VSWGA News

Meeting: Board of Directors / Committee Chairs

Date/Time: April 27, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.

Place: Lake Morey Inn

Attended by: Elizabeth Walker, Sue Ginnett, Pat Job, Mary Corey, Cindy Paquet, Suzanne Neville, Tracy Sloan, Cheryl Hoar, Shari Pfannenstein, Sarah Lee

Recorded by: Mary Corey

The meeting was called to order by the President, Elizabeth Walker.

Minutes for November 9, 2005 meeting were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report distributed by Tracy Sloan was approved as written. Tracy reported no major expenses during 2005, other than the VSWGA office move from St. Johnsbury to Arlington, VT.

President’s Report: Elizabeth Walker presented copies of her agenda to the board members for the April 27, 2006 meeting. Elizabeth welcomed the new Administrative Assistant, Suzanne Neville and Intern, Sarah Lee to the VSWGA committee and introduced them to the board members. Suzanne was hired in December 2005 and Sarah Lee came on board April 1, 2006.

USGA Grants Update:

Computer Assistant was approved for $3,000.

Intern position was approved for $7,500.

Junior Golf Program will receive money based on matching funds. The VSWGA helps by donating a portion of the matching funds raised through State Day Closest to the pin contests.

Committee Heads:

Website - Cindy Paquet reported the new website uses Javascript for the links with drop down and pop out menus. It is possible that some people may have their internet security options set to block the us of scripts. This, however, is easily solved by either updating the security settings to permanently permit the use of scripts or by temporarily allowing the scripts for each session. Therefore, the implementation of the new design will go forward.

Cindy asks Suzanne to send her the State Day results as soon as possible for posting on the web site. This year’s results will include Closest to the Pin and Skins winners.

Course Rating - Elizabeth reported for Carolyn Barbieri. We need more volunteer raters trained to help with the ratings. The new Stamford Valley (9 hole course) needs to be rated and will need assistance with running state days. The Honey Pond Course located on Main Street in Middletown Springs, VT has asked to be rated. The course is a three-hole course played three times from three different tees mixing greens for added length. The owners have volunteered to pay for the service.

Handicap - Harriet Parrot was unable to attend. Elizabeth wanted an apology made to Harriet for not writing a letter to inform Courses of the $2. increase in handicap fees.

State Days - Suzanne Neville reported as of April 26, 2006 we have 447 paid members, of that total 414 are renewals with 33 new members and 63 late fees which paid $35. instead of the $25.

All State Day participants must belong to a course that is an active member in the VSWGA and that course must host a state days.

This year State Days begin the first week in May, one week earlier than previous years. We have had several complaints on the schedule change and will return to the second week in May for the 2007 season.

There is no Club Rep for The Links at Lang Farm. Sue Ginnett has volunteered her services to help with the State Day for 2006.

Junior Golf - Mary Ann Levins heads this program, the VSWGA makes donations to assist with the matching fund requirements. Multiple clinics should be held in the same areas. Mary Ann Levins and Leo Reynolds have several clinics planned for Central Vermont. Mary Ann will have Holly Reynolds and Andrea Brown working with the North. Other site directors are needed to coordinate clinics with Mary Ann Levins.

RAC - The Board wanted to thank Stella Sargent and Kathy Domenicucci for the excellent job they did as the Regional Affairs Committee Reps. Their terms expired in 2005, Kathy Allbright was nominated to replace Stella Sargent and Roberta Lynch was nominated to replace Kathy Domenicucci.

Kathy Allbright attended the 2006 Regional Affairs Committee Meeting but did not return to Vermont in time for the VSWGA spring meeting, she will report at a later date.

Tournament Procedures - Kathy Allbright is the Tournament Procedures Chair person and will assist with all VSWGA Tournaments. Suzanne Neville wants to learn more about the Host Course VSWGA rotation tournament contracts.

Rules - Shari Pfannenstein will have a rule’s seminar at Crown Point on June 4, 2006 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Other locations will be Proctor-Pittsford, Neshobe and Green Mountain National (for members only). Shari is preparing a Hard Card on the VSWGA rules of competition for all events. Each course will still be responsible for preparing a local rule sheet.

More people should become involved in the rules and it would be a good idea if the VSWGA formed a Rules Committee.

Bookkeeping - Jeanne DiBattisto was unable to attend the meeting.

