Coakley-Russo Memorial Golf Course Plans Course Work, Handicap Improvements Through Budget Challenges

A lack of rain has been just the next item on the list to cause some concern for the managers of the Coakley-Russo Memorial Golf Course, who are preparing for a larger than average water bill in the upcoming cycle, according to Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Gander.

The Bernards Township Golf Advisory Committee, responsible for governing the township owned course, met on Monday, July 19 for their third scheduled meeting of the year to discuss various improvements despite budgetary pressures.

The course has sold 930 out of 1,000 memberships to date, which is similar to the amount of memberships sold by around mid-July last year as well, according to Gander. All but 136 members are Bernards Township residents, but a lack of new members has caused a drop in initiation fees and total revenue.

Gander reported the course was behind about $10,000 from their 2009 revenue pace, although she stressed that due to a variety of factors, the revenue gap is not as bad as it could be. "Ten thousand is really not that bad considering the way the economy has been going," Gander said. Gate revenues are also up this year, and members have bringing large numbers of guests, according to Gander and Jack McGrath, Golf Operations Supervisor for the course. The committee expressed a desire to try to recruit guests to become full members to help build revenue heading into next season.

Scheduled Maintenance

The committee said that the course was in great condition considering the weather, but planned a few minor maintenance projects for the next few weeks.

New drainage work will be done on hole number seven, and the bridge on the right side on hole number five when walking down the hill will be repaired or replaced. The Parks Department had a township engineer examine all of the bridges on the course, and only one was deemed in need of structural work.

Handicap Accessibility

The committee also reviewed a recently completed a report by a professional specializing in compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) to determine how the course could be more friendly to those with disabilities.

As a result of the report, the course will add three handicap parking spaces to the course parking lot, which currently has no handicap spaces. Course employees operating the caddyshack will be given special instructions on providing service to disabled guests outside building, and course weather shelters will be updated to become more disability friendly.

The biggest potential change could come from the purchase of a single-rider golf cart intended for disabled golfers who cannot walk the course. The course currently does not allow golf carts, but an exception can be made for disabled guests. The carts cost upward of $6,000, and some members of the committee expressed concern over the price tag amounting to a significant investment for the course.

"You can purchase a $6,000 golf cart now, or incur thousands of dollars in legal fees later," Gander told the committee.

The committee eventually decided that despite the costs or legal pressures, providing the service to the community, especially considering the high population of seniors and disabled residents at the Veterans' Administration facility immediately adjacent to the course, outweighs any of the negative aspects. Gander said she would explore cost saving options to acquiring one of the carts.

Tee Closures

The Veterans' Administration complex, which leases the golf course land to the township, is rebuilding a steam line that will intersect holes four and five on the course. The VA has not given the course operators an official time period for construction, although the work is predicted to be done in the fall of 2010.

While the construction occurs, a ten-foot fence will be erected on part of the course meaning the blue and white tees on hole 5 will be unplayable for a period of time. Members of the course will be informed about the change once more information and a timetable is known.