Golf Board of Governors

Golf Committee Meeting June 12, 2018 at 4pm City Hall, 11th floor Park Department Conference Room 455 N. Main Wichita, KS 67202 Members: Hoyt Hillman, President, Chair, Greg Ferris, At-Large, Thomas West, District II, Cindy Renard, District III, Cory Rainwater, District IV, Richard Schodorf, District V, Troy Houtman, Troy Palmer, Evelyn Turner Absent: Dr. Michael Williams, District I, Debbie Burch, District VI, Troy Hendricks Public Agenda Regular Agenda Items Approval of Minutes from 5/1/2018 Hillman recommended a correction to the prior minutes that states the motion made was approved unanimously, on the second page. West motioned to approve the change. Schodorf second. Rounds/Expenditures Appelhanz shared the rounds report. Rounds are up, but not revenue. Year to date down 11% in rounds and down 8% in revenue. Although rain has been present, it has not affected rounds. Hillman asked Appelhanz to share information regarding the mobile app. Appelhanz stated that our Gallus Golf app has been very successful with 5,973 unique users. Ferris asked about the decrease in revenue, with an increase in revenue per round. Appelhanz stated that it is related to discounted rounds and stated that she will confirm this with Hendricks. Since starting the mobile app, we have not had a day that the app was not looked at. Hillman asked how we can use the app to get more players on the courses. Schodorf stated that the new monthly rate pass will help drive rounds too. Houtman stated that marketing has been doing a great job with the app and Facebook too. First Tee Update West stated that the turnout at the groundbreaking was great. The video work was fantastic as well. The weather cooperated with the rain holding off until after the groundbreaking. In the meantime, the dirt work has been progressing well. Fundraising is now in full swing. Hillman asked if we are still looking at a fall launch for kids’ programming. West stated it is too soon to tell. Golf Sustainability Update Houtman stated that Palmer and Turner are both here for today’s meeting. He provided a copy of the Golf Sustainability report and explained that the information was purely data driven. Page 10 shows a scoring matrix. The report also has the scenarios of each course closing. He explained that we have more golf courses than we have golfers. Starting the season in the red is having an effect on more than just our division. It also impacts other departments, as well as other areas of the Park Department. In conclusion, the sustainability committee recommends the immediate closure of LW Clapp Golf Course. There is a lot of information in this report. He stated that we will need to plan another meeting within the next week or two to discuss this more in depth. West asked what will happen next. Houtman stated that the property is owned by the Board of Park Commissioners and the Board will handle what happens with the physical property. Operations are handled by the City. We need a recommendation from the committee that will need to go to the Park Board. A presentation will also need to be made to City Council. West asked if public commentary will be required. Houtman stated it will not. What happens after the closure will be open for public commentary. Schodorf asked if we could look at improvements to MacDonald Golf Course to prevent it from being the next golf course to close. Houtman stated that we are unable to put money back into our courses, at this time. The first course of action is to get the system back into the black. Schodorf asked if there would be funds from the closure of LW Clapp that could be used to improve the other courses. Hillman stated that the funds would end up going to the general fund for development of that property. Ferris stated that is all premature. The committee still needs to make a recommendation to the Park Board, which will then have to go to Council. West stated that we need to focus on the viability of the remaining system. Hillman asked if we can meet in two weeks. Meeting scheduled for June 19th 4pm. Next Meeting July 24, 2018