4/15/2016 4:04 PM
Through my many nefarious contacts I was forwarded this letter sent to the members of a local golf course. I've removed the names and location to protect the guilty.
I just thought it was very interesting. Make of it what you will.
[quote">Dear Members,
It is hard to believe we are quickly approaching the 7 year anniversary of my family owning
XXXXXXXX Golf Club. Since purchasing the golf club we have personally invested well over
$1.5 million on critical improvements, such as:
â— An entire new fleet of maintenance equipment, including brand new John Deere and Toro
triplexes which have proven to provide a more consistent and superior playing conditions.
â— A significant change in our maintenance practices focusing on the soil compensation.
Healthy soil equals healthier turf.
â— Renovation to the pump house and fertigation systems to bring them back up to proper
functionality and code.
â— Two separate renovations of the on course bathrooms.
â— A basic facelift to the lounge and main dining room areas to provide more open spaces
and badly needed natural light. As well as a "honey do" list of small touch points through
the property that was so long it took one dedicated contractor over 6 months to complete it.
â— Complete renovation of the cart barn including a new tile roof.
â— Renegotiations of our cart leases that now allow us to flip our carts for new and improved
models every 3-4 years instead of the 7 year cycle that previous management had in place.
â— Meticulously targeted improvements around the golf course to improve the aesthetics, as
well as the playability of XXXXXXXXX.
â— Renovation to the teaching area of the driving range that provides the best turf facility in
XXXXXXXXXXX as an included amenity to our membership.
â— The infamous effluent water line which will now guarantee the golf course can be properly
irrigated regardless of climate.
I am sure I have omitted a few projects we tackled over the years, and although we have done
much to improve this property, our work is far from done. Prior to purchasing XXXXXXXXX Golf
Club we preformed an extensive due diligence that helped us better understand the strong points
of this specific property as well as the weaknesses that would need to be addressed. Due to the
severe neglect this property received for numerous years prior to our ownership, there were
countless items on this 200 page report. However there were five big ticket items that stuck out:
â— Maintenance equipment and practices
â— Reliable water source
â— Tree removal project
â— Cart path repairs
â— Greens renovation
As covered above, we feel very confident that we have accomplished two of the five items. This
summer we plan on tackling the remaining three items:
â— Tree removal. XXXXXXXXX Golf Club was originally designed to be part links and part
tree lined. Over time additional trees have been added around the property that have now
matured to a point that they are negatively affecting course and playing conditions. Our
Superintendent, XXXX XXXXX, will be working closely with an arborist and XXXXXXXX
County to remove specific trees that have become too large for their intended areas. We
want to ardently stress that we will be working closely with XXXXXXXXX County and will
follow all their recommendations and requirements for removing and replacing trees.
â— Cart path repairs. It is no secret our cart paths are in dire need of refurbishment. Years of
abuse from tree roots underneath have left their mark. We will be replacing and refurbishing
many of the trouble areas.
◠Greens renovation. Like countless other things on this property, previous ownership and
management choose to cut corners and ignore best practices in favor of financial savings
when they renovated the greens in 2007. That being said the aforementioned renovation
has come to the end of its expected life. We will be recontouring, moving, and expanding
select greens to assist with playability and sprigging the greens with Champion Bermuda
grass. I encourage you to do some research on Champion; you will find it is the absolute
best Bermuda strand for XXXXXXXX putting surfaces.
This will be an exciting and extremely busy summer for us as we continue to evolve XXXXXXXXX Golf Club into one of the area's best golf courses. Because of the scale and scope of these
projects, it is estimated the course will be closed for 3-4 months for the renovation. During that
time the Golf Shop will have a reciprocal list of other local courses that will welcome our members
for a discounted rate. I am confident once we reopen, the discrepancies between our conditions
and the other local golf course will be even larger than they already are. During closure our membership offering will remain consistent with years past. However, your monthly dues will simply be used as a food and beverage minimum. For example if you are a single member in the summer time your $35 monthly dues will be transferred to a $35 food and beverage minimum that can be used on all nonalcoholic
items. With the implementation of a food and beverage minimum all members will receive 10% off all nonalcoholic beverages in the restaurant. Those members who choose to remain over the summer will also be guaranteed current membership dues pricing through next golf season (until April 2017).
Once we reopen the course there will be a few policy changes that we firmly believe are in the
best interest of the club.
In order to ensure the continuation of memberships at XXXXXX it is imperative that
members support the club. This includes buying food and beverage items, hosting guests and
purchasing merchandise in the golf shop.
For far too long the members who use the club the most support the club the least. Upon
reopening this will not be allowed to continue.
In the interest of protecting the conditions of our golf course as well as help justify the continuation
of membership these new policies will go into effect once the course reopens:
â— There will no longer be a personal cart discounted cart fee. You may still use your
personal cart on the property, but you will be charged the standard cart fee.
â— There will be no more than two golf carts per group regardless of whether they are
personal carts or club owned carts. There must be two people in the first cart before a
second cart is used. This is a standard rule at almost every golf course in America and will
be strictly enforced.
â— There will be a monthly food and beverage minimum of $50 for single members and $75
for couples. The food and beverage minimum will not include alcoholic beverages. All
current members will receive 10% off all nonalcoholic food and beverage items.
â— The club will be taking over complete management of the XXXXXXXXX Men's and
Women's Golf Associations. Further details will be given to current members once the course reopens.
I understand that some members will not like the new policies that will be put into place. That is
why it is important to remind everyone that memberships at XXXXXXXXXX are month to month.
We understand that our course and policies may not be for everyone. Therefore from today's date
until we close May 15th we will be waiving the 30 days written notice policy. If you do not approve
of the direction we are taking the club simply put your resignation in writing and it will be effective
the day we receive it. We will however not be prorating any outgoing dues.
For those members who do not find our new polices and future pricing acceptable, there are
plenty of other golfing options in the area that may fit your specific needs better than XXXXXXX, and we encourage you to go explore those other options.
For the members who choose to continue their association with XXXXXXXXX, and already actively support all aspects of the club we thank you, and I am sure you find these changes miniscule. At the same time, I'm confident the enhancements to the property that we're announcing today will be spectacular.
Almost seven years ago my father stood in front of the membership as the new owner and promised our members that XXXXXXXXX would be the best conditioned golf course in the area, which is a promise we have kept and will continue to keep in the future.
Regards,
XXXX XXXXXXX
Operating Owner