BOARD: GOLF COURSE MANAGER NOT NEEDED

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The city's Golf Course Advisory Board Thursday recommended the City Council maintain the current management structure at the Jaycees Municipal Golf Course and not hire a professional course manager.

Some council members, particularly Al Spradling III, earlier this month criticized the board for "stalling" on a recommendation and said the golfing season would start before a decision on the matter was made. Spradling said that by delaying action the board was essentially putting off any decision for at least another year.

Spradling has advocated hiring a course manager as a way to improve the course and attract more players. Council members asked that the board make a recommendation "one way or the other."

Included in Thursday's recommendation, to be considered by the council Monday, was the board's suggestion that the city continue to utilize Carroll Williams, a golf instructor at Southeast Missouri State University, as a course "consultant."

The board also recommended the city draft a five-year master plan outlining course development and management strategies.

The board unanimously adopted the recommendation in a closed meeting Thursday afternoon.

Board Chairman Ed Kaiser said after the meeting that he thought the matter was settled.

"I think, honestly, it will work out all right," Kaiser said. "We couldn't see hiring someone to come in and take money out of city coffers when we might have the personnel to get the job done right now."

Kaiser said the city has improved the course markedly during the past couple of years. He said that if the weather cooperates this year the course should be in excellent shape.

"We've made tremendous strides," Kaiser said. "This golf course is getting to be pretty good. With a little luck weather-wise it can be a lot better.

"But I think right now it's the best municipal golf course between St. Louis and Memphis."

Kaiser said the physical improvements at the course, coupled with Williams' consultation and advice, might eliminate the need to hire a "golf pro" for the course.

"We're sort of going to go with Carroll Williams for the first year," he said. "We want to feel our way through.

"If for some reason Carroll isn't happy with the situation, or we aren't happy with the situation, then we can make a change."

Kaiser said he hopes the board's recommendation will put to rest the issue of whether to hire a course manager this year.

"As of now it's dead," he said. "But it's always open. We just hope, under the present management and system, we can progress full-speed ahead for the next five years. I don't see anything but good things out of it."

Williams is a long-time golf enthusiast who now is putting together a new golf team at the university. He reportedly has experience in course management and a broad knowledge of various courses throughout the country.

Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink, the city's liaison with the board, said board members at the closed meeting said they thought the city was "very fortunate" to have Williams volunteering to work with the city to develop the course.

In other business Thursday, the board discussed plans for several promotional events this year at the course.

Board member Tom M. Meyer said the promotions will help show golfers some of the improvements that are being made at the city course.

"If we start off the golfing season right, with the impact of getting them out there, and then show some things coming down the pike, I think people will see the improvements," Meyer said."

Board member Dorothy Holland said she thought course promotion was important to offset "bad publicity" in the past several months. When the board late last year considered a proposal to increase fees at the course, several golfers criticized the condition of the course and the way it was being managed.

"We're proud of our course," Holland said. "It's in very good shape, and we've gotten nothing but bad publicity."

Some of the promotions likely to be implemented this year include:

The Early Bird Special: Greens fees would be reduced for golfers renting carts for play between 7 and 9 a.m. each Tuesday.

The Business Professional Special: The course would be made available one Wednesday each month for businesses to hold company tournaments for a fee.

Senior Citizen Tournament: The tournament likely would be held during the week when many senior golfers play.

Youth specials: Golfers under the age of 18 would be able to play at a reduced rate.

Lunch Special: Special rates for golfers who play over the lunch hour.

Acting Parks and Recreation Director Dan Muser told the board the city also plans to begin a "systematic evaluation" of each hole at the course.

"We're going to start on a systematic basis on number one from the green to the tee and go through and look for any holes anything that will affect play and try to correct that," Muser said.

The parks director also suggested ways to improve the course by establishing regular mowing schedules; specific mowing heights for each area of the course; and other maintenance procedures.