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Web Site
As some of you are aware our website was hacked last Thursday night. The cause of the compromise was a vulnerable 3rd party plugin that 1-2-1 Marketing utilizes. Fortunately they became aware of the issue quickly and were able to address it and apply a patch that same evening. They then rolled back our website to the previous backup taken, which was from 2AM that morning. No member credentials were exposed because of a double layer encryption and salting applied to all user credentials. Additionally the member statement/tee time data resides on a different server (CPS) and their system is completely independent of 1-2-1 Marketing and was in no way exposed.
Club House
Making your golf experience the best possible at the most reasonable cost is the first priority of the Board and the entire Staff. We are continuously exploring ways to improve and keep BSCC the “Capitol Districts Best Golf Course Value”
Most of us would agree that the quality of our clubhouse no longer matches the quality of our golf course. Many times in the past the options of improvement or replacement have been considered. During the last look in 2007 major changes were looked at and found to be not economically feasible.
The Board feels that now is the time for another look. An ad-hoc committee will be appointed and tasked with looking at available options to improve your golf experience. I anticipate this to be a time consuming process as they examine all options. We will update the membership as necessary as the process moves forward. Treasure Rick Funaro has been involved in the information gathering process to date. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Rick to get the latest information. As a reminder our by-laws state that we cannot incur new debt exceeding $75,000 without stockholder approval. More to follow.
What do these pictures have in common????
 
If you said they both are “Since 1925” you are correct.
Happy Birthday to our Comptroller, Al Squire, who celebrates his 90th birthday on July 14th.
When you walk by the office and see Al toiling away on the financial reports stick your head in and say “Happy Birthday and Thanks for all you do for BSCC”.
See you on the course.
Paul
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July 15, 2015
Revenue continues to increase, with the latest green fees and cart revenue up $33K over 2014. That is in increase from the $29K we were ahead last month.
Expenses are still ahead of 2014 by $25K but that is an improvement from last months $34K.
We continue to be very optimistic about how we are doing and how we expect to finish the year.
Based on the numbers to date and our financial projections for the remainder of the year, we fully expect to meet the bank requirements for our mortgage convenant for earnings.
We continue to ensure all expenditures are budgeted and we continue to track to our budget for each of the categories.
On a different note, I had the opportunity to play both Wolforts Roost and Schuyler Meadows the week of July 6th. While we can’t compete with the amenities they offer their membership, I can say without hesitation, our fairways and greens are every bit as good as theirs. My hats off to Steve and his crew for their hard work. It is paying off in our increased revenue and the quality of the tournaments that we are attracting to BSCC. I also think that has had on impact on attracting the nearly 50 new members this year.
Sincerely,
Rick Funaro,
Treasurer
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As most of you already know, this past month has been very wet. It seemed to rain almost every other day. It was a big change compared to the month of May which only gave use an inch or so the whole month. We were irrigating almost the entire course each day for a while. Of course when it did start to rain it poured and we went from one extreme to the next. It has been a real challenge keeping up with mowing with all the rain. The grass really gets growing when you have plenty of moisture and heat. Overall, I think we are keeping up with all the mowing and the course is in pretty good shape. I am sure you would agree with me that a saturated course is not fun to play. It also makes my job much more challenging. The wet areas of the course are not mowable and are unpassable for golf carts. I would ask that everyone please keep their golf carts off of these wet areas. Driving on them causes ruts and ruts are a very hard thing to fix. Compaction of saturated soils is a serious problem that has long term consequences. Turf grass needs oxygen in the soils to be able to have a good root system. If the soil is all compacted then the grass will start to thin out and eventually die. We are trying to give you the best conditioned golf course in the area. So please keep your carts off the wet areas of the fairways. I want to try something different to protect your fairways. New signs are ordered and will be placed out onto fairways to designate where the wet areas are. When you see these signs you will exit the fairway and keep your cart in the rough or on the cart path for the remainder of hole. This club spends around annually $50,000 on maintaining these fairways. Lease payments on mowers, pesticides, fertilizer, divot mix, seed, aerification, labor for mowing, spraying, etc. are all expenses that accrue to give you the nice fairways that you play on daily. So please think as an owner and please take care of your course.
