After spending most of the day Aug. 13 with United States Golf Association representative Ty McClellan, the Joint Advisory Committee on Golf heard some good news from Andy Mar, Bella Vista Village's golf operations manager.
For the first time in 2014, the number of rounds played exceeded the number budgeted for the month.
In July, a total of 23,620 rounds were played and 23,522 were budgeted. In July 2013, some 24,768 rounds were played.
"We finally got in the black," Mar said. Weather is one reason golf rounds have been down this year.
He also reported to the committee that he has agreed to a "Stay and Play" package with three area hotels and is working on one with Vacation Rentals. Visitors to the area will get a special rate for a round of golf.
Committee Chairwoman Stevie Lamar said the Membership Growth Subcommittee worked with Mar on a "frequent golfer" punch card. People who pay the guest rate with a cart for five rounds can earn their sixth round for free if they use the card, she said. The cards will be available at Bella Vista's pro shops.
The committee agreed to support a plan to purchase GPS trackers in order to determine which areas on each course can be "naturalized." Keith Ihms, golf maintenance manager, explained that naturalized areas still get some maintenance, but it is limited.
The cost of the trackers and the necessary software is about $6,000, McClellan told the committee earlier in the afternoon.
The group also discussed an improvement project around the Metfield Clubhouse, but no one was sure if the specific area was maintained by the golf course crews or maintenance crews that report to the Property Owners Association's Maintenance and Construction Department. A volunteer-run golf tournament will pay the expenses of the project, which should improve the appearance of the back of the clubhouse.
The Dollars for Dogwood Tournament is planned for 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 1 . Call the pro shop at 479-855-8160 for details.
Sports on 08/20/2014