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Minutes of the 2011 San Jose Country Club January 20, 2011
The Annual Meeting of Team Representatives began promptly at 9:30 a.m. Roy Gulick, the meeting facilitator, welcomed everyone and introduced the 23 participants. · Appendix A lists the meeting participants · Appendix B lists the action items from the meeting
PROCEEDINGS A. Report from the Tournament Chairman
Barney Poston began the meeting by congratulating the 2010 winners: St. Johns Golf & Country Club. He then congratulated the three clubs that tied for second place: Jacksonville Golf & Country Club, Marsh Creek Country Club, and San Jose Country Club.
Next, he recapped the 2010 season, pointing out that we provided $72,000 to the host clubs, including $11,400 in prizes for our winning teams. We also paid $4,110 in Brady Cup prizes. We ended the year with $222 in the bank, about $200 lower than expected because of purchasing a Netbook computer. He mentioned that the Team Reps had previously authorized the purchase of a second Netbook and that he would do so this year if one comes available. He then welcomed our newest team, Ponte Vedra Inn and Club. Team Rep Miles King acknowledged the welcome and said that his team was looking forward to starting the 2011 season.
Barney talked about his duties and those software tasks he has shared with his assistant, Jack Garrity of Eagle Harbor. As he had done in several previous meetings, Barney said that he seeks a successor as Tournament Chairman. The Team Reps were asked to recruit that man.
He summed up by stressing the need to improve e-mail communication. Only half of our players have e-mail addresses in the system. He mentioned the recent rescheduling of the Hidden Hills match as an example of the importance of e-mail (two teams showed up in the rain). He also asked all the Team Reps to become familiar with our Web site: jaxsi.org, where they will find answers to most questions about the Senior Interclub.
B. REPORT FROM THE SCHEDULING CHAIRMAN
Tony DeMarco started by displaying and discussing the Current Year Schedule, pointing out one Wednesday date on September 14 and three early starts at 8:30. He also stressed the $25 no-show fee that will be imposed at Marsh Landing later this year.
He said that he has converted the older paper, envelope, and stamp process to digital, performing scheduling tasks through the Internet, and so far it has worked well.
Tony displayed the match rotation sequence. Clubs host matches on a 17-month rotation: 16 clubs plus the Brady Cup. He then displayed the 2012 draft schedule.
He announced that he uses the Shared Golf Calendar that can be accessed through the link that appears on our Web site Home Page right under the schedule.
Finally, Tony talked about his other job: public relations. He contacts the Times-Union golf editor (Garry Smits) who publishes our match results in the Sunday Sports Section.
Tony and Barney were asked if they send a letter of thanks to the host Club after a match. Barney said that he usually does that. Action: Team Reps remind Barney to do that.
DISCUSSION
1. Costs
1.1 Annual Meeting Costs. - Dave Noble
Dave Noble suggested that the meeting costs be funded with Senior Interclub funds. After discussion, the matter was dropped. Action: None.
1.2 Cost. - Glenn Dobrick
Sawgrass has a problem in that the Club has given notice that, after February's match, they will no longer provide a Senior Interclub package for $55. Scheduling matches in the summer would ease the problem but not eliminate it. After discussion, the participants voted to table this item for the next meeting. Action: Include in the next meeting.
2. Slow Play
2.1 Gimmees? - Bill Basney
The Team Reps discussed short putts using gimmees with various options including marking putters at 18", and to force putting out as our rule encourages but does not require. After discussion, the matter garnered no support and was dropped. Action: None.
2.2 Awards Presentation the following month. - Bill Basney
To shorten the long day, Bill Basney discussed moving the Awards Presentation forward one month; that is, award the current month's prizes at the next month's match. After discussions about different players playing at the two different sites, and the impact on Clubs if we were to award cash prizes, this change was formally proposed and seconded, but it failed to pass. Action: None.
2.3 Slow Play. - Bill Walker
Bill said that he has a hard time at Ponte Vedra G&CC getting a team together because of slow play and the long day. He suggested reducing the number of team members to six. Some objected that their Club would protest the lost revenue. A suggestion was made that we should use course marshals to enforce slow play with penalties. Some mentioned the policy of picking up if you're out of the hole, and encouraging it more. Others said players must simply accept that it will be a long day. There was no formal proposal. Action: None.
