PARK BOARD JOINT MEETING WITH GOLF ADVISORY BOARD
November 1, 2012
6PM AT HIGHLAND PARK CLUB HOUSE
The joint meeting between the Park Board and Golf Advisory Board was attended by Frank Pearson, Craig B, Ray Shimak, Steve Diaz, Brent Trout, John Pritchard, Jon Gansen, Jerry Weiland, Becki Wetter, Denise Largent and Darrell Newman.
Impact of 2012 weather conditions on play at the course:
Green fees were up $6500 and season passes were down $12000. There were no rainout dates for the outings or tournaments which increased the dollars collected for green fees. The usual water usage is between $12,000 to $16,000 per month. The budget is around $18,000. We have spent $21,000 to $22,000 for water in 2012. The soil type with the limestone base so close to the surface makes
it very difficult to retain the moisture in the ground. Should next season present with the same conditions Mr. Trout has recommended that we only water the front to present a better product on one nine of the golf course. When a golfer comes to play, they can choose to play the watered front nine or the non-watered back nine. We want to make sure the season pass holder and the green fee payer are getting a decent product for their money. There is no need to seed this fall. With the small of rain we have received the course is greening up. The patches of brown spots are where that limestone ridge runs thru.
Proposed 2013 fees, rates and tournaments/outings for 2013:
The Advisory Board will be meeting on November 6 to prepare a proposal for the park board of fees for next year. We are looking at moving some dates to not conflict and adding a couple new tournaments on a Saturday afternoon and earlier in September.
New Tee Construction Status:
The new forward tees on #10 and #18 have been seeded and are growing and hopefully will be in play for 2013. There will also be forward tees built for #13 and #16. These tees will be up about 80 yards and on the left side of the fairway.
Status of Equipment Needs:
There will be 2 new pieces of equipment purchased for the golf course to replace equipment that has outlasted its value. Jon Gansen does an excellent job of rebuilding, repairing and upkeep on all the equipment. During the winter months, he goes thru all the equipment replacing and cleaning parts, sharpening blades, etc. The pull carts are in need of replacement. We could use about 6 at
an estimated price of $130 each. The concession equipment would be the grill top, hot dog cooker and dishwasher. The interior of the club house is ready for an update. The wallpaper needs to be removed, new paint, new carpet, new tables and chairs. Everyone agreed that first priority with any money is to make sure Jon Gansen has what he needs. At some point soon the computer may need to be
upgraded. Another item would be some landscaping (removal of all railroad ties), removing round circles of plants in front of club house and replacing with etched stained concrete, a gas grill and a gazebo. Also, the greeting sign for Highland Park is in need of repair.
Asphalt Pavement Update:
The asphalt replacement was paid for with left over CIP dollars that Bill Stangler and Bob Berggren knew were available from a path paving project. This is greatly appreciated.
Cart Shed Update:
A new 60 cart shed was approved for with $60,000 going toward the cost. The shed will have 2 main doors and there will be stalls inside with 2 carts per stall with a door for each stall. Currently Highland has 160 private sheds. This will hopefully help in recruitment for new members as a shed will now be available to house their cart.
Condition of benches at the course:
The current benches are paid from metal or wood and most are not in very good shape. The metal ones need to go and the wood ones need to be sanded down and painted. Within 5 years we would like to see all the benches are the recycled plastic benches. These benches are made in Iowa Falls and Jon Gansen installs them. They are on a slab on concrete so maintenance is very easy around
them and they are permanent. The benches on the course are mostly memorial benches but anyone can purchase them. They are $350.00 plus the cost of any printing that may be wanted. These benches are very nice looking and will improve the aesthetes of the course.
In conclusion, this was a very productive meeting and everyone agreed that we need to meet on a regular basis be it once a year or whatever is decided. The Advisory Board has been asked to prioritize the needs list and make sure the Park Board is aware of what it is. This list may change from additions to and items removed.
Submitted by Becki Wetter
Secretary of the Advisory Board.
Course revenue is also affected by vandalism like the time Derrick Urdahl kicked the door in on the bathrooms on the back nine.
