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NBGCC getting ready for a better season

Apr 3, 2017 | 5:00 PM

Golf season is just around the corner and the North Battleford Golf and Country Club (NBGCC) is preparing for what it hopes will be a better season.

The club held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday, where members were invited to vote for new board members and view the clubs financial statements. The club is aiming to open to the public around mid-April.

President of the club, Chad Gartner, said the meeting is bitter sweet to golfers.

“I hate coming out here to these meetings and looking at the course and not being able to play,” Gartner said. “I am very excited though. I hope the weather holds up this year and maybe I can bring my handicap down.”

The club held more tournaments in 2016 than previous years but, total revenue was down due to the early snow storm in October. The course was forced to shut down last year roughly two weeks earlier than planned.

Gartner said the drop in revenue, mixed with general inflation, means higher prices this year.

“The executive and the board sat down and we looked at a budget and we believe we have a balanced budget,” Gartner said. “We had to look at the increased cost of materials and labour and add a four per cent increase to most of our fees.”

According to Gartner, the board tried to keep costs as low as possible, but still need to run a surplus budget. He added the provincial budget doesn’t affect the club.

The AGM was supposed to include the “Long Range Plan” for physical changes to the course. Due to scheduling conflicts Gary Browning, the consultant on the plan, could not attend and another meeting has been set for April 18 at the NBGCC.

Gartner was tight lipped about what announcements could be coming.

“I kind of want to save it for the meeting,” Gartner said. “I will say this though; the plan is set up to address how we have things arranged on the golf course. We want to address issues such as drainage, playability and changes in the golf environment. People are hitting it longer; we are getting different types of golfers, so you have to make a course for everyone.”

Anyone who has played the course in the first half of the golf season knows the fairway on the fourth hole can take months to drain. Gartner wouldn’t confirm or deny plans to fix the drainage.

“I won’t go into details, but I believe it is a good plan and will be well accepted,” Gartner said. “It will address some of those issues.”

As for the new board, there were five available spots up for grabs. Anyone who attended the meeting could ask to join in the voting process. The new members include Terry Burnett, Bob Mercer, Anita Simon, Tim Sletten and Bryce Bohun. There are 10 total members who are on the board for two years at a time. Elections happen every year for half the positions.

 

Greg.higgins@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @realgreghiggins.