Minutes of the Lake Wildwood Golf Committee Meeting on September 11, 2007
Approved October 9, 2007
I. The meeting was called to order by Frank Chilberto at 2:03 p.m.
II. Roll Call
A. The following members were:
1. Present: Jane Butler, Frank Chilberto, Doug Dorfmeier, Maddie Graham, Ed Lauchner, Bob Martin, Duane Mayfield, and Diana Mortara.
2. Absent: Michael Byrne
B. The following liaison personnel were present: Bill Haushalter, Jim Knight, Don Streseman, and Ken Wolford.
C. The following guests were present: Dave Doench, Dick Kramer, Mike Lesnewsky, Don Landon, Bob Martin, Bob Pleski, Lillian Pleski, Tom Watson and Al Wilson.
III. Minutes
The minutes of the August 10, 2007 meeting were approved as submitted (Vote).
IV. Reports
A. Golf Course Superintendent - Ken Wolford
1. Irrigation System Evaluation - Frank Chilberto read the contents of a P.A.D. for the Board requesting $2,000 for an evaluation. After discussion and input from guests this was tabled pending future investigation by an ad hoc team to be formed by Bob Pleski.
2. Aeration - Ken reported that aeration of the greens was begun this date and will be continued for two more days. This will be followed by aeration of the tees and then of the fairways. Fairways will be closed when aeration is in progress.
3. New Blue Tee on #13 - The new tee should be ready in one more month.
4. New Cart Paths on #13 and #14
a. Ken is contacting architects and contractors to obtain estimates.
b. A new question arose as to whether or not the #14 bridge is strong enough to support the removal of the waste asphalt from the old cart paths. No resolution.
B. Golf Professional - Jim Knight
1. Ability to accept request for outside tournaments - This is still awaiting public announcement of the rules changes and then a final vote by the Board of Directors. There is a strong expectation of final approval and therefore Jim was asked to respond to the Knights of Columbus and Mt. St. Mary’s.
2. Finance Overview - Chuck Murphey was absent and therefore there was no review.
C. Special Projects Subcommittee - No report
D. Board Liaison - Don Streseman
1. New Community Center - Work is proceeding on schedule. Bids are expected from architects on Friday the 14th and a selection is expected soon after.
2. Husbands Lawsuit - The results of the out-of-court settlement are still not available because both Mr. Husbands and his attorney have been out of the country.
E. General Manager - Bill Haushalter
Forward Tees on #13 & #14 - Bill recommends that work on the forward tees should
begin expeditiously to insure that the CI funds remain available. He also stated that there are some $17, 000 of CI funds which might become available for use on the golf course if we proceed in a timely manner. Frank said he would pursue this.
F. Guest Input - None
V. Correspondence
A. Mount Saint Mary Academy Request - They have sent a follow-up letter seeking a response from us. See item B. 1. above.
B. Lake Wildwood Info Fair - Frank announced the Info Fair for new residents to be held from 10 a.m. - 12 a.m. on Friday the 14th and sought a volunteer to represent the Golf Committee. Bob Martin so volunteered.
C. Wildwood Ridge Annexation Proposal - Gary Eckhardt, of the Lake Wildwood Planning Committee, submitted a copy of the proposal to the Golf Committee seeking input primarily on the forecast impact on golf play. Frank Chilberto and Bob Martin expressed some personal opinions on the overall proposal and there was a general feeling expressed that it would have a negative impact on golf, but this was not quantified.
D. Suggested recording of breaks in the irrigation system - Bob Pleski, Ken Towns and Tom Watson submitted a request for establishing a data base of historical and future information about breaks in the system; when, where, nature of problem, cause, etc.. They feel that with this information we would be better able to evaluate the performance of our system. Considerable discussion ensued with lots of input from guests. One strong opinion is that, in spite of the 30 year system lifetime estimated by the architect in the Golf Master Plan, we really do not have a large problem. A significant statement was that at this point in time the majority of system weaknesses have probably surfaced and been repaired and that we can expect good future results without large replacement expenditures.
Bob Pleski volunteered to form a sub-committee to work with Ken Wolford. The purpose of the this sub-committee would be to evaluate and make recommendations on the operation of the irrigation system to obtain maximum life of the piping and to improve the uniformity of watering. The Golf Committee accepted this.
E. Solution to a perceived problem of slow play on #14 - Bob Pleski submitted a letter expressing the perception of slow play on #14 caused by players looking for golf balls lost in the creek. He felt that the slope of the ground approaching the creek ravine causes “grounders” to roll into the ravine. His solution is to build up that area to have a positive slope instead of a negative one and to include this work as another item in the Golf Master Plan. A general discussion of the perceived problem and his recommended solution ensued; in the end the Committee referred this to the Special Projects sub-Committee.
F. Memorial Trees - Dick and Sharon Kramer submitted a written request to be allowed to pay for and plant an oak tree on the golf course in memory of Jack Veiga. Bill Haushalter noted that in the past this has been a problem in that some memorial trees were planted but in inappropriate areas. However, the Golf Master Plan calls for planting of a large number of trees and, if done in a controlled manner, it might be very reasonable to have some of them be memorials. Bill felt that he could obtain permission from the Board of Directors. The Golf Committee voted to support the concept of memorial trees.
Still to be decided is 1) Who pays for replacement of a tree which dies?, 2) Does the donor pay for the labor of planting as well as the tree itself and the plaque? and 3) What form the memorial plaque should take? It could be a stake in the ground or mounted on a stone marker, but presumably should be uniform throughout the course.
G. Request for Proposal - Golf Course Irrigation System - Bob Pleski submitted list of suggestions for items to be included, should we have a consultant come in to evaluate the irrigation system. This was basically tabled based upon V. D. above.
VI. Old Business
Tree cutting behind green #3 - At the August meeting, Ken Wolford recommended that one Ponderosa Pine and an Oak to the right of the #3 green be removed in order to give the green more morning sunlight. He said he would mark the trees in question and asked for the opinion of the Golf Committee in September.
After discussion among the Committee, during which Doug Dorfmeier expressed strong reservations, the Committee voted to support Ken’s recommendation. Doug voted “Nay”. Ken stated that the next step would be to get approval from the Environmental Management Office. (Vote)
VII. New Business
A. Golf Course Inspection
1. Doug Dorfmeier passed out copies of the August 31 inspection report. Because Ken Wolford had not yet seen this report, discussion was tabled until the October meeting.
2. Frank Chilberto announced that Rick Levy has resigned from the inspection team and recommended that Gary Turzak be his replacement.
VIII. Club Reports -
A. 9-hole Women - None
B. 9-hole Men - Bob Martin had previously distributed a document intended for the 9-hole Men’s newsletter describing the various rules changes in progress, their rationale and their meaning. Doug Dorfmeier suggested that this be published in the TWI as a communication to all golf groups.
C. 18-hole Women - None
D. 18-hole Men - None
IX. Adjournment - The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m. (Vote).