Armed with some new direction, a new general manager and a fresh outlook following three years of recovery from a flood that devastated their tract of land, the members of the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club gathered in the clubhouse on Feb. 10 to talk about the future.
About 40 members and a few guests discussed some issues associated with the monetary side of operating a $1.41 million business while maintaining a comfortable sport and social environment.
The two-hour annual general meeting was chaired by president Ward Tuttle who was re-elected in that role, while Jeff Ward assumed the duties of vice-president following the resignation of Jared Schlamp.
New general manager Kyle Mulligan provided an overview of operations and Ryan Siever delivered a financial report that indicated the club was moving in the right direction in terms of revenues and expenses with a net income of just under $6,000 reported in 2014 and an expected surplus for 2015 operations. Some of that is being tied into an executive-recommended 10 per cent increase in membership fees and a smaller green fee hike in order to maintain the growing demands that include finishing touches to a completely refurbished back nine and other capital needs.
Mulligan and Ward suggested that with plans unfolding as they are now, there could be an opportunity to freeze fees for the 2016 season.
As it was, the $755,500 realized in membership and green fees in 2014, exceeded the 2013 total by just over $48,000.
Siever noted the club’s long term debt load of about $675,000 was diminishing at an impressive rate of about $100,000 per year and cash flow was sufficient so that the club did not have to reach into further financing models such as a line-of-credit, and there was a revolving capital fund of up to $200,000 for necessary purchases.
It was also noted that members and their corporations donated $10,500 in work-in-kind last season and over $46,000 the year before as the golf club struggled to return to a more normal stance following the devastating floods of 2011.
Other members of the executive who were elected that night included Cory Prokop, Meghan Betnar and Brian Morrissey, along with Dustin Wilson, Chris Davidson and Daryl Donovan. Jeff Carlyle was named the new junior program representative while Steve Kitchen was introduced as the new member-at-large following a very close vote count as he outpolled incumbent Keith Walton by one in the only position that was contested.
The members were also informed by Tuttle that there had been a successful conclusion to negotiations with former head professional and general manager Brian Dueck and food and beverages services manager Cindy Dueck following their release from duties without cause. The severance agreement was a $50,000 cash settlement plus unlimited playing privileges at Woodlawn in the future.
The club is looking forward to hosting two major events this summer in back-to-back fashion. The 2015 PGA of Saskatchewan Championship will be played at TS&M Woodlawn on July 20 and 21 and that will be followed by the 104th annual Saskatchewan Mens’ Amateur Championship July 27-30.
Mulligan said these events have morning start times so the course will be opened to members and green fee players during the afternoons on those days.
The Woodlawn staff was also re-introduced to the meeting including head professional Amanda Minchin, food and beverage manager Tracey Tuchescherer and administrator Linda Murphy, as well as course superintendent Bob Currie who provided an update on some reconstruction projects and tree planting/cleanup work that still needed to be done.
Clubhouse landscaping was a major project completed last season as was a renovation project on the seventh hole that required topsoil and surface drainage plus an upgrade to the maintenance facility.
Currie pointed to 2015 projects that will include improvements to the esthetics on Hole 14, and the club’s water holding capabilities that will include a weir on Hole 18 and a nearby holding pond that will include a new water line. There is also a fairway bunker to build on Hole 15, he said.
Following some discussion regarding a motion to include regional park pass fees to the membership fees, advanced by Dennis Gonas, the members decided to retain the status quo with the knowledge that regional park passes had to be purchased and it was their responsibility to treat the park employees who are enforcing that rule, with respect.
With the loss of that motion, the members then passed a motion to approve a seasonal membership increase of about $60 to $1,270 and corresponding increases of approximately 10 per cent for restricted adult memberships, couples, students and juniors (affiliated and non-affiliated) Cart storage and driving range fees also went up a bit as did locker rental fees.
The increase in green fees were more modest, moving from just under $43 for an adult playing 18 holes on weekdays to $45, which represented a 2.5 per cent hike, said Mulligan as the members agreed there was a desire to build the casual golfing population.
The weekend green fee for adults playing 18 holes, was lifted from just over $46 to $48.50. The fees are lessened for junior golfers.
There was additional discussion regarding the loss of some members immediately following the flood and the slow recovery of those memberships and how that could be stimulated with special offers for both members and green fee players.
“Green fee guests are important to us. Our goal is to maintain competitive costs and offer a valuable experience for those who play the course,” said Tuttle.
“We want to show a growth in play and it will be our job as a staff to increase the participation level without a huge increase in green fees,” said Mulligan.
Murphy said it was the goal of the executive to increase the membership numbers by about 40.
