“Golf no longer scores as big issue” plus 3 more |
- Golf no longer scores as big issue
- Golf Outing Helps Families Coping with Childhood Cancer
- GOLF: Youth served at Meadow Lane
- Golf
| Golf no longer scores as big issue Posted: 08 Aug 2010 02:13 AM PDT Golf might be a gentleman's game but its accompanying politics in Manteca historically have been more cut-throat than orderly. The political infighting that dominated at least four council election cycles reached a crescendo after the two-story clubhouse was built 21 years ago at a cost of $2.2 million. That coupled with bad blood lingering from the bruising recall of three council members in 1982 set off a political firestorm that raged uncheck for at least eight years. During that time period: •Golf pro Alan Thomas came under repeated attack for allegedly sheltering what critics claimed was hundreds of thousands of dollars from his mail order business operated out of the golf pro shop from being included in the calculation of rent owed to the city. The same critics believed Thomas had a "sweetheart of a deal" with his contract. When city reports stated neither was true, critics contended it was only because the outcome was tainted by the then council majority's views on the golf course. •The clubhouse was routinely assailed as a Taj Mahal with some saying it elevated the municipal golf course to country club status but without the restrictions while others called it a colossus waste of money. •Previous councils, out of fear of being ripped into by course backers at election time, avoided green fee hikes even when Thomas himself said they were necessary to provide the city with adequate money to maintain and protect the municipal investment. •A blue ribbon committee appointed by the council delved into the golf pro contract and city financials and met 10 times requiring the expenditure of $15,000 in staff time and resources reaching three clear - but non-unanimous conclusions: the golf pro's contract was fair, the men's bathroom at time looked like a pig's pen and should be better monitored, and the restrooms out of the course were not handicap accessible. •The 1986 council's dream of having a clubhouse with a high profile restaurant was criticized out of the gate by opponents who brought in a commercial real estate broker who said it would never work as it couldn't snag necessary high volume business due to its location and parking. •The initial city effort to secure a restaurant contractor ended with that individual pocketing money from the city issued checks for various pieces of restaurant equipment which led to criminal charge s and a successful prosecution. •The second restaurant contractor left the city saddled with close to $30,000 in unpaid bills before walking away. It wasn't until Frank Guinta took over the food services both in the snack bar and on the second floor that has a full-service bar that the city had a reliable partner plus one that was able to provide food and service that attracts patrons despite the golf course being off the beaten path in terms of accessibility and traffic. •Spirited debates erupted over the years about whether it was better to privatize the golf course, sell it out right, have the city take over all operations or keep on its current course. Today the golf course barely shows up on the political radar screen with a municipal election just 86 days away. Last week, the city inked a contract with Thomas that will keep him in place through at least Dec. 31, 2017. He's been Manteca's contracted golf pro since 1976. The new contract reduces basic rent but gives Manteca cut of golf cart fees and driving range fees on top of their 90 percent cut of green fees. As a result, as play increases municipal revenue will grow. There are still areas The final payment on the 1978 project that cost $800,000 to add the second nine holes, built the tennis courts and expand the parking lot will be made in 2013. That yearly debt payment is $52,000 with 20 percent of that amount being paid by the parks fee account The two debt payments once represented 22 percent of the golf course's annual budget that is set up as an enterprise fund where users through the payment of green fees plus lease payments from the golf pro and food cession contracts fund the operation. There are still several areas of contention but the debate has been anything but vocal. •There is some disagreement over the fairness and accuracy of the city's blanket general administration and overhead charges that were suspended in the 2007-08 fiscal year. So-called cost recovery charges put in place by former City Manager Bob Adams at one time were charged as a blanket 20 percent to