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Annual Members Meeting 2025

President’s Message AMM 2025

Our Club has enjoyed the benefits of financial success, especially over the last six years.  As you may remember, we have used those funds to reinvest heavily in our course, property and facilities, including:

  • new tee decks - enabling enjoyment and challenge by a broad level of abilities and skills, 

  • refurbished bunkers,

  • significant irrigation improvements,

  • paving, bridges, and … more.

 

This past year was yet another good year financially, and we saw substantial course investment once again.  Our major projects included:

  • Range netting - to capture more practice shots while also improving player safety

  • Reduced cart traffic on the range - enabling an expanded teeing area

  • Expanded Gold and Black tee decks on hole #’s 14 and 17

  • A completely revamped 16th green – enlarged and with a reduced slope.  Definitely something to look forward to once it is ready for play.

And, I hope those of you that use Power Carts have enjoyed our new GPS-enabled fleet of Club Cars.

 

The Club also recently invested in new equipment, such as the needed replacement of our greens mowers and greens roller.

 

Additional highlights from 2024 include:

  • The first ever Canadian U15 championship which showcased our Elmira Golf Club.  Special thanks to our greens crew, the golf shop and many of you who volunteered to make this a success!

  • We continued to tweak the slate of member events – with a goal to offer something that would appeal to most, if not all, of us.  A special thanks to our Games Committee and Adam, our Head Pro!   

 

After much discussion this past fall, taking into consideration the Club’s then good financial position and the inflationary pressures on our members, your Board decided to keep membership fees at 2024 levels for this new 2025 golf year.   While it’s a welcome respite for all of us, as you might guess, that is likely not sustainable given continuing operating and longer-term expense pressures.

Looking around and listening to various suggestions, it seems that there is an endless list of potential improvements, upgrades and facility maintenance items.

A brief survey shows: an aging maintenance shed; a cart shed that is too small and not equipped for electric carts should we choose, or be forced, to go in that direction; a near future septic system repair or upgrade; a desire to pave the remainder of the parking lot; and so on.

When your Board considered the budget for 2025, there were enough good project possibilities that we could once again spend our entire forecasted earnings … and then some.  But clearly, that would leave us with no extra funds for any potential major expenditures.  To be prudent, and in the Club’s longer term best interest, the Board agreed on a spending pause for major items, while still investing in necessary changes and maintenance.

So, I am excited to share with you that your Board launched a new ad hoc Long-Range Planning Committee this past January.  The Committee is comprised of two Board members, Michael Lanteigne and Bill Traut, our General Manager, Jeremy Logel, and Douglas Stewart, a member who brings valuable engineering expertise to the table.

This committee’s purpose is to review the state of our buildings, as well as to explore multiple possible opportunities.  The desired outcome is a longer term plan, along with funding options, that can serve as a guide for future decision-making.  An interim report to the Board is scheduled for this September.

Elmira Golf Club represents a solid value proposition, as attested by our continued membership waiting list.  Our Club is strong and has a solid future, in part due to the voluntary efforts of our membership.  I sincerely believe that is something that helps set us apart.  Whether you are a member on one of our committees, help out at special tournaments and junior events, or use the divot mix bottles to repair our fairways, your efforts are noticed and contribute greatly to our Club.  So, on behalf of the Board, I thank you.

 

Your Board and our Committee structure could not work and be successful without the expertise and cooperation of our super management team.  I would like to thank our GM, Jeremey Logel, for his tireless efforts throughout the year to continually improve our already excellent Club.  Congratulations to Calum Tilley on his promotion to the vacant Greens Superintendent position.  Calum has demonstrated his commitment to course excellence throughout this past year including the course conditioning for the U15 tournament.  Adam Ferarro, our Head Pro, works behind the scenes to deliver a positive Golf Shop experience to our members and guests.  He also collaborates with the Games Committee to create and deliver an appealing menu of member events.  Finally, Andrew Brubacher, our Office Administrator expertly handles all our member and supplier transactions and provides unseen but important support to Jeremy.

Of course, your Board of Directors is also made up of volunteers.  They meet monthly as a group, as well as other multiple times throughout the year as they do the work of their assigned committees.

