Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Putting Surface Maintenance March 2020

The golf course is still open during these challenging times for golf members to get out of the house, get a little exercise and enjoy their golf course. We are grateful to be preparing the course for you and at the same time remaining employed and we  hope that everyone is safe and healthy.


Both golf and golf course maintenance schedules have been been pretty fluid in 2020 and it looks like this dynamic will continue into the foreseeable future. Our adjusted overall strategy this year is to keep a frequent, less aggressive approach to cultivation practices on the golf course such as aerification. On Monday 3/2/20 we deep tine aerated the greens and Monday 3/30/20 we spiked the greens along with adding granular fertility and seed. Below are some pictures of the process.


Above is a putting surface aerifyer set up with solid spiking tines. These tines make a 1/4" wide hole 4" deep facilitating much needed air to the surface's root system.

Close-up view of the aerification pattern. This hole pattern is approximately 2"X 2".

After the spiking we run a vertical mower over the surface to groom it and provide slits or avenues for bentgrass seed to make soil contact and establish.

Bentgrass seed is very small.

Next we apply a medium-light dusting of sand to the surfaces.

Followed by granular fertility application. Open holes are a perfect opportunity to get nutrients incorporated into the soil via open holes  such as calcium, magnesium and slow release potassium.

The finishing touch is brushing the seed, sand and nutrients into the aeration holes and vertical mowing lines. Next we apply some water to push the seed, sand and nutrients down into the turf canopy. Final touch is to roll the surfaces the following morning. Putting quality will not be effected by this process although there might be traces of sand evident which is not that foreign as we frequently light topdress the greens during the growing season.

Friday, March 27, 2020

Golf Committee Minutes March 2020


Golf Committee March 10, 2020 Minutes

Attendees:

Michael Peabody, Dan Becker, Matt Dillon, Michael Nicoletti, Lisa Erickson, Carol Garvey, Ed Reeder, Jim Reis, Board of Governors: John Korvin

Meeting with ClubCorp

Prior to the Golf Committee meeting there was a meeting with Dan Hewitson, ClubCorp’s Senior VP of Operations.  GBGC was represented by Michael Peabody, John Korvin, and Dan Becker.  The meeting was to discuss ClubCorp’s recent budgetary decisions.
Here are key points from the meeting:
Both the Tilly’s kitchen and the golf course projects are postponed.  No assurances that they will be approved in the future.
No explanation why Tilly’s kitchen was approved in 2019 and postponed in 2020.
Apollo has different approach to capital. ClubCorp gave a little to everybody. Apollo gives a lot to a few. Apollo has different budget timetable than ClubCorp. ClubCorp made decisions in October. Apollo is much later.
All dues and revenues go into a corporate-wide pot. Other clubs got projects approved. We didn’t make the cut.
There will be no relief on dues.
It was agreed that Apollo/ClubCorp did a poor job of communication and they recognized that we thought it was a virtual certainty that our projects would be approved.
Mr. Hewitson got a clear picture of why we were very unhappy and the potential damage to the GBGC brand but he was not authorized to do anything about it.
Mr. Hewitson said that GBGC was valued by Apollo and they had no intention of selling it.
There will be a follow up visit for further discussion.
[Attached are the agenda and Korvin’s and Becker’s talking points]

General Manager Update

The ClubCorp meeting was discussed.
Matt Dillon was recognized as the ClubCorp Supervisor of the Year - Pacific Region.

Pro Shop / Outside Services Update

·         Evaluating a new Outside Services head position.
·         A new golf cart fleet, without speakers, will arrive in the Fall.
·         We will be switching to Callaway range balls.
·         Mike N is investigating the possibilities of private cart owners installing the GPS system.
Action Item: Mike N – Report your findings.

Course Conditions

For comprehensive information please check the Granite Bay Golf Club Course Update.
·         The club will soon start using a new pin placement and management program (ezLocator).  We will no longer have the red, white, yellow pin progression.  Daily pin locations can be found via an app, GBGC cart GPS, or daily printed pin sheets.  The benefits are many, among them: avoids “unfair” pin locations, increased green health, and introduces pin locations that may make feel like you are playing a new course.  The technology has been widely praised everywhere it has been used.  Matt will provide rollout specifics soon through the Granite Bay Course Update.
·         Aeration this Spring will be solid tined (no extraction).  This aeration will have much shorter-term impact on playability.
·         Bunker maintenance: Trying to keep the sand level consistent through the rainy season, will add sand later in the year..
·         Hybrid Bermuda Surrounds – they will be higher later in the year.  This will help avoid the extreme runoff of balls that travel a bit too far (like #11).

