MacDill Men’s Golf Association, Bay Palms Golf Course, MacDill AFB, FL
ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
December 10, 2022
Attendees:
Officers: Jerry Shotts, Pres.; Phil Snyder, VP; Andy Clark, Acting Sec./Treas.
Members: (see attachment) For 2022, the league had 61 paid members. The league’s current by-laws require 50% membership attendance at any meeting to make changes. For this annual meeting, we had 36 members present, thereby establishing a quorum.
Agenda:
• Tribute to Denny
• Dave Stewart, Director of Golf, Bay Palms
• Financials
• Policy & Procedures Proposals & Vote
• Rule Change Proposals & Vote
• Officer Election
• RESULTS todays round. DB live demo.
Old Business: Acting Secretary/Treasurer Andy Clark went through his actions in getting a handle on the finances after the passing of our League Secretary/Treasurer Denny Ahrens. Andy presented a tally of the league’s finances, expected 2023 expenses and income, and a new plan for financing the league (see “Maintenance Fee” in notes, below).
New Business: Numerous playing rules and policy & procedures changes were discussed and voted on by a count of hands. They are listed here with the resultant vote.
1. Rules changes:
a. No longer allow rolling of the ball in the rough: DISAPPROVED – NO CHANGE.
i. Discussion centered around the sparse conditions of our rough areas and how our playing quotas were established under the current rule, so it would be difficult to make the change.
b. Allow greater relief in bare-ground fairway areas than the typical one-scorecard length: APPROVED.
i. Players are now allowed to move their ball from the bare-ground areas in their own fairways to the nearest grassy area, no closer to the hole.
2. Policy and Procedural changes:
a. Limit a player’s quota to “+1” after an absence of six months or more. – APPROVED
i. Change prevents a player from intentionally or unintentionally taking advantage of their improved golfing skills.
ii. Also discussed and approved was that players coming back from convalescence will be on a case-by-case basis for re-establishing.
b. Allow a player to play without paying into regular game. – APPROVED
i. Change allows a regular current member the “option” of buying into regular league game play. This gives a member the option to just play and not compete due to injury, illness or just wants to work on their game. This would be a member benefit. However, it can’t be a regular routine if other than injury or illness.
ii. Also discussed, but disapproved, was giving new members the option to play with us without getting in the game.
c. Make all games (regular, skins, & CTP) mandatory for paying members. - DISAPPROVED
d. Form a Select Committee. – APPROVED
i. Details are to be worked out, but the discussion was about dividing members into age groups (super-senior, senior, and junior) and having those groups nominate two members each to be in the Select Committee.
ii. The Select Committee would meet with league officers to discuss rules and policy/procedural changes and rule on them for the league.
iii. Change expedites league decisions without having to have membership meetings and a quorum votes.
e. Rewriting of league by-laws. – APPROVED
i. Discussion centered around the numerous changes made in the last few years form the “teams” concept of play to “individual” play and today’s decision of forming a Select Committee to rule on changes.
ii. League officers will conduct rewrite of the by-laws for presentation to the members and/or Select Committee.
f. Establish a “maintenance fee” to fund league activities. – APPROVED
i. Discussion centered around the need for additional funds due to expanded expenses with running the individual play and promote the league for growth.
ii. The decision reached was that for each game-day play, participating members will contribute one-dollar ($1) at check-in to go into the league fund (aka, $15 + $1).
iii. The other option discussed, but disapproved, was to take $1 for each playing member from each game-day winnings pot (aka, $14 + $1).
iv. Funds will be recorded and deposited in league fund by Sec./Treas., who will make monthly accounting reports to Pres. and VP.
g. After-play gatherings in clubhouse to do results. – DISAPPROVED
i. Discussion centered on how we’ve lost the camaraderie associated with the old “teams” concept of play where we’d all sit around waiting for results to be done and get paid.
ii. Also discussed was how the COVID epidemic contributed to us getting away from having gatherings.
iii. Members decided not to do this as a formal league procedure but to simply leave it to members to gather after a round, if they choose, and to continue posting results on the website and having winnings put into envelopes.
h. Establish two levels of membership. – DISAPRROVED
i. Change was focused on establishing “voting” and “associate” members based on frequency of play.
ii. Discussion centered on change not being needed if we simply counted members as those that had paid their annual dues for the year.
Notes: Other activities at today’s meeting:
1. Tribute to Denny Ahrens.
a. Denny was our 2022 League Secretary/Treasurer.
b. Ron Mathews lead a tribute to Denny and his service to the community and the league.
2. Bay Palms Way-Ahead.
a. Dave Stewart, Bay Palms Manager, presented upcoming changes to Bay Palms.
i. Covered driving range with teaching bays and trackman.
ii. Golf simulator in lobby.
iii. Tournament room being converted into bar area.
iv. Rejuvenated North Course greens.
b. Changes are designed to turn Bay Palms into a “destination spot” and garner increased interest from the active duty and civilian communities.
c. Dave also gave us updates on the new bridge construction timeline, storm damage removal and tee boxes revival.
i. Bridge construction and tree removal are being handled and prioritized by the base and, so, we are at their “mercy”.
ii. Course Superintendent has been tasked with coming up with a plan to rejuvenate the South Course’s tee boxes which includes a full evaluation of all the irrigation lines and heads.
Action Items
1. League officers will come up with a plan for establishing the Select Committee for presentation to the membership.
2. By-laws rewrite will be conducted by league officers for presentation to the membership and/or the new Select Committee.
3. League Sec./Treas. will develop plan for establishing a league bank account, with a means to pay expenses, for presentation to League Pres. and VP.
4. League Sec./Treas. will develop a plan for electronically tracking league finances for presentation to League Pres. and VP. Plan will include a means of filing for receipts, invoices, and documents.
5. League officers and Select Committee, once established, will develop plans for marketing the league and “giving back” to the membership.
6. League Sec./Treas. will gather 2023 league member dues ($5 each) beginning in Jan 2023 with a monthly accounting of progress to League Pres. and VP.
Phil Snyder, MMGA VP
Jan 10, 2023