Another question that I have been asked this past month is about the material that I am spraying frequently. I am sure most of you have seen me on the John Deere spray rig that we purchased a few years ago. When it is hot and humid I am usually spraying some sort of fungicide. Fungus needs a host plant and moisture and heat. When the weather turns humid it is time to spray fungicides. I take a proactive approach to dealing with this problem and spray preventively and keep a light rate of fungicide out there before the disease really takes hold. I am hopeful that Mother Nature is kind to us this season and we don’t get a long spell of extreme conditions. It just makes it more of a challenge and more expensive when we have to spray or run pumps to irrigate with. In a perfect world we would have warm less humid days and cool nights with little rain every few day during the season. The rain would come at night of course.
Golf Genius
As we all get familiar with the Golf Genius Tournament software program, I would like to answer a few questions that have recently been asked. If players are participating in a format that allows their scores to be recorded in the program, there is no need to post your score to the GHIN system. We will do that for you and it will automatically do the necessary Equitable Stroke Control adjustment so that your score will be posted. If it a 9 hole score, the same applies. 9 hole scores may not show up on the GHIN but will be combined with another 9 hole score when another 9 hole score is waiting in the balance. There is no need to post your score to duplicate as we post all of the league scores and event scores to the players GHIN.
Outside Events
We would like to thank all for your patience in allowing the outside events that we have had this season on other days than Mondays as it is crucial to Ballston Spa Country Club to meet our budgeting needs and keep the dues structure in tact. As we all fight for members out there in the golf industry, we do our best to balance the mix of outside events with members.
Calendar of Events
We once again are reminding all to use our website for all Events that happen at the club. All golf and non golf events that happen at Ballston Spa Country Club will be posted to the site on the calendar. This makes it easier for all to know when events are happening for the season. There is a brief description of the event and the time of the happening.
Golf Tip for the Month
One important fundamental in the game of golf is Alignment. It is a key part of hitting a good golf shot. There are times when you may hit a straight shot but it may be left or right of the actual target. Your body may have been pointed in that direction before you ever started your backswing. Take the extra 10 seconds to pick out a point between your ball and the target where you are actually trying to hit your golf shot. I think you will be amazed at the results. The direction your body FEELS like your pointing is not always the reality of where you are pointing. And last but certainly not least, DO NOT forget about your short game. Very important part of the game.
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With all the rain we have had in the past month, we have had some problems with players in carts causing damage on the golf course. This is even occurring when we are using "cart path only" rules. We are asking all players to please follow the signs that are posted on the course. The course Superintendent and Golf Pro decide when "cart path only" applies. Please take care of our course. Thanks.
The spruce tree on the left side of the 4th tee was infected with the same disease that was found in the trees on the left of the 7th tee. That tree has been removed.
It was noted that the 9th tee is in much better condition since the trimming of the arborvitae behind the tee. Those trees will be closely monitored to insure they remain healthy and the tee continues to improve.
In an effort to maintain the quality and continuity of course grounds, the Green Committee would like to offer some suggestions and pricing for a memorial marker for loved ones. This has been approved by the Greens Committee and the BoD.
You may wish to have a sapling planted, including plaque, the price range is $400 - $600.
We need to replace some of the older pines on the course and new hardwoods or ornamentals would be a living memorial and a great addition to the course.
A bronze plaque may be ordered to be installed on one of our many rock walls or standing rocks at this rate:
5” X 7” bronze (in loving memory of…) $140
6” X 9” bronze (wording as space allows) $210
8” X 10” bronze (wording as space allows) $275
With limited space, benches are available but we would ask that you purchase them through the Green Committee. The bench we suggest is more durable, with limited maintenance requirements and would include a plaque. The bench is about $650.
Inquires for memorial purchases should be made though Laura, in the office. She will forward the request to the Green Committee for you.
Thank you
Bob Miskanin
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Now that we are in full Summer mode, the golf course is in great shape and we’re in full swing with club and outside tournaments.
The President’s Cup Tournament was held on June 14th, and was won by Stan Walkanowski in the men’s division, and Susan Kahler in the women’s division.
