full agenda
GOLF COURSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2009
MUNICIPAL BUILDING – LEISURE SERVICES OFFICE
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1 FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM
18 N. JACKSON STREET
7:00 PM
A G E N D A
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
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2. APPROVAL OF MARCH 18, 2009 MINUTES
3. REQUEST FOR BLACKHAWK GOLF COURSE PASS
4. MANAGER’S REPORT
5. MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
IF UNABLE TO ATTEND, PLEASE CONTACT Rebecca Smith
AT 755-3104 OR smithr@ci.janesville.wi.us
GOLF COURSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2009
RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE CLUBHOUSE
MEMBERS PRESENT: Clyde Hoeser, Curt Terry, Larry Cain, Mary Conway
and Steve Hiser
STAFF PRESENT: Tom Tautges, Joe Schneider and Rebecca Smith
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM by Chairperson Curt Terry at the Riverside Golf Course
Clubhouse.
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The minutes of the November 19, 2008 meeting were approved unanimously on a motion by Clyde
Hoeser and a second by Steve Hiser with the note of changing the spelling of Mary Conway’s name
in the second paragraph of the minutes.
Rebecca Smith shared information that she will be the City representative on the Golf Course
Advisory Committee for a temporary basis now that Mike Williams has retired. The Administration is
undecided regarding the long-term solution to staffing Leisure Services.
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Tom Taugtes stated that Riverside Golf Course opened Wednesday, March 18 and had 65 golfers.
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Blackhawk is scheduled to open on March 30. He also stated they have sold several season
passes thus far in March and that April sales may be affected due to more March sales. Joe
Schneider stated that the courses weathered well and there was no major vandalism that occurred
over the winter.
Tom Tautges does not feel that the 2009 season will be a bad year. The Wednesday General
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Motors league will continue but they may not have the GM 3 shift Tuesday morning league. Tom
Tautges will be offering specials during the season.
On matters not on the agenda, Curt Terry inquired about memorial benches at the golf courses.
Tom Tautges said it would be feasible but he would want to ensure that the benches are sturdy.
Rebecca Smith informed the Committee that an initial meeting with Crown Golf was held with the
City Manager and her and that another meeting will be scheduled. Rebecca Smith received a request
from the Friends of Riverside Park to remove a tree stump at the golf course. Joe Schneider will
follow up with this request. Steve Hiser received a request from a citizen inquiring whether there
could be a pass for Blackhawk Golf Course only. Tom Tautges commented that Crown Golf already
has a play card and that he may examine possible alternatives for future years. Clyde Hoeser
inquired about the reciprocal agreement with other golf courses. Tom Tautges informed the
Committee that the new courses added were in Monroe, Lake Wisconsin and Prairie du Sac and that
there were no losses of courses to the reciprocal agreement.
There being no further business, a motion was made by Clyde Hoeser and seconded by Steve Hiser
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to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 PMThe next meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00
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PM at the 1 Floor Conference Room at the Municipal Building, 18 N. Jackson Street. Please use
the doors on the Wall Street entrance.
Submitted by:
Rebecca Smith, City Representative
LEISURE SERVICES DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
April 7, 2009
TO: Golf Course Advisory Committee
FROM: Rebecca Smith, Management Assistant
SUBJECT: Request for Blackhawk Golf Course pass
Request
A citizen recently contacted Committee Member Steve Hiser requesting a season pass
for golfing only at Blackhawk Golf Course.
Background
At the March meeting of the Committee this citizen request was discussed briefly.
Following the meeting the citizen provided more details to Committee Member Hiser
and me. To facilitate the discussion of this citizen’s request, I have placed this on the
agenda for the April meeting.
Crown Golf currently provides a season pass opportunity for $790 that includes
unlimited golfing at both Riverside and Blackhawk courses. There are currently not
season passes available for only one course.
Crown Golf does have a punch card program that allows golfers to purchase seven
rounds of golf to receive the eighth free. The punch card program is open to any golfer;
however, Crown Golf estimates it’s most popular with those who participate in
structured leagues. Blackhawk provides a restricted senior pass which allows unlimited
golf at Blackhawk only for seniors for $345 per season. For 2008, 16 seniors take
advantage of this pass program.
According to the current lease contract, pass program changes may only be
implemented by Crown Golf with approval by the Committee and a city administrative
representative. The excerpt is below for your reference.
Analysis
For a golfer to make the current season pass program financially worthwhile he or she
would need to golf approximately 27-64 times per season depending on the course and
number of holes played. If a person golfs exclusively at Blackhawk he or she would
need to golf 57-64 time per season to make the current pass financially worthwhile
(provided they only golf 9 holes).
During the initial conversation, the Committee was unsure how a pass would be more
beneficial than the current punch card program. The citizen indicated the pass is helpful
because golfers would not have to pay on a weekly or daily basis; rather, they could pay
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once at the beginning of the season and not have to worry about paying again.
However, golfers would need to pay if they desired to rent a cart or purchase
refreshments.
While the contract does allow for the implementation of a pass program at any time
provided the Committee and the Administration are in agreement, Crown Golf has
indicated there is an administrative burden to implementing a pass after the season has
begun. Additionally, golfers that already purchased the $790 pass may feel frustrated
and wish they would have had the opportunity to purchase the Blackhawk only pass.
However, there may be an opportunity to market this as a ‘pilot program’ to capture
golfers who feel that a $790 is not affordable or desirable to them.
Pros & Cons of having a Blackhawk only golf pass
Pros:
1. Pass may provide an opportunity to garner pass holders not interested in the
$790 pass
2. Individuals may find it helpful to pay once for golf course services for the season
Cons:
1. Administratively difficult for Crown Golf to implement a pass program once the
season is underway
2. A low-cost season pass may be seen as diminishing the quality of the golf course
brand
3. Individuals may find it difficult to find the money for a larger up-front cost for a
season pass
April 15 Meeting
Staff asks the Committee to provide direction on whether there is interest in pursuing an
additional pass program. If the Committee wishes to further explore a pass program,
city staff and Crown Golf could examine pass options for discussion at a future meeting.
Excerpt from Contract, section 24 fee schedule
LESSEE
(D) shall not alter, eliminate nor modify season pass categories or pass restrictions
without prior written approval of the Golf Course Advisory Committee and the Director of Leisure
Services.
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