Junior Golf Update

·         Plans will need to be adjusted as a result of the changes to the course closure.
·         Designated range stations will be in place to ensure that golfers can warm up prior to play..

Handicap Integrity / Reports                                                                

·         Jack and Michelle could not attend but reported their statistics.  Jack reported a 69 percent compliance of posting scores in February.  Michelle reported 78 percent compliance.

Locker Room Attendant

·         The Locker Room is in place.
Action Item: Mike P – Send an announcement to the members.

On Boarding Process/Policies/Codes

Mike N reported that there were 16 or 17 new member on-boardings over the past year and they were very appreciative.  They were provided the updated golf guide and the guest policy as an attachment
Action Item: Mike P – Make sure that the club website gets updated with the new policies and codes.
Action Item: Mike N
Provide the new golf guide to the Committee
Action Item: Mike N/Lisa E – Establish welcome procedure for lady golfers
Action Item: Mike N
Invite the Golf Committee to the next New Member Orientation.

Tournament Update

·         There were two NCGA qualifiers and the Couples tournament.  Both had higher attendance than in the past.  The Couples tournament had twice as many participants than last year.
·         March will have s
·         As always, check the Club Life app for details on upcoming tournaments.

Attention to Detail / Action Items

This is a portion of the meeting where the committee reviews and voices items that should be corrected or where GBGC comes up lacking when compared to other clubs.  They should be focused primarily on the Golf Experience.
Prior items:
·         #5 bathroom walkway – loose tile, trip hazard.
-- In 2019 all bathrooms will be repainted and tile replaced/repaired.  This is currently in process and awaiting final budget approval. Note that the tiles have been replaced.
·         #10 fairway too narrow/rough too wide when using Pebble tees.
-- There will be tree trimming and likely the contours will be smoothed when the course is re-sodded.
·         It was suggested that a new Tournament tee be added to #11.
-- Will be done when the course is re-sodded.
·         Other area courses have short videos that cover course care, etiquette, etc. 
Action Item: Mike P – Come up with a plan to make the videos a reality.

This month’s unfiltered items:

·         Members are frequently leaving balls on the chipping green or not raking bunkers after they are finished with practice.  The Committee agreed that this was poor etiquette and disrespectful of fellow members.
Action Item: Mike N -- Propose a solution to the issue.
·         The Red tees on #10 are blind to tees further back.  Golfers on the Red tees are frequently “in the line of fire”.
Action Item: Matt/Mike N – Explore a possible solution
-- DONE (trees trimmed)

New Business

A proposed 2020 Golf Calendar was presented, given the course remaining open.  A key Ladies event was added.

Open Action Item Summary

Mike P – Make sure that the club website gets updated with the new policies and codes.
Mike P – Come up with a plan to make the videos a reality.
Mike P – Send out an announcement to the members about the Locker Room Attendant.
Mike N – Report on the possibilities of private cart owners installing the GPS system.
Mike N -- Propose a solution to the issue of improper practice area etiquette.
Mike N – Get a larger scorecard box for Tilly’s.
Mike N – Provide the new golf guide to the Committee.
Mike N/Lisa E – Establish welcome procedure for lady golfers.
Mike N – Invite the Golf Committee to the next New Member Orientation.

Next Meeting Dates (all 4pm)

4/28, 5/27, 6/23 (subject to change).

Attachment: ClubCorp Meeting Agenda

ClubCorp Agenda – March 10,2020
Attendees: Dan Hewitson – Vice President, Pacific Division
                     Michael Peabody – General Manager, Granite Bay GC
                     John Korvin – Chairman, Board of Governors
                     Dan Becker – Chairman, Golf Committee
Member Relations History
Food and Beverage
-          New Chef and F&B manager
-          Member Surveys
Golf Operations
-          New Pro
-          Outside Services
Product
-          Clubhouse/Locker Rooms
-          Golf Course
Communications
Brand/Reputation
-          Damaged in the Marketplace
-          New Member Recruitment Impact
Financials
  -2017 - 4.2% Dues Increase – No Noticeable Capital Investment
 - 2018 - 4.3% Dues Increase – No Noticeable Capital Investment
 - 2019 – 5.0% Dues Increase – 2 Clocks
 - 2020 – 5.9% Dues Increase – No Noticeable Capital Investment
 - 2020 – 3.5% Credit Card Charge – Seen as a Dues Increase
Tilly’s Project
-          Approved in 2019
-          Rescinded in 2020
Member Relations Today