2006 Tournament Updates:

Tri-State - Hosted by Hanover, N.H., June 28 & 29 - The Application Postmark date is May 1, 2006 with a closing date of May 26, 2006. Total entry fees will be $85. ($60. Tournament $25. Team shirts) with a mandatory practice round and banquet dinner.

NEWGA - Sunday River Country Club, ME, July 11, 12 & 13, 2006. Nothing new.

Seniors - Enosburg Falls, VT, July 19 & 20, 2006.

Amateur - Ralph Myers GC, Middlebury VT, August 8, 9 & 10, 2006. Nothing new. Concern was raised regarding Enosburg Falls hosting the 2007 Amateur. There was some doubt regarding the 17^th hole but the board was reassured the tees could be moved.

Mid-Am - Crown Point Country Club, Springfield, VT, September 16 & 17, 2006. Nothing new.

Juniors - The Links at Lang Farm, Essex, VT, Dates to be determined.

VSWGA Office

Arlington - The Arlington home office was approved by the USGA. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All files should be consolidated. Mary Corey will bring the historical secretary files to the next meeting. Financial files must be kept for 3 years. State Day files, no requirements, but Suzanne recommended keeping at least one year.

Chelsea System - The Chelsea System is scheduled to be upgraded this year. Jim Bassett suggested checking into The Blue System, this system is supposed to be three systems rolled into one (Handicap, TPP and Chelsea). We must tread lightly with the USGA if we replace our current handicap system. The systems investigation committee will be Suzanne Neville, Shari Phannenstein, Tracy Sloan, Harriet Parrot. The Chelsea System analyst wants a firm commitment by August 2006. All research and decisions must be completed prior to confirming this upgrade.

Trophies:- Elizabeth has not purchased the Pat Job Trophy or the Margaret Dick Trophy. Estimated cost will be $1,200. to $1,500. Each. Elizabeth is planning to look on e-bay for antique silver bowls. Cheryl recommended purchasing a trophy base for each bowl, the bowls could be engraved with the Trophy name while the base would be engraved with the year and winners name.

VGA Scramble Tournament: The VGA Scholarship Scramble is a men’s and women’s annual tournament
that will be held Thursday, August 17, 2006 at Crown Point. The VSWGA will sponsor one four-person team based on a lottery draw. The team selection will entail an initial lottery draw to select two-people from each club. A final lottery draw will select the four-member team. If applying for the VSWGA lottery team, please send your application to: Kathy Allbright, PO Box 272, Meriden, NH 03770.

Shari Pfannenstein made a motion, we present the trophy to the winners and after the pictures are taken the trophies will be collected for engraving. Motion carried.

Missy Jasmine’s relatives said she requested that all donations on her behalf be given to the girls junior golf program.

Nominating Committee - The Nominating Committee must work during the summer months. Sue Ginnett will be the chair person, someone from the north, central and south should be selected for the committee.

Cheryl Hoar said the Burlington Country Club Board was receptive to hosting the rotation VSWGA tournaments for two years only. The VSWGA board recommended the Amateur and Mid-Amateur but Cheryl thought there could be a problem with hosting the Amateur. BCC has their Mc Andrews Member Guests’ tournament mid August. The Amateur would end and the Mc Andrews would begin the following day. This could present a problem for their members.

GPS Devices - Distance Measuring Devices are not legal according to the USGA rules. Beginning 2006 USGA added to their appendix that a local rule could be used authorizing the use of Distance Measuring Devices. Devices measuring slope and grade are not authorized.

Shari Pfannenstein made a motion that devices measuring distance could be used in all State Day and VSWGA events. Motion carried. One Opposed - Pat Job felt it should be tested prior to passing.

Elizabeth Walker made a motion to rewrite The Corporate Resolution to remove Linda Duncan’s name and add Tracy Sloan. The change in the Corporate Resolution will allow the bank to give Tracy Sloan signature authority to the VSWGA bank account. Motion carried.

Closest to the Pin - The number of holes and divisions will vary from course to course. Participants will not win cash but receives pro shop credit. The contribution’s breakdown is half going to the winner and the other half goes to the General Fund. (The Junior Program matching fund donation is made from the General Fund).

Skins - Pro Shop Credit only. The gift certificates will be sent to the person that wins.

The Club Reps should be responsible for reporting the Closest to the Pin and Skins winners to Suzanne Neville along with the tournament results. Suzanne will record information and forward to Cindy for posting on the VSWGA web site.

Shari Pfannenstein asks if she should continue making Flags for the Championships. Each winner will receive the eighteenth hole tournament flag. The board agreed it was a nice gesture and should be continued.