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Legislature Begins RFP Process for Putnam National Golf Course
Minutes posting to Internet overcomes content stumbling block
by Margaret Sternberg
The Economic Development Committee of the County Legislature made its first foray into compiling the requirements in the Request for Proposal that it will issue for the Putnam National Golf Club.
Charles Robson, Executive Director of Metropolitan PGA, gave an extensive presentation at the Committee's April 12, 2007 meeting, discussing the fundamentals involved in running a public golf course.
Describing Putnam National as a "wonderful facility" with "lots of potential," Robson pointed to Patriot Hills in Stony Point as a model of a successfully run public course, and suggesting that Putnam National would benefit by using Patriot Hills' strategy of separating the golf and catering facilities, and hiring a golf pro to oversee the former and contracting out the latter.
Robson did not paint an entirely rosy picture and detailed an economic golf trend of "flat lining" since 2001. The causes, he said, were varied and included bad weather and the short season for the sport. He also noted societal shifts, with families spending weekends at childrens' sports activities, which cut into money earned through "standing tee times" and Saturday play.
For municipal courses, Robson said, they are considered successful if they break even. He said the object of a municipal course, unlike a private club, is not to make a profit, but to provide recreation to residents, which makes the county a more desirable pace to live.
In general, very few courses make a profit, he said, adding that "no one is making a profit in the northeast." He said courses could make profits, but that was contingent upon optimizing tee times. Robson suggested trying to book the less convenient tee times with increased tournament play; the weekends and morning play being the "high times" and more likely to be booked.
Robson also cautioned that the County must be willing to invest in the course, primarily by maintaining the greens but not excluding other areas of upkeep, such as the sprinkler system for the greens which, Robson said, generally needs to be replaced as it ages.
In other business, the Rules Committee met following the Economic Development Committee and barely managed to pass a resolution concerning the posting of Legislative Minutes to the Internet.
Following a brief discussion on the form in which the Minutes would be posted, and a decision to post them as "Action Minutes," Legislator Dan Birmingham voted for the resolution, saying that "It is important, as legislators, that our votes be recorded," while Legislators Mary Conklin and Tony Hay voted against it. Hay then explained that, for the purposes of getting the resolution to the full Legislature for a vote, he would actually vote for the resolution in Committee, but against it when the full Legislature voted.
The decision to use the "Action Minutes" form had been based upon worries of overburdening the Legislative staff as well as concerns relating to subjective interpretations of discussions during meetings. "Action Minutes" will not go into the particulars of discussions taking place and will note only who voted and in what way on the various Agenda items.
The Rules Committee also worked on final revisions to the Plumbing and Electrical Laws, which are expected to be approved by the Committee next month and to be voted on by the full Legislature the following month.
The May meetings of the Economic Development and Rules Committees will be posted on the PCN&R's website as soon as they become available.
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