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Commission discusses pace-of-play, hazard markings and turf tee-box upgrades
Summary
Members debated how middle-school matches affect public tee times and pace of play, agreed to review hazard markings and mowing, and heard that Bloomfield turf tee-box contracts are expected and a ball-field project is slated to open mid–late November.
Commissioners spent significant time discussing how middle-school and high-school matches affect public play and pace of play across city courses, and they reviewed planned capital improvements including new turf tee boxes at Bloomfield.
Several commissioners argued that middle-school matches—often played as shotguns on the front nine—can occupy multiple holes for hours and may prevent nearby players from finishing. One commissioner said these matches ‘‘take up a lot of time’’ and urged either limiting middle‑school use of Old Fort or steering schools to courses better suited for large school matches. Commissioners discussed operational options: reserving blocks of tee times, setting a flat seasonal fee for school teams (one cited example was a $250 per‑school rate used at another city), or maintaining junior rates for high‑school competition.
Course maintenance issues were also raised. A commissioner called out specific unmarked areas (right of 16; areas between 5 and 6 and between 15 and 18) and recommended better hazard markings or mowing to speed play and reduce lost-ball searches.
On capital improvements, commissioners said Bloomfield is scheduled to receive new turf tee boxes (dimensions discussed in the meeting) pending contract completion, and a separate synthetic-field/Adamson complex project was described as due to open in mid to late November. Staff were asked to follow up on scheduling and to coordinate changes that could reduce conflicts between school matches and public play.
