Golf Commission Minutes - May 2006
(05-25-2006)

CITY OF ROSEBURG

GOLF COURSE COMMISSION MEETING

May 25, 2006

MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER: The City of Roseburg Golf Course Commission meeting was held in the 3rd Floor City Hall Conference Room on Thursday, May 25, 2006. Co-Chair Larry Oatney called the meeting to order at 12:16 p.m.

ROLL CALL: Present: Chair Rick Coen, Larry Oatney, Leila Heislein, John Dunn, and Ron Beach.

Absent: None.

Attending Staff: Parks & Recreation Program Planner Barbara Taylor, Golf Superintendent Mel Ganger, Finance Director Cheryl Guyett, and Public Works Secretary Vicki Tower.

Others Present: Yvonne Gigstad, and Patty Huffer.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Beach moved to approve the minutes of the April 27, 2006, meeting. Oatney seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:

Maintenance Report:

The following maintenance report for the month of April for Stewart Park Golf Course was included in the packet:

 Fertilized tees.

 Applied weed control to tees.

 Fertilized greens.

 Bunkers on #8 and #2 edged and sand redistributed.

 Mowed greens, tees, and roughs as weather permitted.

 Cleared plugged drains.

 Blow off tees and greens as needed.

Ganger expounded on the report provided in the packet. He informed that last night someone operating a golf cart broke limbs off trees at the golf course, but did not damage the golf cart.

Dunn asked what the schedule is for plugging the greens. Ganger stated they delayed that due to a tournament scheduled that was later canceled. No date has been set; they may have to contract that out.

Beach requested an update on # 4 tee. Ganger reported the tee is shaped and has had basic grading. It needs to have finished graded, then fertilized and seeded. Dunn said Dave Pullem offered to come in with his equipment and do the grading. Taylor will contact Pullem.

Driving Range Safety Issue:

Due to the amount of golf balls leaving the driving range and entering the adjacent park area, the City is looking at options to ensure the safety of the general public using the park while still providing an active driving range. Taylor informed that a golf ball off of the driving range hit a lady in the back who was at the Stewart Park soccer fields. She stated risk management suggested the Golf Commission come up with a long/short term solution to golf balls leaving the driving range and entering the adjacent park area. Taylor said because of the angle of the driving range most of the balls end up on the west (left) side of the range. Measures that have been taken include moving the yardage signs to the right, mowing the range at the angle desired for the golfers to aim, and posting signs asking that people using the driving range place the mat at an angle to the right.

Taylor said Robert Overdorf of Rexius Sustainable Solutions in Eugene and John Zoller of Portland Parks Bureau gave suggestions that are listed in the packet handout.

It was discussed that a large part of the problem at the driving range is from groups of kids that become rowdy. Beach suggested that if staff observes a lot of people at the driving range acting out, they should alert the marshal to do a walk-thru. Coen suggested when they do the drainage construction project at Stewart Park this would be a good time to eliminate the path. Oatney felt the only long term solution is for a higher net. Dunn stated more supervision would take care of the problem; they should crack down on the abusers.

Taylor discussed ‘reduced flight’ range balls. She said John Zoller from Portland informed they went to only this type of ball for their driving ranges.

Coen suggested the following for short-term solutions:

1. Supervision.

2. Signage move out.

3. Talk to the Roseburg Soccer Association and determine the reason the soccer field they are now using is closer to the golf course and possibly have them move it to the original site.

He stated the next step would be to look at reduced flight balls, maintain the grass for the driving range, and tear out the walkway.

Discussion was held regarding why this path was not removed when the Golf Commission requested it in the past. Taylor will follow up on that before the next Parks Commission meeting and also check with the Roseburg Soccer Association about field location.

Audience: None.

Good of the Order:

Heislein asked if anyone had checked on the V. A. contact. Response was no.

Beach asked how the cell tower request is going. Taylor reported it is now going through the Planning Department.

Coen informed he had spoken with Doug Zenor from RUSA. They will have something to report at next month’s meeting.

Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 1:26 p.m.

Vicki Tower, Secretary

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