Galesburg Reporter

City of Galesburg Golf Advisory Commission met April 23. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the commission:

Meeting was called to order at 4:00 P.M.

Roll Call:   Present: Members: Steve Cheesman, Paul Sandborg, Jerry Reynolds, Rodney Bunch, Park Superintendent Don Miles, Head Golf Professional Bryan Luedtke, Greenskeeper Matt Miles and Director of Parks & Recreation Tony Oligney-Estill

Absent:     David Selkirk

Minutes of March 26, 2019 meeting were approved.

Greenkeeper Report:

Greenskeeper Matt Miles reported:

      ● Course cleaned up from sticks and debris. This was a focus at the beginning of the month.

      ● More frequent mowing of greens, tees and fairways has begun.

      ● Greens have been veri-cut in two directions and rolled weekly.

      ● More sand was added to the sand bunkers.

      ● Fairway areas that experienced winter kill were power seeded.

      ● The pond drain installation was completed. Finish work with rock and dirt was performed.

      ● The irrigation system has been filled with water. Initial testing for leaks and sprinkler head performance will be underway.

      ● The on-course bathrooms have been opened for the season.

      ● Winter goose damage on the greens was repaired.

Report was reviewed and accepted.

Golf Professional Report:

Head Golf Professional Bryan Luedtke reported:

      ● The Masters Pool

              o 17 golfers in the Skins Game

              o 42 participants in The Masters Pool

              o 4th year in a row with increased participation

              o $420.00 in merchandise credit paid out

      ● Golf Outing Update

             o Lion’s Club Golf Outing leaving Oak Run and coming to Bunker Links

                   ▪ Met with the Outing Chairman about details

            o Met with the Peoria Sandtrappers Chairman

                  ▪ Expecting 90 players for their upcoming outing

                  ▪ 3rd year in a row with increased participation

      ● Advertising

            o Billboard on Main Street was a huge success

                 ▪ Lots of positive comments

           o Water Bill flyer was also very productive

           o Facebook and email blasts have been well received

      ● PGA Junior League was cancelled. Only 3 kids signed up.

      ● March revenue was up $1,300 compared to 2018. This was due to the increase in prices

      ● Next event on the calendar is the Spring Shamble on Thursday, May 9th

                • Passes sold through 4/22/19. The amount listed for 2018 is for the entire year of 2018.

          o Regular – 51, down 7 from 2018

          o Senior – 92, down 6 from 2018

          o Associate – 8, down 2 from 2018

          o Family – 1, up 1 from 2018

          o Minor – 7, down 5 from 2018

          o Junior – 6, new in 2019

          o Young Adult – 9, new in 2019

          o First Time Season Pass – 26, down 20 from 2018

          o Default – 13, down 5 from 2018

               • Total cards sold through 4/22/2019. The amount listed for 2018 is for the entire year of 2018.

          o 10 Round (9 holes) – 2, down 4 from 2018

          o 10 Round (18 holes) – 8, down 6 from 2018

          o 20 Round – 9, down 16 from 2018

          o Default – 1, same as 2018

               • 540 rounds played in March was down 4 rounds from March 2018.

Report was reviewed and accepted.

Old Business:

● Installing a practice sand bunker has been discussed. If it gets installed, it would most likely happen whenever the driving range gets updated.

● Eliminating fivesomes was discussed. The Commission felt this did not occur enough nor was it a big enough situation to warrant making any changes at this time.

● In regard to a capital plan, the City does project out capital projects which may or may not include funding for those projects in future years. Each of these projects are reviewed in the budget process to see if the capital project is still a priority based on other projects for that year and if there is funding in that given year to complete the project.

● Tony Oligney-Estill spoke with Erin Hill, Marketing person for the Chamber of Commerce, to see about getting all of the different areas of parks and recreation, including Bunker Links, into some community advertisements that the Chamber puts out as the City is a Chamber member. Erin was very responsive to that idea and said she would work us in.

New Business:

● Member Bunch suggested that someone from the Commission speak to the firefighter’s group that puts on their annual golf outing at Gibson Woods to see what we could do to entice them to move the outing to Bunker Links since the majority of the firefighters are from Galesburg. Don Miles said he would talk to one of the organizers about this.

Citizen Comments:

      ● None

Meeting adjourned at 4:42 P.M.

https://www.ci.galesburg.il.us/assets/1/20/Golf_Commission_Meeting_Minutes_4-23-2019.pdf