Attachment: John Korvin’s Talking Points


                     HOW DID WE GET HERE? – VIRTUALLY CERTAIN

Bent Grass - Lots of Water - Wet Summer Conditions

Drought - Water Restrictions

Bermuda - Solves Current and Future Problems

Step1 - Multiple Types of Hybrid Bermuda Patches

Step2 - Surrounds on 4 Holes

Step3 - Sod #17 Fairway and 14 Surrounds on Remaining Holes

Step4 - Delay #7 Tee Complex until ‘The Project’

Step5 - No Sale of Outside Tournaments between June and November

Step6 – Move Men’s and Women’s Invitational’s to April

Attachment: Dan Becker’s Talking Points


For this part of the conversation, I will focus specifically on golf.

Speaking for myself, I’m passionate about three things as it pertains to GBGC;

1.    Playing golf.
2.    The golfer experience.
3.    Golf member customer service.

When Michael came on as GM, John and I enthusiastically committed to whatever time it took - and whatever was asked of us - helping Michael with anything/everything having to do with the Golfer Experience. 

We became passionate liaisons - and communication avenues - for Michael, Matt Dillon, the members, as well as some of the key GBGC employees.

Essentially, being the primary communication “link” between the capital contributing entity, and members.

The good news, on a local level, it has paid dividends as we continually address (and improve) the member experience.  Such as;

1.    The Head Golf Pro responsibilities & duties.
2.    Outside services.
3.    Pro Shop service and support.
4.    Junior Program.
5.    Attention to details.
6.    Locker Room service and support.
7.    Golf Course conditions and the playing experience.

The more realistic news, in spite of a course that has extremely “good bones” is we are taking daily bullets on the more critical “corporate” things such as;

1.    Awful summer course conditions - specifically fairways, roughs and surrounds.
2.    Terribly inconsistent bunkers.
3.    A municipal looking practice range (poor drainage, bad looking turf, deficient fence, etc).
4.    Over used and abused tee boxes.
5.    Tired, often smelly & dated locker rooms.
6.    A half-pregnant course with all kinds of grasses and conditions scattered throughout.

All of these challenges are currently being held together by nothing more than band-aids and hope - and the herculean efforts of people like Michael, Matt Dillon, and some other key employees.

John and I are both in an extremely compromised position.  We simply don’t know what to say (or do) in light of recent postponements.  Hope and verbal timelines aren’t going to cut it going forward. 

And with drought ramifications becoming more and more evident, it can only get worse!

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Coronavirus Update #2 - Additional Golf Course Precautions

Last week we removed all water cooler's from the golf course as a precaution against Coronavirus transmission from water cooler dispenser handling. Using CDC guidelines, ClubCorp has mandated additional measures to golf course operations nationwide to prevent transmission.

Practice green this morning with flag's removed

Additional Measures Include:

  • Removal of all practice green flags.
  • Removal of all sand trap rakes.
  • Removal of ball washers.
  • Removal of all divot boxes and bottles.
  • Reversing the putting green cup.

Above picture depicts ClubCorp mandated reversal of the putting green cup. The tapered flag stick ferrule wedges into the cup with this configuration so we are asking all players to NOT REMOVE THE FLAG STICK WHEN PUTTING


Above picture depicts a ball that has settled into the reversed cup in the putting green eliminating the need touch the sides of the cup during retrieval of your golf  ball. We ask that you utilize the following temporary local rule at until we return to normal putting green cup placement:
IF YOUR BALL HITS THE BASE OF THE FLAGPOLE CONSIDER IT HOLED OUT. 

Above picture shows sand traps on #8 without sand trap rakes. GCM will rake bunkers in the AM. Players need to try to smooth out their tracks in the bunkers with their shoes temporarily until we come up with a better solution.


Water station on #5 tee without ball washer.

Following the CDC's guidance on keeping work places safe is ClubCorps and Granite Bay Golf Clubs upmost priority for our Members and Employee Partners. On the golf course we feel that by removing all of these commonly handled golf course items that we are eliminating potential transmission touch points. All of these measures are of course temporary as we all navigate through these new times we are experiencing. We are glad that at least for now we can prepare the golf course for our members to enjoy as their home away from home during these turbulent times.  

Thanks for your understanding and patience.

Friday, March 13, 2020

Coronavirus Update #1 - Golf Course Water Cooler Removal



As a precautionary measure amid the recent concerns with the Corona Virus, Club Corp and Granite Bay Golf Club have required the temporary removal of water coolers throughout the golf course. Bottled water will be available at the golf shop through this temporary period.

Thanks for your understanding and patience.