthur Guertin, Member’s Club Jason Bromley, Caddy Shack II – until 7:15 p.m. Call to Order  Chairman Caulfield called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Minutes  A motion to receive and adopt the minutes of the March 27, 2013 meeting was made by Mr. DiBattista, seconded by Mr. Podurgiel, and approved unanimously. A motion to suspend the order of the agenda to move the Restaurant Operation – Caddy Shack II before the Financial Report and to allow Mr. Jason Bromley to report to the Authority was made by Mr. Strouse, seconded by Mr. DiBattista, and approved unanimously. Caddy Shack Mr. Bromley reported that business had been slow at the Caddy Shack as a result of the uncooperative weather over the past few months. 2013 has been a different winter and spring than those of 2012. The winter business was adversely affected by snow and March and April had been cold with decreased golf compared with 2012. With the improving weather his business is improving. Presently he owes a balance to the Authority of $8,540, having reduced the balance to that figure with the recent delivery of $4,000 worth of Caddy Shack Special cards to the Authority. He has several events scheduled and anticipates catching up in May. Financial Report Mr. Madeira reported that the Authority had revenues in March of 2013 of $187,811.76, year to date revenues being $226,301.55. The March revenue figures for 2013 are down approximately $22,000 from those of March 2012 and the to date revenues are down approximately $50,000, 2013 vs. 2012. Expenses in March of 2013 are approximately $53,000 less than March of 2012 and year to date expenses through the end of March are approximately $16,000 less in 2013 than in 2012. On a cash basis revenues over expenses were $125,151.41 in March of 2013 vs. $94,018.28 in March 2012. Year to date revenue over expenses in 2013 were negative (-) $3,644.89 vs. positive (+) $30,047.79 for the same period in 2012. The cash balance at the end of March 2013 was $178,226. Mr. Madeira noted the cash position was strong. A motion to accept the financial report was made by Mr. Podurgiel, seconded by Mr. DiBattista, and approved unanimously. COMMITTEE REPORTS  Chairman’s Report Mr. Caulfield reported that Ms. Joanne Drag has prepared the agendas for the Norwich Golf Course Authority as well as handled other reports and communications. As a token of thanks the Authority recently sent her flowers. Mr. Caulfield reported on the cleaning service noting that he had received many favorable reports with respect to the condition of the clubhouse. A motion to continue these cleaning services for the month of May at a cost of $1,000 was made by Mr. DiBattista, seconded by Mr. Podurgiel, and approved unanimously.  Clubhouse Committee  No report presented.  Greens Committee Mr. Strouse reported that the wall fronting the 11th tee has been completed with finish landscaping remaining to be done. The irrigation system for the rebuilt portion of the tee is in and is presently being graded.  Planning Committee  No report presented.  Marketing Committee  Mr. Podurgiel reported that the course, through Mr. Svab, had reached an agreement with the Microtel Hotel of Montville to be the exclusive provider of a golf package to the guests of the Microtel Hotel. The guest will be offered a voucher entitling them to play at Norwich, the voucher to include individual green fees and a cart rental. For each voucher redeemed the course will be paid $45 by the Microtel Hotel. Mr. Podurgiel further reported that the final ads in the ad program with the Norwich Bulletin are running, and that the give back program established by the Authority on recommendation of Mr. Svab will commence in May. Several organizations have signed up for the program.  Beautification Committee Mr. Podurgiel recommended that the two small mats in front of the main entrance to the clubhouse be replaced with one customized 4’x6’ mat bearing the name of the course and the rose logo. A motion to appropriate up to $425 from Capital Improvements, line item 80002, Clubhouse repairs/improvement, to include purchasing and shipping of a custom 4’x6’ mat was made by Mr. Podurgiel, seconded by Mr. DiBattista, and approved unanimously.  Budget Committee Mr. Whitty noted that a sum of money needed to transfer within the account to cover properly a recent expense. Mr. Whitty moved that the sum of $3,962 to be moved from line item 80038, Advertising under the NGCA General Budget, to line item 80055 Website Development/Maintenance in the NGCA Pro Shop Budget, explaining that the development of the website was charged to the Pro Shop budget which had an inadequate amount of money in the account to cover such an expense. This motion was seconded by Mr. Podurgiel and approved unanimously.  Superintendant’s Report In the absence of Mr. Morse, Chairman Caulfield reported that a step cut had been made in the rough for the first time on April 24, 2013. Given that the rough is still relatively low, the cut may not be that observable.  Pro Manager’s Report Mr. Svab had been requested to investigate the cost to purchase and install upgraded power hand dryers for the bathrooms in the upper clubhouse bathrooms and potentially in the Gopher Hole and basement bathrooms. He reported that he had received a price of $630 to purchase and install each upgraded hand dryer. Presently there is a power hand dryer in each of the two upper floor bathrooms in the clubhouse with paper towel dispensers in the lower floor bathrooms and in the Gopher Hole bathrooms. The needs and merits of replacing the existing dryers and towel dispensers were discussed and there was consensus agreement that the matter should be re-evaluated in the autumn assuming funding is available.  Mr. Svab further reported that there are 236 members signed up to date, 27 of whom were not members last year. We have received member’s dues of slightly under $300,000 and he is cautiously optimistic that we will meet the budgeted revenue figure of $321,000.  Member’s Club Mr. Guertin reported that the Member’s Club is making efforts to increase the participation in the tournaments it sponsors. In 2011 it solicited opinions and suggestions from its members with respect to its events. He noted the Member’s Club recognizes the Authority’s concerns that there be sufficient participation to justify exclusive course use for tournaments and the Member’s Club and the Authority are working toward a common goal of increasing play in this regard. Adjournment A motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m. was made by Mr. DiBattista, seconded by Mr. Strouse, and approved unanimously.