2.4. Slow Play. - Ken Berman
Ken said that much of what he planned to discuss was either nullified by now having 16 teams or had otherwise been covered in the previous topics. Action: None.
3. Organization
3.1 Two Divisions with playoff? - John Brown, MP
Several thought having two divisions had merit, but that the logistics involved were overwhelming. Also, fewer teams means less revenues to Clubs. After discussion, the Team Reps suggested that a proposal might be in order in the future, but not now. Action: Interested parties should prepare a business plan for future consideration.
3.2 Deputy Tournament Chairman. - Roy Gulick Last year the Team Reps voted to add this position, but it has never been filled. Jack Garrity is providing help to Barney, but we need a full time Deputy, one who will succeed Barney. This is a critical item; better too soon than too late. Action: Team Reps should scout their teams for a potential candidate to fill this position. 4. Policy and Rules Changes 4.1 Reschedule Matches. - Barney Poston
Give the Tournament Chairman the freedom to reschedule matches (this was once permitted then rescinded last year). A provision in last year’s minutes says; “canceled matches will not be rescheduled.” This was innocently violated at Hidden Hills this year, not once but twice. This matter was formally proposed, seconded, and approved. The Team Reps asked Barney to use his best judgment on when to reschedule. Action: The Tournament Chairman may reschedule matches.
4.2 Current Handicaps. - Barney Poston
Barney recommended rescinding Rule 6.4: “To assure that MSIS indexes are not out-of-date, the scoring records of any player who has not participated in an MSIS event in the most recent calendar year, will be deleted.". That player must then re-establish an MSIS index just like a new player. He will play to his USGA index and be limited to 38 points in any event until his MSIS index has been established. The matter was formally proposed, seconded, and approved. Action: Rescind Rule 6.4.
4.3 Scoring: Award -1 point for net double and above. - Bill Walker
Lower handicappers at Ponte Vedra G&CC suggested this. Several Team Reps agreed, but others pointed out that it's not in keeping with USGA Rule 32.1b, and we follow the Rules of Golf. A local rule could accommodate the change. After discussion the matter was formally proposed and seconded, but defeated. Action: None.
5. Course Yardage
5.1 Creeping Yardage - 6,000 + yards? - Gary Hoagland, MP
There's a perception that the trend is to increase course yardage. One Team Rep said that he asked his Course Superintendent to set the tee boxes at 6,000 yards. Barney Poston reminded the Team Reps that we must use rated tees for handicap purposes, although some small tolerance is allowed. He added that until recently he asked the Team Reps to vote on the rated tee boxes close to 6,000 yards, but now chooses them. Roy Gulick proposed that the Tournament Chairman select the rated tee box closest to 6,000 yards. The proposal was seconded and approved. Action: Tournament Chairman select the rated tee box closest to 6,000 yards.
6. Earlier Start
6.1 Why start the tournament at 8:30? - Tony DeMarco
Why so early? Some teams travel a long way. Glenn Dobrick answered that resort courses like Sawgrass have no other options; it's a matter of revenue. The matter was dropped. Action: None.
7. Prizes
7.1 Proximity Prizes - A sleeve of balls isn't enough. Drop door prizes and use Senior Interclub funds for this. Award a dozen balls! - Gary Hoagland, MP
This topic called for using Brady Cup prize money to increase the proximity prize money. It was pointed out that proximity prizes are currently being provided at no cost to the Senior Interclub. Some suggested that the lower handicappers win most of those prizes. Many Team Reps favored doing away with proximity prizes altogether, and that was formally proposed and seconded. The vote was tied, 8-to-8. Action: No change.
7.2 Brady Cup Prizes - Drop door prizes, increase awards to top four teams. - Roy Gulick
This topic was combined with the next topic.
7.3 Pay cash prizes to all teams from first to last place for the season. - Barney Poston
Barney proposed that we pay all 16 teams based on their season standing, based on the following chart. After discussion, the Team Reps agreed that Barney should develop several proposals for consideration. Action: Barney should develop two or three proposals and send them to the Team Reps for a vote.
