MGA Members Meeting - 11 Feb 2014
The Minutes of the January 2014 meeting were approved.
Don Kasper gave the Treasurer's Report:
We currently have 111 members
Current balance is $1392.35
Recent expense was $8.54 for flag markers for the Par 3 tournament. At the meeting, 4 new members joined and increase the current balance by $40.
President Brace asked the membership to think about what the MGA should do with its treasury balance as the organizations should have a heathy surplus at the end of the fiscal year. Ideas will be entertained at a future meeting.
Golf Pro Kenny Evenson explained how to make a greenside chip off winter lies. He recommended using a hybrid club or using a "hooded" 8 iron.
Vice-President Frank Beaty updated the current status of the golf course.
The maintenance crew is doing additional clearing of Hole 5 to increase airflow around the green.
There is still an ongoing problem of golfers not fixing ball marks on the green and filling in divots in the fairways. Beaty urged MGA members to fix any ball marks that they encounter.
Jim Campbell pointed out that the sand bottles on the carts and on the 10th tee are often empty. Consistent refilling of the bottles by maintenance would improve consistent filling of divots.
Ben Peppard also pointed out that the maintenance crew does not consistently shut off equipment when club members are teeing off. This should be a standard protocol.
Ken Brace announced details of the tournament that will be held on February 18 at The Reserve Club. Details are on the website.
Terry Eckert announced that the March tournament will be held on March 24 at Hounds Lake. Fee is $40, including prize money. Start will be 9 am.
Kenny Evenson introduce Stan Selby from the Aiken Golf Club. Stan presented his plan to put together a group of Aiken Golf Club and Cedar Creek Golf Club players for a weekly game at the Aiken Golf Club. Fee would be $10 plus golf course fees. Discussion ensued as to the feasibility of the idea and about what day of the week would best fit. No conclusions were reached, but several members signed up to participate. More information will be forthcoming.
President Brace put forth a proposal by the Cedar Creek Women's Golf Group that we hold an annual battle of the sexes tournament. This would be men playing against women, not in mixed groups. This is just a proposal to think about and the MGA and the ladies group are open for suggestions about how to stage the event and what format to play. Ideas are needed.
President Brace also announced that an email survey would be going out to MGA members in the near future. The survey will try to discern what factors MGA members deem most important when they decide to play--or not play--in MGA tournaments. It will help tournament directors plan future tournaments.
Ray Naramore spoke about the MGA's support of the Silver Bluff High School Golf Team. The MGA makes an annual donation to the team and will do so again this year. The MGA also offered to help coach the team and volunteers are needed to assist. Dean Wood volunteered to help coach putting and Dick Leach and Bill Robinson volunteered to do swing fittings for team members. Ray will have more information about other tasks at the next MGA meeting, after he speaks with the coach.
MGA Members Meeting - Jan 14, 2014
Recent expenses included $40 for a new flag for the Club's flagpole. The flagpole was also donated by the Cedar Creek Golf Association about 10 years ago, so it is fitting that the MGA replace the old flag. A call will be made to the Cedar Creek Marine retirees to retire the old flag and dedicate the new one in accordance with official flag handling regulations.
Golf Pro Kenny Evenson explained how to work the ball away from trouble. He also announced that a new state-of-the-art practice facility would be being built on the driving range and that it is planned to be up and running by the Masters Tournament in April.
The new practice facility will be in a building on the right hand side of the driving range, approximately where the practice bunker is currently. There will be shaded mats in the building, which will encourage more practice in the hot summer months. A large, new putting green will also be built in this area, which will mimic the greens being planned for the course when green restoration occurs.
Frank also explained the need for training players how to use the current driving range effectively. Instead of scattering divots over a large area, players are encouraged to simply make a square in one compact area.
The need to train new or inexperienced golfers in gold etiquette was also discussed. Having signs posted on the range was mentioned as one solution to this issue.
Ken Sabol announced details of the Par Three Tournament that will be held on January 18 at Cedar Creek. Details are on the website. Ken Brace announced that the February tournament will be held on Monday, February 17 at the Reserve Club. Fees will be $45. More details are on the website.
President Brace thanked Bill Todd for organizing a work crew to trim encroaching trees and brush away from the cart paths. Individuals who participated were Todd, Jerry Platt, Bob Levitt, Paul Shieman, John Turner, Ray Naramore, Don Kasper, Ken Brace, and Ken Sabol.
Paul Pecoraro announced that the First Tee of Aiken needs junior sets of clubs and that $60 will buy a complete set. Money for this can be donated at the Cedar Creek Pro Shop.
Bill Todd announced that golfers are still not repairing their ball marks on the greens and suggested that the MGA post a short how-to video about this on the website. Bill Robinson suggested that perhaps the starter or a marshall can brief players on the first tee about the need to fix ball marks and divots.
President Brace then spoke a length about the current state of affairs at the Cedar Creek Golf Club. His primary points were:
People that live in the Cedar Creek community and play the golf course want better communication from the course ownership. Brace believes that the course will continue to improve under the new greenskeeper and professional staff.
The sprinkler system is still not working properly, but Gary is still working on it. Brace feels that Gary has taken some unwarranted abuse from some club members.
Based on comments from the course membership, the course will be softened a bit this spring. The rough will not be as penal as it was in the spring and summer of 2013.
The atmosphere at the golf course is much improved from the past. Kenny Evenson and Mike D get along very well and Kenny's beginner courses are encouraging more people to play here.
MGA tournaments are currently based on what the membership has expressed that it wants through the last organizational survey. A new survey will be sent out shortly to see if anything has changed. We need to get more club members involved in the MGA.
Paul Pecoraro commented that the MGA needs to make more of a commitment to the Cedar Creek Golf Course. The course needs money for improvements and we can help the course by playing more tournaments here and by awarding pro shop chits for prizes instead of cash. The meet and greet for Jim McNair held last year was a good start.
Ben Peppard suggested the possibility of holding two events each month, one at Cedar Creek and one at another course.
Dick Gaul commented that if members show a commitment to Jim McNair, he will reciprocate. Many members are willing to put up money to help improve the golf course or help out by doing things on the course.
A general discussion followed about the letter that Mr. McNair sent out to the membership. The general conclusion was that he got the wrong impression about the level of support that he has among the membership and that more clarification and communication is needed.