Bailey updates panel on golf course repairs

At their April meeting last week, the Joint Advisory Committee on Golf heard from General Manager Tommy Bailey about several ongoing projects on the courses.

The repairs needed at the Scotsdale Golf Course after the August flooding are complete and were done under budget, Bailey said. The Property Owners Association used a new mechanical concrete finisher that saved manpower hours.

Another big project is about to get under way on the Country Club where a pump house was knocked off its foundation during the flood. Bailey warned the committee that further work will be needed on the creek bed near the pump house since erosion is a continuing problem.

Work at the Country Club Pro Shop is awaiting funding, Golf Operations Manager Andy Mar said. In order to enlarge the shop in it's current location, money will have to be spent on flooring and the septic system.

Bailey pointed out that the board may still decide to move the shop into the Country Club building, so he's reluctant to fund the project.

The search for a new golf maintenance manager has been narrowed down, Bailey told the committee, but he doesn't have a timetable for the new hire. He's still working out details, he said.

Golf Committee member Gale Harder suggested that the POA needs a professional review of the golf courses to plan future maintenance and possible improvements. The amenities study completed last year did not focus on the golf courses. Golf, he said, is the most used and the most valuable amenity.

Chairwoman Stevie Lamar suggested that the golf shops should combine twosomes and singles when necessary to keep more tee times open. She said there have been many twosomes playing recently.

Mar agreed to write an article for the POA publication, the Village Voice, that will explain some course rules and etiquette and remind golfers to bring their own water to the course, since there will be fewer coolers available.

Sports on 04/16/2014