The Men’s Member Guest was a great success, with a record turnout for the event. Results as follows:
Augusta Flight 1st Place- Roger Laime/ Jim Splaine
Cypress Point Flight 1st Place- Bill Tucker/ Jim Fisher
Murfield Flight 1st Place- Chris Kieper/ Colin Kieper
Pine Valley Flight 1st Place- Dean Donovan/ Henry Mahoney
Royal County Down Flight 1st Place- Keith McNab/ Doug Breakall
Royal Dornoch Flight 1st Place- Mike Farina/ Jim Hopsicker
Royal Melbourne Flight 1st Place- Joseph Kerbelis/ Dave Rosebrooke
Shinnecock Hills Flight 1st Place- Ed Hall/ Bob Haff
St Andrews Flight 1st Place- Doug Young/ Pat Shannon.
The 2nd Cocktail tasting event of the season, was held on July 3rd. Kate of Dozer’s brought in a band for the evening and a great time was had by all. The 1st place winners were the team of Gerry Todd, Beth Todd, Russ Terpenning and Barb Terpenning.
Congratulations to all who participated in these events. For complete results of all tournaments, please check the website.
Upcoming events are the Senior Club Championship to be held on July 25th and 26th, and the Men’s and Women’s Club Championship to be held on August 8th and 9th. Unfortunately the Mixed Member/Guest was cancelled due to lack of interest. If anyone is interested in chairing this event and trying to reschedule for later in the season, please contact Todd or myself.
As always, be sure to schedule your golf with the pro-shop and check with Todd or Maite if you are interested in any of the special golf clinics they are offering. Have a great Summer!!
Beth Todd
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My doctor recently suggested I get more exercise. I explained patiently (no pun intended, but there it is anyway), that I participated in a grueling sport on a regular basis. I further explained that this activity incorporated isometric, eurhythmic, callisthenic and aerobic energy, as well as some components of yoga, and the principal tenets of all major religions.
It was with a modicum of disdain, almost contempt, that the good doctor asked what sport it was that did all this for me.
Golf, I replied.
He didn't even wait until he'd stopped laughing before starting on a treatise on why golf gave me no exercise whatever. I smiled the smile of the smug and suggested he join me for a round at the course.
The next day, I was ready for Doc, after stretching and hitting balls for about an hour. He arrived at the last minute, and asked which cart he should put his clubs on. Real men walk, I answered. Real men also carry, I added, as he looked around for a pull cart. He flashed a rude finger signal at me. I perked up, pointing out to him that he had just utilized one of the more common muscle groups crucial to the game, the extensor digitorum communis. He chuckled, but it was not a rich, mirthful chuckle.
As he bent over to tee his ball up, I calmly murmured, "There's three more" and added the phrase, "rectus abdominis, obliquus extremus and gluteus medius." He glanced menacingly my way, then took his waggle and lashed out at the ball, which arced beautifully over the net protecting the first fairway from the driving range.
"Your brachialis wasn't contracted enough on that swing" I offered helpfully, “Although the flexor carpi ulnaris came through the ball quite well.” He glared. Openly.
As the round progressed, I rattled off my list of all the voluntary muscle groups known to man. By the eighth hole, his game was headed for a Stygian destination in a woven rattan carrying device. His mood was dark, trending toward a deep ebony.
By the thirteenth hole, a gem of a par five with a long steep incline that has to be negotiated, he was huffing, though not yet puffing. There was a sheen of moisture on his brow, despite the coolness of the day.
By the fifteenth, a gem of a par three with a longer, steeper incline that must be negotiated, the puffing stage kicked in. Sweat dripped into his eyes, and he was unable to participate in the witty repartee I initiated once he caught up to me at the top of the hill.
"Got a cold beer on ya, Doc?" I asked. He just wheezed in response, but mustered enough energy to exercise his extensor digitorum communis one more time.
As he lined up a three foot slider on the eighteenth green and watched it lip out, I announced, "Spenius captis and sternocleidomastoid." He wasn't about to let me get away with this one, and asked me what throat muscles had to do with a missed putt. I explained that these were key muscles used in the choke reflex, then exercised a few muscle groups of my own to avoid the ball he hurled at me.
Later, as we employed our brachioradialis to hoist a couple of beers, I explained to him that he had just walked five or six miles over hilly terrain carrying a fifteen pound weight, and had used most, if not all, of his muscle groups.
"Oh yeah?" he countered with a degree of pettiness, "What about my pectoralis minor?" That, I volunteered, was taken care of when he launched his nine iron into the pond on seventeen.
His obicularis oculi contracted dramatically, as once again he reverted to the glare.
The average golfer burns 1,400 calories and walks 5.1 miles when walking or using a push cart for 18 holes.
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