Greens Committee Minutes           

January 12, Meeting 2012

 Meeting was called to order at 2:10 pm by Chair Harriet Shemer.  Those present were:

Committee/Sub-committee Members:                Harriet Shemer, Pete Schwartz, Manny Mederos, Jon Michels, Linda DeWitt. Tim Butler, Cliff Sansot,

De Facto Members:        Mike Jahaske, Jon Whitmyer,

HOA2 Board Members and Guests:         Ed Masotti, Phil Cohen (part-time), Bob Corley

Minutes of the December, 2011 meeting were approved as submitted.

Maintenance Report (Jon Whitmyer and Pete Schwartz): 

• Status of employees:  Jon reports that he’s hired two new employees making a total of 12 for each course.   He held a meeting with his teams in early January to review status of courses and priorities for 2012.
• Progress of course upgrades:  Work is being done on holes #2 at MV & #5 at TP. On #2, the wall is being completed around the bunker¸ red stakes are being moved to better define hazard boundaries.  Also at MV, work is concentrated on squaring the tee boxes and removing river rock.
• Maintenance subcommittee meetings will be held on Tuesday mornings on an “as required” basis.
• Cliff will send out a revised bunker priority list which will be reviewed and voted upon at the February 9^th meeting.
• To evaluate Mini Verde greens, Jon W, Mike, Harriet, Linda, Cliff and Manny play both the Ridge and Hill nines at LaPaloma.  on January 11.  There was a discussion regarding the condition and playability of the Mini Verde greens and all were in agreement that the quality of the greens was very good; smooth, consistent, virtually no ball marks, but very fast.  All six players had a chance to speak with Dave Stout, the Troon course agronomist, regarding the process to change to Mini Verde as well as the maintenance issues and advantages.  There was also discussion about the status of the Mini Verde greens at HOA #1 which is having problems with the encroachment of other grasses onto their greens. After discussing the pros and cons, it was unanimously agreed to recommend that RCI approve the upgrade to Mini Verde at the Preserve.
• Jon is encouraging his course managers to try and reduce the amount of time caused by frost delays.
• Jon has plans to clear the driving ranges
• Jon noted that the courses are too wet due to the excess of reclaimed water which must be put back into the ground, per the water company requirements.  The excess water is due to the increased snowbird population over the winter. 
• On the MV bunkers, Jon is using screens to try and remove stones and add/remove sand as needed.  He requested that we check out the bunkers to see if the improvements are noticeable.
• Jon has scheduled crabgrass spraying on the tee boxes and greens for mid-Feb. and May 1.
• Jon was asked to restrict the closure of holes for “cart path only” to only one par five, per course at the same time.  Jon will ensure that holes #8 and 10 on TP are not closed from carts traffic.
• The poor/wet condition of the green at hole #6 at TP was discussed.  Jon stated that the sand           base is inconsistent and would have to be remedied during a re-contouring of the green.
• Phil Cohen raised several issues for Jon to follow-up on:
  • Repaint red lines on TP #10
  • Possibility of using cement grinder to repair cart paths
  • Kill weeds on MV #6
  • Start mowing on #9 and work backwards so the group starting on #1 won’t have the mowers shadowing them as they play each hole.
  • Members should not be penalized points for bringing guests.  Mike said this is a minor issue but if it became a problem for someone, he would review it on an individual basis.
  • Bob Corley (guest) asked that the three dead trees be removed from behind his property on TP #8.    Jon stated that those trees would be removed but the rock garden put in by Mr. Corley would also have to be removed by Mr. Corley as it is on golf course property.

Golf Operations (Mike Jahaske):

• Mike stated that we’re down 35 annual memberships and up 10 playcard memberships so far this year.  Revenue is behind about $84,000 from last year.
• The Turtle Program continues to be successful.  To date, only three foursomes have been “turtled”, and there are no current turtles.  There is slow play on Tuesdays with the Niners, due to frost delays which eat into the buffer for groups following the Niners so they catch the Niners.  Mike said he would consider keeping the buffer the same even during frost delays.

Committee Reports:

• Adopt-a-Hole:  Jon M. reported that all holes at MV are covered, and holes #1 through 14 at TP are covered.  He discussed a “Sand and Seed Party” for TP with Joe Chavez, but Joe said he could have his crew handle the uncovered holes.  Harriet asked that that Jon and Linda come up with some ideas to use the “Sand and Seed” budget to reward AAH volunteers.
• Jon W requested that we have AAH volunteers check bunker rakes and return broken rakes to the cart barns and pick up new ones.  Jon and Linda will notify the hole captains and add that to that to the Friday Flagstick.

Special Events: 

               Harriet reported that the Employee Appreciation breakfast went very well and Jon concurred that the employees were very appreciative.  Harriet thanked Mike Brenny, Ed Masotti, and Pam Brunelle for their efforts.  Harriet felt that we should begin the planning the fund-raising earlier next year to ensure that all groups have a chance to contribute.

Announcements:

• Harriet announced that Marilyn Bertke has formally resigned as Communications Chair and requested any candidates for a replacement be submitted to her.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:25 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Linda DeWitt-Acting Secretary