In a prior newsletter and post, information was shared to address questions and complaints regarding golf course operations and the board. Another issue has been brought to light; the implementation of punch card discounts at the golf courses.
The role of the board is to set policy that staff is to implement. Over time, if staff has concerns or issues with a given policy, they are to bring forth recommendations for revisions to the board. Ordinance 7, the ordinance establishing rates, rules and regulations for recreation passes and recreation punch cards by the District, has not changed related to how the punchcards are to be administered at the venues. The version approved by the board in May of 2022, and the prior version of Ordinance 7, both state that a punch card may be used to “buy down” the rate from the non-resident (non-passholder) rate to the resident (passholder) rate at all venues. It has come to light, at least in recent times, that at the golf courses have not implemented the punch card use in alignment with the ordinance. At the golf courses, at least in recent years, they have been allowing punch cards to be used to “buy down” the rate from the guest rate to the resident (passholder) rate. This practice results in about twice as much use of the punch cards at the golf courses due to the guest rate being significantly lower than the non-resident rate.
If a policy, which includes ordinances, needs updating, then staff may bring the request to the board. Policies are created to provide clarity, consistency and transparency.
While this post doesn’t provide an answer, it does provide an explanation for why there is now an issue to be resolved by staff and the board.
If you have concerns, questions or complaints, please email info@ivcbcommunity1st.org and we will work to find answers.
Below is the post shared in the last newsletter:
- The Board of Trustees has never discussed “privatization” of the golf courses or any of the venues. It is unclear where this concept originated. It is not a direction the board is headed.
- Passholders are being required to show their IVGID Picture Passes to the golf staff at check-in. Passes have to be shown at the Recreation Center, Beaches, Tennis Center and Diamond Peak, so please thank staff for protecting your benefits.
- At the IVGID Board of Trustees meeting on May 8th, the board lengthened the cancellation policy from 72 hours to 120 hours in a large part due to the unknown impacts of eliminating the reservation fee charged to Passholders for reservations more than 2 weeks in advance. Due to complaints and staff’s assessment of the reservations and course utilization data, the board reverted to the long standing 72 hour cancellation policy. It was not made retroactive, but was made effective July 6th.
- Here is the cancellation policy: Email cancelgolf@golfincline.com to cancel tee time reservations. Cancel at least 72 hours prior to your tee time for a full refund. 50% of green fees will be charged for cancellations made between 72 – 48 hours of tee time. Within 48 hours of tee time, full green fees will be charged for all golfers in your party.
- There has been confusion about the discount policy at the Grille. For a number of years the policy has been that only passholders receive a discount on their food. Based on comments from community members, an inquiry was made to the Director of Golf who also manages the golf food and beverage operations. The Director of Golf stated in an email that staff, in the past, assumed all members of the table were eligible, not in conformance with the policy. He went on to state that the policy has been clarified and that staff is now following the longstanding policy. The policy can be found on the District website.
- Here is the policy listed on the website: IVGID Recreation Pass holders receive a 10% discount on food and nonalcoholic beverages at all IVGID food venues including The Grille at The Chateau, Mountain Snack Bar, Beach Snack Bars, etc. Pass holders must present their card or a scannable photo of their card or the discount will not be applied. The discount is not transferrable to non-pass holders in your party.
- Golf rate increases were recommended to the board by the Director of Golf. However, the All You Can Play Pass was not part of his pricing recommendation but was brought forward during the board meeting on May 8th by Trustee Tonking (starting on the bottom of page 1 of the .pdf). In the attached meeting minutes you can read the entire discussion of how the Trustees calculated the rates, etc. Click here for the excerpt from the meeting minutes on this pricing discussion and decision. In the meeting minutes you can also find Trustee Schmitz’s comments on the bottom of page 8 and 9 of the .pdf where she states the board should not be making pricing recommendations on-the-fly and requested staff be allowed to analyze the financial impacts before a decision is made.
- Trustee Schmitz has requested the All You Can Play Pass pricing and the cancellation policy be brought back to the board for reconsideration. While the cancellation policy has been reconsidered and amended, the All You Can Play Passes have not yet been placed on an agenda.
- The Director of Golf and his staff determine the rates charged at the driving range. The board doesn’t determine driving range fees, but approves the rates as part of the annual budget process.
- Acting GM Bandelin has been working with staff to bring to the board his analysis of the Championship Course Food and Beverage losses over the past two seasons.
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