2017 Golf Report

Current Status:  As of January 1 I have suspended all activities at the golf course.  This was prompted by the recent loss of my wife and the resignation of Marthanise who was filling in during my absence.  I am currently in the USA dealing with some health issues of my own and hopeful that Ron Armstrong will fill in starting Feb until I can get back later in the month.

The current situation highlights an ongoing and long term problem in regards to course maintenance.  During the past year I found that it was difficult to find reliable competent help.  I settled on two individuals who performed as instructed while supervised.  However during my recent absence it became clear that without supervision their performance was less than satisfactory and cooperative and led to Marthanise quitting.  It will be necessary to reevaluate this issue as maintenance requirements increase.

2017 Highlights:  The addition of the John Deere tractor I donated along with purchased attachments provided the basis for basic maintenance.  Fairways were routinely mowed and traps maintained.  The greens were and continue to be an area of challenge.  The main problem was reestablishing  an adequate water supply to all nine greens.  Without water any sort of green improvement or maintenance was impossible.  In September the water supply was fixed and beginning Oct. available at all greens.  The wrecked cars on the #1 fairway were removed and a general clean up was accomplished.  The maintenance shack was repaired and security locks installed.  Small power equipment, chain saw, roto-tillers, and a trailer were purchased.  I also donated one of my JD gators for course service and transportation for workers.

2017 Problems:

   1      Delay in getting electrical and water systems restored after the hurricane in 2016 ( 9 months).

   2     GHC  Systemic labor problem.

   3     High equipment maintenance cost.  A total of $8000 was spent in 2017 on repairs and attempted repairs  Attempts were repeatedly made at repairing the 2 large zero degree fairway mowers and green cutter. Attempts at repairing mowers all failed and equipment is out of service.  The basic problem is that there isn’t anyone on GHC  remotely qualified to do the work.  The equipment is in bad shape and probably wouldn't last even if they were fixed. One of these mowers needs to be replaced. Little or no preventative maintenance during previous years resulted in scrapping a lot of small tools, and damage to all heavy equipment.

2018 Challenges:

   1     Green Repair: Green repair can only be accomplished with addition of a green sprinkler system.  This project done normally would cost tens of thousands and is not practical for GHC.  I have worked out a design that should allow for an adequate system to sustain greens during the season.  The system would include pop up sprinklers on greens and use of current water lines.  Test sprinklers and  installation parts have been purchased for two greens.  I would recommend a test installation on two greens  the farthest from and closest to the watering system.  If these work we would add two or three  more greens at  a time until all nine were completed.  Once a green was completed then a  seeding  test could begin.  This project should take several months.  The estimated cost of sprinkler installation is $1300 parts & labor/green.  Grass seeding is estimated to be about $1200/green.  I have arranged for consultation for project with NCL’s landscape engineer on Big Stirrup Cay. 

   2     Acquiring and training adequate help.

   3     Acquisition of heavy duty zero degree turn mower. Need estimate.

2018 Estimated Budget:

   1     Green mowers:  I believe that the best mower for this task are the old fashion  push rotary  mowers.  Estimate $300 each. Need three.   = $900

   2     2018 Labor Budget:  I am estimating $1300 general monthly  = $15,600

   3     Fuel:  $200/month    =   $2,400

   4     Maintenance general  = $3,200

   5     Sprinklers  9 @ $1300 each  = $11,700

   6     Green Installation 9 @ $1200 = $10,800

   7     TOTAL  =   $44,600

Cruise Line Passenger Proposal:

Both cruise lines companies still have keen interest but we cannot move forward until we get course playable,  Playable means successfully completing all of above.  Another issue that needs to be resolved is what the golf course owner’s position will be if we start generating revenue.  What exactly is  our lease status?

Ron Skross

N.B.

Reserves on 1st Jan 2018 are a little over $10,000