As a retired golfer that plays at Highland on a regular basis. I must say the course is maintained the best it can be with what they have provided to them. I travel around during the week to play other 18 hole courses out of town and they deal with 4 times bigger maintenance crews, much newer equipment and their pass holders pay double membership fees. I have to say we have it pretty lucky in Mason City to play for what we pay. I have over 120 rounds this year at Highland. If nobody understands what Highland is built on its almost pure limestone with very little soil in the fairways. I can tell you when you reach the greens they are the best maintained and aesthetically pleasing then any other course around. I hear people complaining about speed from day to day even from friends in my own group. When we go to other courses the greens seem slower but I’m capable of playing to the conditions that day. People weather changes, grass grows different. Play the course as you are given and the game will be more pleasing. I believe my pass was $440 dollars and I’ve played 120 rounds thats less then $4 dollars each time I play. I think some of their numbers on the water bill are a mistake, so whoever took notes didn’t listen. Things don’t add up.
I visit Mason City once or twice a year and play Highland almost every time I am in town. The course and staff are great. Highland is a great resource for the town.
The pro shop has nothing for merchandise, people jump on the back all the time in front of players that actually played the front and this is the only course a twosome will be waiting on a sixsome. There are plenty MORE major issues that need to be addressed but the city will do absolutely nothing about them.
Talk to one of the Advisory Board members. Let them know what you think. They are supposed to advise, and to do that intelligently, you need to know what works and what doesn’t.
Lets see I do not use East Park so I do not think we should have to use tax dollars for it, I do not play tennis so why should we not stop using tax dollars for the courts by West Park. Oh I do not use West Park so why not quit using tax dollars for that. Oh I have never had a fire so why do I need to help pay for the fire department or the police department ect. Oh I I have no kids in school so can the people using the MC school start bucking up and paying more so my tax dollars do not have to. This is just as stupid as what has been posted earlier. These are all benefits and reason why we live in and encourage other to want to live in Mason City. I am so tired of all the whinners here in Mason City, everybody wants something thats important to them but no one wants to pay for it. Lets start being positive and hopefully start attracting business, individuals and our children to make Mason City home!!!!!
I have no problem with Mason City spending money on ancillary hobbies, but I wish they would fix up the city first. The road in east park at the bottom of the sledding hill is in terrible shape, lets get it fixed. Script road by Asbury, also in bad shape. I feel the city should first look at the “needs”, and when those are taken care of, then take a look at the “wants”.
Well said, you took the words out of my mouth.
I bet you can not tell me one business that relocated to Mason City because of highland golf course. As far as the parks go these are things everyone can use and are not for signal use so try again. I am so tired of whiner golfers thinking the rest of us need to fund their activities.
I drive to MC everyday to play golf. Close it down. I’ll take my money to another town. Makes no difference to me.
How about the swimming pool. Get rid of that too? It is just used for swimming. Tennis courts? Just used for tennis. Softball diamonds? Lets just get rid of all of it. That way everyone can see what a progressive community were are. It is people like you, rukidding, that keeps businesses from locating here.
There was a time that it made sense for a city to own a golf course but that time has long past us by. There is a golf course in almost every community in a 50 mile radius so the competition is fierce. Its time to sell highland and let some developer build fancy houses around it. It make no sense that we keep throwing money away on this course any longer.
They may be for a 18 hole course but not for the area overall. They should still be self supporting or cut back. Why should non-golfers pay for the golfers? I am not against golf as I enjoyed playing but they run Highland like it is a country club so let them pay for it.
The course was bar none, the WORST maintained course in the area. I would have been ashamed to charge anybody, member or guest, to play it. Very, very sad, what all players were forced to play through. The course sucked.
This course gets 100 times to traffic any course in this part of the state gets. You want a nicer course? Then pay for it or STFU.
The greens fees are reasonable. The season passes are some of the cheapest around for an 18 hole course.
It is hard to believe with what they charge for green fees and membership as well as concessions that they must depend on tax dollars to survive. I would certainly question some of the management.