enterprise funds such as the golf course, garbage, sewer and water service. •A $155,000 contribution from the general fund equal to the recreation benefits the golf course provides to Manteca citizens is made each year. Backers of the contribution notes all other recreation is subsidized to a degree by the general fund plus the amount is based on receipts lost to the golf course through reduced green fees for senior citizen and youth play. •Outstanding annual loans from the general fund over the years needed to balance the golf fund account averaged $140,000 in years they were made. The total due the general fund as of June 30, 2009 is $1.3 million. There has been no indication of how the city expects the golf course to repay the general fund that is under stress due to drops in property and sales tax. The general fund underwrites public safety among other services such as parks and streets. The City Council late last year hired Economic Research Associates to evaluate golf course operations. Independent report Manteca's elected leaders wanted to arm themselves with "independent" assessments so could decided what to do with Thomas' contract that originally expired in 2012 so they could decide what the best direction was for the city to take. The council used that report that was presented to them in February as the basis for negotiations that led up to the new contract issued last week. The ERA report notes that "privatization of the golf course, maintenance function often results in cost savings. However, in the case of Manteca Park, given the recent salary concessions by city employees, and the value of capital improvement work performed by the city maintenance staff, potential savings from privation is reduced substantially." ERA consultant Gene Krekorian concluded that the city's contract with Thomas and the revenues received by both parties based on the existing contract "are well in line" with other agreements between cities among those operating municipal golf courses. Other highlights of the golf course report: •More rounds were played at Manteca in each of the last three years than another course in a 25-mile` radius. Manteca had 68,000 rounds last year or 8,000 more than the closest of the 11 golf courses that the study compare. •The course provides a quality golf experience at a very affordable price. •The complex has benefitted from a continuous capital improvement program and construction of a new clubhouse in 1989. As a result, anticipated capital improvements over the foreseeable future are modest and manageable. •Cart, range, merchandise, as well as food and beverage revenues – given the play levels and positioning of the course based on rates– are at or are well above average. •The annual maintenance budget including clubhouse repairs and supplies for the 2008-09 fiscal year was $962,500 or almost $100,000 below the approved budget. •The course had a net operating cash flow of $294,900 before a $155,000 Parks and Recreation subsidy from the general fund is factored into the equation. •The number of courses within a 25-mile radius has gone from five in 1990 to 14 today. •Play at Manteca has fallen only 10 percent compared to the average of 20 percent at other golf courses due to its rate pricing structure. •Short- and mid-range capital improvements that are needed are expected to cost $545,000 in 2009 dollars. They cover improvements to cart paths, the lakes, parking, driving range, on-course restrooms, clubhouse improvements, irrigation system course features, and course improvements along Crom Street. •It would be prudent to build in a $50,000 to $75,000 capital improvement reserve today for the improvements. The elimination of debt in 2013 means the golf course won't be operating at a loss if revenues and expenses remain unchanged from last year's levels. That is being factored into a number of difference scenarios involving possible adjustments to rates. Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. 