JAGA MEETING MINUTES

 

                                           EAGLE HARBOR GOLF CLUB

 

                                                  NOVEMBER 17, 2009

 

 

OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE:  Jim  Edwards, Bob Streightiff, Joe Power, Gary Owensby & Jerry Kay,

 

CALL TO ORDER:   Meeting convened at 10:30 a.m. by Pres. Jim Edwards

 

INTRODUCTION OF CLUB MANAGER:   Jim Houston welcomed us to his club and pronounced the course in very good condition.

 

MOMENT OF SILENCE:  Jim Edwards led us in a moment of silence, remembering our soldiers, ill members and those not able to be with us today.

 

INTRODUCTION OF DIRECTORS AND GUESTS:  There were 49 in attendance, including directors and guests.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:   Jerry Kay reported we have $11,683.11 in the bank.  The last 2-man brought in $6387, of which $4260 went for prize money.  We have $3,779.19 in real money.  Jerry reminded us that meeting charge will go up to $55 in January.

 

SECRETARY’S REPORT:  An omission of  last month’s minutes was corrected.  $1525 from the Hyde Park Men’s Golf Assoc. was given to the scholarship fund.  The minutes from last month were accepted and seconded.

 

VICE PRES. OF TOURNAMENTS:  Joe Power asked Russ Hamilton to discuss the next 2-man tournament, the Pro-President, which Pres. Jim will chair.  The date is Dec. 7, with $500 going to low pro.  There will be a skins game for the professionals.  The location is Summer Beach, Amelia Island.

 

George Halverson discussed next year’s Junior Tournament, which they hope to fill with 84 players.

 

VICE PRES. OF ADMINISTRATION:   Bob Streightiff reminded us of next month’s meeting at San Jose.

 

WEBMASTER’S REPORT:  No report as Barney Poston is vacationing, again, this time in Hawaii.

 

SCHOLARSHIP COMM.  Mike Cooper  accepted  the scholarship donations in Tom Tierney’s absence.  San Jose had a check for $745 and Marsh Landing’s Men’s Golf Association presented a check for $500.

 

OLD BUSINESS:  Jim Edwards explained the need to raise dues to $55.  He said with the use of credit cards, use of web site and paying for tournaments are among the primary reasons.

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:  Pres. Jim said we have decided to table Blue Golf for now and look at alternatives.  One such item is the GHIN System, which also has a tournament system.

 

George Halverson :  “It is very hard to run tournaments with the fees we charge.  If we are to run tournaments, we need to find a fund raising program.”

 

Ed Tormollen had some comments about the people who work the tournaments.  He said it is important that we continue to find a backup for Barney Poston. 

 

Bob Streightiff had comments concerning an inter-club in which Queen’s Harbour is involved, .

 

Bob also discussed tournament needs, stating the Amateur requires 20% more finances than we charge in fees.  That tournament has a budget of about $25,000, with $5,000 coming from a grant from the King family, without which the tournament would not be possible.

 

Mr. Streightiff said he met with manager of San Jose, concerning the JAGA Partnership Program.  If we charged $99, and gave a 15 minute lesson, golf shirt, etc., which would cost us $40 and sell 10 per club, we could raise as much as $20,000.  The suggestion was made that we could include a round of golf.  Food for thought.

 

GUEST SPEAKER:  Gary Owensby introduced Eagle Harbor club manager, Jim Houston.  Mr. Houston introduced his boss and our guest speaker, M.G. Orender.  Mr. Orender is past president of the PGA of America.  He founded Hampton Golf in 1998, and his company has grown steadily since then.  Jim said he is priviledged to work for Mr, Orender, and presented him to the attendees.

 

Mr. Oredner gave an overview of the state of golf in this economically challenged time.  He said there are about the same number of private clubs in the U.S. now as there was in the 1930’s.  Given the economic condition, he expected to see that # decrease by 20% in the next year.  Clubs are seeing less play, fewer rounds.  Mr. Orender said some banks are hiring retired people like him to turn clubs around that they have had to take over.

 

“If I charged $30 per round, and had 100 players per day, I would go bankrupt”, said Mr. Orender.  It takes about $1.5 million to run the average course per year.  He said his clubs are down about 14% from 2005, and that was no banner year.

 

Mr. Orender  stated that many developers  were funding shortfalls, as East-West (the developer) was here at Eagle Harbor.   Some . rather than do that, are turning them over to banks.  He said about 70% of expenses on a golf club are fixed, and you can only cut back so much.

 

Mr. Orender discussed the changes that have taken place in society.  More young people are interested in jogging, joining health clubs, kayaking, etc.  Less and less young people are taking up golf.  For the future of golf to improve, we must grow golf.  Ask a non golfing friend to  join you in a round.  Ask a teenager to go out with you.  Florida is down 4.5% from last year in rounds played, and last year was pretty miserable.  He said he felt we have not seen the end of this decline.

 

Q & A.

 

George Halverson:  Q.  Any observation about organizations like ours partnering to help with expenses?

 A.The PGA & USGA partners programs have not been successful.  In order to grow, you need to look around and be very careful who you partner with.

 

Q.    How much has Tiger Woods influenced golf?         

.      

A.      Tiger has brought people of color to golf.  Now, Asians make up 18 % of golfers, blacks 4%, females 4%.  Certainly, Sergio helped the Spanish explosion

 

Q.  How do we bring more people to golf.

 

A.  Talk to your pro.  Instead of asking people for donations, go ask someone to play who doesn’t play now.  It is a difficult game. Ninety percent of golfers quit the first year.  People don’t want to be embarrassed.  So, it takes patience on our part.

 

Mr. Orender received a very generous applause and well received by the room.

 

PAIRINGS COORDINATOR:  Russ Hamilton said we would play the ball down and warned us to stay out of the rough.  It was rough.

 

BLESSING FOR LUNCH:  Earl Kelly gave the blessing.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED:  Meeting adjourned at 11:40

 

Submitted by your humble secretary,

 

Gary Owensby