PLAYERS SAY GOLF COURSE IMPROVED BUT FULL-TIME MANAGER NEEDED

The condition of Cape Girardeau's Jaycees Municipal Golf Course generally is as good as it's been in years, according to golfers who use it and the course consultant.

Paul Bray, 1603 Bessie, a regular golfer at the course, said Tuesday he thought obvious efforts have been made to improve the condition of the course. "It's looking pretty good now," Bray said. "Of course, we've had excellent weather for growing. The fairways and greens are in good shape.

"Generally, I would say the course is in pretty good shape. Although there are always things to do out there, it seems more attention is being paid to it this year."

Harold Schmitt, 1808 Oak Hills Drive, said he thought "absolutely, the course is in better shape" than last year.

"It's obvious that a lot of changes are being made now," Schmitt said. But he said he didn't know if improvements would make up for years of poor management and maintenance at the course.

The poor condition of the course last year was the subject of heated debate as golfers and City Councilman Al Spradling III lobbied for a full-time professional manager of the course. A proposed fee increase at the course only fueled the debate and, after vehement objections from golfers, the City Council finally nixed the fee hikes.

But the council in March conceded to the recommendation of the Golf Course Advisory Board not to hire a full-time professional course manager.

Members of the golf board assured council members that improvements were being made at the course and that the city should instead continue to utilize the volunteer services of Carroll Williams as golf-course consultant. The board also recommended that the city draft a five-year master plan outlining course development and management strategies.

Williams said Tuesday that he thinks the course is in very good condition compared to past years.

"I'm kind of biased, but I think things are a lot better this year than in the past," he said. "Like anything, it depends on who you ask. But I think the general consensus it that it's better cut and better maintained; it looks better and plays better."

Williams said a relatively mild winter was kind to the fairways and greens, and some new equipment has improved the efficiency of course mowing.

Several women's tee boxes also were moved ahead this year, which Williams said has improved quality and speed of play.

But, he said, there is ample room for course improvement. He said several other tee boxes need to be moved, but will require some construction something he would like to avoid after subjecting golfers to major capital improvements projects at the course during the past three years.

"We want to grow grass, cut grass, increase play, and get those kinds of things out of the way," Williams said. "Last year we had a lot of construction that interrupted play on the golf course."

Spradling, the most vocal proponent of a full-time course manager, said he also thought the course was improved. "It's got a long way to go but it's playable," he said. "It's improving. They've still got some things that need to be corrected but it takes time to do all these things.

"The people I've talked to, on the whole, are pleased that it's looking better. I think the course is much more playable right now than it was last year at this time."

But Spradling said he doesn't intend to let die the issue of hiring a full-time "golf pro" at the course.

"That course is too much of an investment to do on a part-time basis, irrespective of the good intentions and the efforts of Carroll Williams and the others working to improve things there," Spradling said. "It's not a situation we can tolerate with the investment we have involved."

Spradling said the golf course advisory board should begin in September to study the feasibility of hiring a manager. He said there are still problems with the course that a full-time superintendent would be better able to address than a part-time consultant.

"I'm sure Carroll's working on those items, but I still think you need to have someone full time to deal with it," he said. "I look at too many other golf courses that have (managers) and I think we have too large of an investment there not to look at that and make some changes."

Bray also said he thought a golf pro is needed at the course. "I still think that's the salvation of that golf course," he said.

Williams said he agreed that a golf professional would be a great but expensive asset to the course.

"I think it would be a great addition to the golf course, but he's going to have to make his money off a percentage of cart rentals and concessions," Williams said. "Somebody like that's not going to make a living just by giving lessons.

"But he could, absolutely, contribute to some of the things that need work. It's all a matter of what you want and what you're willing to pay for."

Williams said he thinks the master plan that the city will develop for the course is an important step.

"You've got to know where you want to go and how you're going to get there," he said. "That long-term plan will identify our most critical capital needs and what kind of money will be available to do that."