8. Inclement Weather
8.1 Handling of inclement weather events. We might want to review how we’ve handled the two inclement weather events this year since we worked under a new policy. I think we handled both brilliantly and no one can complain. - Jock Ochiltree
The facilitator, Roy Gulick, said that Jock had called him about this topic and that, if Jock were present, he would give the group a big hand for how successfully we handled the inclement weather events last year. The Team Reps applauded. Action: None.
9. Schedule
9.1 Warmer Month? Does it make sense to move the Year-end Brady Cup Event to a warmer month? Maybe adjust our Fiscal year to perhaps April, May or June? - Skip Lunsford
After discussion of alternatives, Skip Lunsford proposed that, effective immediately, we change our season to end in November with the Brady Cup Tournament. The proposal was seconded and approved. Actions: (1) End our season in November. (2) Reschedule November's already-scheduled match. (3) Schedule the next Brady Cup Tournament for November. (4) Change the Annual Team Reps Meeting to December.
9. 2 Skip December and January, double up two summer months. - Van Johnson, MP
After discussion, this matter was proposed and seconded, but was defeated. Action: None.
10. Rules of Golf
10.1 The Rules of Golf and the Senior Interclub. - Ray Mantle
The discussion centered on just how much we want to enforce obvious rules violations, most often by players who don't know the rules. The Team Reps agreed that we all must protect the field by mentioning violations but, on the other hand, many said they felt awkward about taking action. One Team Rep suggested that if done, it must be done tactfully. We still have too many players who don't know the rules. Team Reps should help make them aware of the rules. Action: None.
11. No Shows
11.1 Should a team be penalized for no-shows? - Barney Poston
Definition: A no-show is a person who is submitted in the pairings to the host club then he fails to show at the event and no substitute player was found. Suggested penalty: $10, which goes to pay for the extra work required of the Tournament Chairmen. Enforcement: A team may not play in subsequent matches until the penalty is paid.
Barney Poston noted that Marsh Landing is charging $25 for no-shows, but it's a common problem that requires a lot more attention and a solution. After discussion, Barney made a proposal of fining violators $10 which, if not paid, would disqualify the violator's team for the next match. The proposal was seconded and approved. Action: The Tournament Chairman may impose a $10 no-show fine, and the violator's Club may not play again until the fine is paid.
12. The 2012 Annual Team Reps Meeting
12.1 We need a volunteer to host the next meeting. - Roy Gulick
Roy Gulick asked for a volunteer to host the next annual meeting. John Arnold volunteered. Action: John Arnold will host December's Annual Team Reps Meeting at Marsh Landing.
13. Other Business
None.
D. "MSIS Archaeology Digs 2006-2010" - Jack Garrity (a.k.a. Mr. Smooth)
Jack Garrity of Eagle Harbor presented his analysis of data collected from 2006 through 2010.
All team reps were given access to his presentation.
APPENDIX A - Meeting Participants
APPENDIX B - Action Items
Team Reps - Get your team signed up on MSIS e-mail; they can do that on the Web site - Remind the Tournament Chairman to send a letter of thanks after a match. - Scout your teams for a potential candidate to fill the position of Deputy Tournament Chairman, who would eventually succeed Barney Poston - Work with your team on understanding the Rules of Golf - Interested Team Reps should work on a proposal for having two Divisions with a year-end playoff
John Arnold - Host the next Annual Team Reps Meeting in December at Marsh Landing
Tournament Chairman - Purchase another Netbook computer - Include the Sawgrass cost problem as an agenda topic for the next meeting - Reschedule matches using your best judgment - Rescind Rule 6.4 regarding the deletion of old handicap data - Select the rated tee box closest to 6,000 yards - Develop two or three proposals regarding the award of cash to teams based on their final season's standing. Send the proposals to the Team Reps for a vote - Enforce a $10 no-show penalty -- the violator's team may not play in the next match unless the fine is paid - Together with the Scheduling Chairman, schedule the next Brady Cup Tournament in November - Revise the Bylaws regarding the above changes and our season now ending in November
Scheduling Chairman - Reschedule the November match because of the rescheduling of the Brady Cup Tournament to that month - Together with the Tournament Chairman, schedule the next Brady Cup Tournament in November - Schedule the December match
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