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| Golf Outing Helps Families Coping with Childhood Cancer Posted: 08 Aug 2010 12:51 PM PDT A local family turns their tragedy of losing their child to cancer, into a positive. They're now helping other families whose children are battling the same illness. For Sarah Wulf and her husband Bill, their worst fear was confirmed when they took their then four-year-old son Bryan to the doctor to find out the cause of his leg aches. "We wanted to find out what the problem was, we never ever thought it would be cancer," says Sarah. Bryan had stage four neuroblastoma, a common type of childhood cancer. For the next three years, the kid who they say was full of playful spirit fought for his life. "He took treatments like a champ, never really complained about anything, just went through everything, his day to day life," says Bryan's dad Bill. The cancer, however, proved to be too aggressive and at just seven years old, Bryan died in 2003. The Wulfs say it's all about paying it forward, all of the money raised today will go to another family, going through the same fight. "One family we helped get them a car, so we got some money, we got someone involved that was able to get us an affordable car, we got them a car now they can get to and from treatments," explains Sarah. "What we try to focus more on is to get people to enjoy the time that they have left with their children, and enjoy the times they have," adds Bill. Subtle hints of their son are everywhere at the event, from his favorite color red to, windmills he loved to watch. It's a chance, they say, for families who come, to make new memories--all while keeping the memory of their son alive. "He was a child that no matter what he went through he was smiling, he kept you smiling," says Sarah. "He would make our hearts smile all the time." Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GOLF: Youth served at Meadow Lane Posted: 08 Aug 2010 10:35 AM PDT Youth continues to thrive at Meadow Lane Golf Course, while the old guard is still holding strong at Indian Springs Golf and Country Club. Matt Holuta, 14, of Indiana, shot a 1-over-par 71 to take the lead after Saturday's first round of the Meadow Lane club championship. Meanwhile, Bob Plish and Bruce Daskivich, Indiana natives who have won past tournaments, shot 1-under 70s to tie for the lead in the Indian Springs championship. The second and final rounds of the tournaments begin this morning. Holuta's charge comes two years after Colton Wiggins, then 13, won the Meadow Lane club championship. Juniors dot the list of championship flight leaders, and they continue to give the seasoned veterans a run for their money. ``The young kids are taking over, no doubt about it. They're longer, they're better, and they don't have nerves,'' said Rick Adair, who shot a 2-over 73 to tie Jordan LoPiccolo, 16, of Indiana, for second place.At Indian Springs, the same group that has competed formally and informally for several years went at it in the club championship. ``Me, Bruce, Bob and Mike (Mentch) are pretty competitive. For the past few years it's been the four of us competing,'' said Indian Springs manager Matt Reed, who tied for third, at 72. ``For us, it was basically the same thing. We play the same way whether we're playing in this or just on a Saturday and Sunday.'' Daskivich added: ``We enjoy it. We play with each other all the time as a group of guys. We're just going out and competing for the championship.''Holuta, who will be a freshman at Indiana High School in the fall, shot a 34 on the back nine, also tops for Meadow Lane's championship flight. ``On the back nine I started hitting it a little better, and a couple putts went in, so that helped out,'' he said. ``Every chance I had to take advantage of a shot, a putt went in, so it just happened to fall my way.''Chris Edwards, Meadow Lane's defending champion, shot a 74 to tie Mike Rieg for fourth place. ``It can be stressful, more nerve-racking than playing with your buddies on a Saturday morning. ... I enjoy the competition,'' he said of his experiences in the club championship.``The guys will joke on the first tee; some people will take clubs out of your bag, but not when you show up at the club championship. You've got butterflies. It's a little bit different.'' Lots of players, young and old, spoke of the main goal of the first round of a two-day tournament: staying in contention. ``You just don't want to shoot yourself out on the first day,'' Edwards said. ``I don't think anyone is really out of it. You just want to be somewhere around the lead. We're not professionals, so anything can happen. You just want to stay close to the lead for the first day.'' ``I just wanted to not shoot myself out of it on the first day and just be around the lead a little bit,'' Holuta said, ``but no, I did not expect (to lead) at all.'' Indian Springs' leaders aimed to play it safe Saturday, but they had more ups and downs, highlighted by Plish, who double-bogeyed No. 18 to fall into a first-place tie. ``The first five holes, I scrambled on every hole to make par. ... I pretty much played terrible today. To shoot what I shot was pretty good,'' Plish said. An Indiana native who has been out of the area a lot recently, Plish has been working in Illinois and returned to Indian Springs to defend last year's title - his first. ``If