By: Brian Duthu
Pro Shops
Total revenue for December was 6.8% ahead of budget. Merchandise had the best performance to budget, exceeding by 73.2%, we are very thankful for the merchandise sales support you have given us throughout 2011. Driving range revenue was 43.3% ahead of budget and Green Fee revenue was 4.8% ahead of budget. We were pleased with this performance, considering 20 days of the month failed to reach the average daily high temperature.
We have received an estimate for an appropriate stake for use with the no cart path signs. Hopefully the ball is rolling again.
Ping, Cleveland and Nike held a demo day January 19 from 11am to 3pm. We are very appreciative of the support we have been given in merchandise purchases and would also remind everyone that we can usually match the prices of the big box stores on new items.
New scorecard design has made its debut at Riverview and has received a mostly positive reaction. The most requested change had been made before the Riverview rollout and is included on the Lakes East/West cards once the current supply is exhausted. North will be the next course to be changed.
Range ball price increases went into effect January 1. The corresponding range cards increased consistent with the bucket increases. We ask that you leave the buckets at the course the balls were purchased. If you do not plan on hitting the entire bucket of balls on the day of purchase, please empty the balls into a bag, prior to leaving the range. The pro shops will begin selling range bags for this purpose.
Courses
Courses are currently completing a solid tine venting of tee surfaces. This has been done in response to tees becoming hard and at the request of several Green Committees. Each golf course is using a quarter-inch tine to punch small holes in the tee surface. Lakes East/Lakes West, Riverview and Willowbrook/Willowcreek tees have been completed; the remaining courses are in process and are scheduled to be completed this week.
Golf courses will soon begin applying a pre-emergent herbicide to all areas of the golf courses depending on temperatures. The primary targeted weed is crabgrass; however the product does control many other weeds. Golfers will see sprayers on the golf courses while this application is made.
The groundwater well on 103rd Avenue is scheduled to be pulled this winter for preventive maintenance and repair. Each winter RCSC pulls one well for preventive maintenance; the well will be out of service for 30 days. The well is 914 feet deep, with the water level last measured at 341 feet deep.
An evaluation of bunker rakes has been done on all golf courses. As a result of the evaluation an additional 80 rakes will be placed throughout the courses to aid golfers.
First draft of aerification dates and overseed dates is available. As previously discussed we have moved the starting date into October to help combat the lingering summers we have been experiencing. With the later start we have also reduced the length of cart path restrictions after the courses reopen.