The Joint Advisory Committee on Golf was asked to advise the POA board on a specific golf issue -- the fate of the part-time player assistants.
In 2012, budget concerns led to a hiring freeze for the POA. Although the hiring freeze was lifted when it was time to hire seasonal workers, player assistants jobs were not included. This year, player assistants were brought back. Their role was to monitor the pace of play on their respective course. If a foursome was holding up the groups behind them, the player assistants could ask them to wait and let the next group play through.
This year, they had an additional responsibility when the POA started issuing color-coded tags as players paid their fee. The tags were designed to be attached to the golf cart and player assistants checked to make sure the number of tags matched the numbers of players. The move was in response to charges that some golfers snuck onto the course without paying the fee.
The cost of the player assistants -- all of them were part-time, seasonal workers -- was about $80,000 and members of the JAC agreed that the program was not cost-effective. The player assistants seemed to have little impact on the pace of play. There were no numbers to show that the tag system was keeping nonpaying golfers off the courses.
Golf Operations director Darryl Muldoon said he has polled the pros who work in the various pro shops and they agreed they would rather have an extra staff person who could be assigned where needed. At times, the pro shop needs an extra person to help check in large groups. Other times, the extra staff member could be working outside.
The committee voted to recommend the player-assistant program be discontinued in 2019.
Wednesday was Muldoon's first meeting as the permanent director of golf operations. His predecessor, Phillip Wright, resigned, General Manager Tom Judson said after the meeting. Muldoon was promoted from golf operations manager to director.
The committee also supported a proposal by the Scotsdale volunteer group, The Lads and Lassies, to install a new sign on a hillside visible from the street. The sign will consist of metal letters laid on a mulched area and filled with white stones. The maintenance department had already agreed to the plan. The area to be mulched is a difficult spot to grow grass.
Sports on 10/17/2018