I didn't win last year, I might not have come back,'' Plish said. Eric Vargo is tied with Reed for third place. Mentch sits in fifth, at 73, and Danny Clark, 14, is also in striking distance. He shot a 74, good for sixth place in the first round. ``I think everybody wants to have a chance to win the tournament going into the last four holes (today),'' Daskivich said. ``If you're within a shot or two of the lead, or in the lead, going into the last four holes, you've got a chance.'' Bill Brown leads Indian Springs' first flight, at 76. Other flight leaders in the tournament are: Ryan Rivosecchi, second, 78; Jim McLoughlin, third, 81; Kuz Pagonis, fourth, 85; Wes Skibo, fifth, 86; Shirley Niehenke, women, 96; and Ian Illig and Andrew Gaydosh, juniors, 87. At Meadow Lane, the flight leaders are Scott Fleming, first, 75; Skip Carnahan, second, 82; Marty O'Bush, third, 80; and Jim Armstrong, fourth, 89. Vicky Nastase leads the ladies' flight, while Holuta leads the juniors and Adair the seniors. Chestnut Ridge Golf Club, in Blairsville, is also holding its club championship this weekend. Bernie DiLoreto, of Blairsville, shot a 3-under 71 to take the first-round lead. He is followed by Chris Matava, of Armagh, Adam Ritts, of Clarksburg, and Adam Dunlap, of Blairsville. The flight leaders are John Caruso, first; Dan Campbell, second; John Santoro, Jonathon Santoro and Bruce Elder, third; and Joe Kotzur, fourth. " Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. 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| Posted: 08 Aug 2010 12:05 AM PDT Golf PGA TourBridgestone Invitational Par ScoresSaturdayAt Firestone Country Club (South Course)Akron, OhioPurse: $8.5 millionYardage: 7,400; Par: 70Third Round
Turning Stone Resort Championship ScoresSaturdayAt Atunyote Golf Club at Turning Stone ResortVerona, N.Y.Purse: $4 millionYardage: 7,482; Par 72Third Round
Brett Wetterich 69-70-67—206 Michael Bradley 67-71-68—206 Charley Hoffman 71-67-68—206 Woody Austin 68-69-69—206 Rory Sabbatini 65-70-71—206 Carlos Franco 72-70-65—207 Brendon de Jonge 70-71-66—207 D.A. Points 73-68-66—207 Michael Sim 69-71-67—207 Michael Connell 72-68-67—207 Richard S. Johnson 69-70-68—207 Craig Barlow 68-71-68—207 Josh Teater 71-67-69—207 Steve Elkington 66-71-70—207 Garrett Willis 68-73-67—208 Brenden Pappas 75-66-67—208 Alex Prugh 72-68-68—208 Tim Petrovic 71-69-68—208 John Merrick 69-71-68—208 Craig Bowden 71-69-68—208 Brett Quigley 69-71-68—208 Brian Davis 66-71-71—208 John Mallinger 67-70-71—208 Tom Gillis 70-72-67—209 David Duval 70-71-68—209 Marco Dawson 71-70-68—209 Chris DiMarco 68-72-69—209 Cameron Percy 72-68-69—209 Jason Dufner 67-73-69—209 Jerry Kelly 70-70-69—209 J.J. Henry 69-70-70—209 Omar Uresti 65-72-72—209 Garth Mulroy 73-69-68—210 Tim Wilkinson 67-75-68—210 Henrik Bjornstad 72-70-68—210 Charles Howell III 72-69-69—210 Tim Herron 69-72-69—210 D.J. Trahan 71-69-70—210 Stephen Ames 72-68-70—210 Aron Price 70-69-71—210 Dean Wilson 72-67-71—210 Vaughn Taylor 72-70-69—211 Scott Piercy 71-70-70—211 Matt Bettencourt 68-72-71—211 John Senden 70-70-71—211 Glen Day 68-72-71—211 Rod Pampling 73-69-70—212 Jonathan Byrd 67-75-70—212 Troy Merritt 72-69-71—212 Nicholas Thompson 69-72-71—212 Brad Faxon 66-75-71—212 David Toms 68-73-71—212 Graham DeLaet 72-68-72—212 Will MacKenzie 69-73-71—213 Billy Hurley III 69-73-71—213 Mathew Goggin 70-71-72—213 Nathan Green 70-71-72—213 Tom Pernice, Jr. 70-71-72—213 James Nitties 70-71-72—213 Bob Estes 73-69-72—214 Jay Williamson 72-70-72—214 Steve Wheatcroft 67-74-73—214 Chris Stroud 71-71-73—215 Joe Ogilvie 72-70-73—215
Nationwide Tour Wichita Open ScoresSaturdayAt Crestview Country ClubWichita, Kan.Purse: $575,000Yardage: 6,932; Par 71Third Round
Champions Tour 3M Championship ScoresSaturdayAt TPC Twin CitiesBlaine, Minn.Purse: $1.75 millionYardage: 7,114; Par 72Second Round
John Ross 70-72—142 Dana Quigley 68-74—142 Phil Blackmar 75-68—143 Jay Haas 72-71—143 Bill Glasson 72-71—143 Mark Wiebe 71-72—143 Craig Stadler 71-72—143 Chip Beck 71-72—143 Ted Schulz 68-75—143 Wayne Levi 67-76—143 Keith Clearwater 74-70—144 Tom Kite 73-71—144 R.W. Eaks 72-72—144 D.A. Weibring 75-70—145 Joey Sindelar 73-72—145 Jim Roy 72-73—145 Jim Chancey 72-73—145 John Harris 76-70—146 Ben Crenshaw 74-72—146 Mike Hulbert 73-73—146 Graham Marsh 75-72—147 Blaine McCallister 74-73—147 Jay Sigel 73-74—147 Bruce Lietzke 72-75—147 Hale Irwin 75-73—148 Bobby Wadkins 74-74—148 Mike Barge 73-75—148 Fulton Allem 73-76—149 Fuzzy Zoeller 75-75—150 Gene Jones 79-72—151 Ronnie Black 80-72—152 Jim Dent 75-77—152 Dave Eichelberger 77-76—153
Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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