As you may recall, at last year’s Annual Members Meeting we introduced and passed new By-laws for our Club.  Newly incorporated within those By-laws was the concept of a 3-year term for Directors, as well as a limit of three consecutive terms.  As a result, this Annual Meeting will see the departure from the Board of three valued and long-serving Directors: Pat Bishop, Lee Clemens and Clark McAlpine. Together they represent over 55 combined years of service on the Board on your and our behalf!

Pat Bishop:  Pat first joined the Board in 2002, and then served as your President for 11 years.  He returned to the Board in 2016, served as Secretary for several years, and has provided much direction with respect to Board governance and Club By-laws. Pat was an invaluable member of the committee that guided our Club through the new Ontario regulations – converting us to a member-driven club from one that had shareholders, and thus retaining our not-for-profit status.

 

Clark McAlpine:   Clark has been a fixture on the Board – in a good way - first joining in 1996 for six years and then after a couple years off he was elected as a Director again in 2008.  Clark has served as our Secretary officially for the last 4 years, but actively recorded our meeting minutes for several years before that.    It’s a challenging job to be the minute-taker as well as contribute to the discussion – and he has certainly been up to that challenge.  Clark has demonstrated a passion for our course as a member of the Greens Committee during those same 23 years, serving as Chair of that Committee since 2012.

 

Lee Clemens:  Lee joined the Board in 2013 and has competently served as your Vice-President for the last 11 years.  Lee’s connection to the local area has been extremely helpful to the Club. It also positioned him as a valuable member of the Board’s Community and Member Relations Committee.

I have had the distinct pleasure of working closely with these dedicated individuals during my tenure on the Board.  The whole Board appreciates their experience and commitment. Your Board has evolved positively as a result.

During this last Board year Jeff Kelly reluctantly resigned due to significant time conflicts.  Jeff joined the Board in 2021 as part of the Finance Committee, and became our Treasurer the following year.  I would like to thank Jeff for his time and his valuable contributions in so many ways.

Elmira Golf Club’s By-laws enable the Board to appoint any qualified individual to a Director position mid-year.  Due to the need to fill this role in a timely manner, and prior to budget season, the Board appointed Eric Macrow as a Director for the remainder of Jeff’s term, which ends in 2027.  Eric was also then elected by the Board to the position of Treasurer.  We are pleased to have Eric as part of our team.  His financial expertise has already made an impact.

In conclusion, if you have a particular interest and some extra time please speak with a Committee or Board member to get more involved.  With our sound financial position, our strong management team, our many volunteers and our welcoming membership, the year ahead promises to be another good one for our Elmira Golf Club.

GM Report “Highlights” for 2025 from Annual Members Meeting on April 1st:

 

Following the 60th anniversary of Elmira Golf Club during the 2023 season, since being established in 1963, another special date is coming up on the 2025 calendar. The first ball was struck to open as a 9-hole golf course on June 12th, 1965. Plans to celebrate June 12th this season as the birthday of the golf course, will be planned around a member’s golf day and further details will be announced soon. Leading up to the Open House on April 12th, and opening day TBA, we are also using this special year to update or ad a few key history pieces and plaques such as:

 

  • A new welcome area to the course at the first tee includes a bronze plaque reading:

“Dedicated to all former Shareholders of Eldale Valley Golf Club Limited and Elmira Golf Club Limited March 31st, 1963 – October 11th, 2023.

The golf course opened for play on June 12th, 1965, and the club has remained as a not-for-profit since March 11th, 1974

Welcome ALL to Elmira Golf Club”

 

  • A plaque in the name of our first PGA Professional, Herb Rudney outlining all the former and current club PGA Head Golf Professionals. Also, a plaque in the name of our first Head Superintendent, James “Jim” Whibley outline all the former and current Head Superintendents.

  • It had 50 years this past summer of Jim Whibley being on the golf course. I had Jim and his wife Marilyn out for a tour, as well as a few visits to their home. After much great discussion and with the support of all, a special dedication plaque at the bridge at #15 is planned for this spring. When the course was only 9-holes, the #15 green was the original 2nd green, which ties this history of EGC, Jim and both 9’s nicely all together. Mr. Whibley’s contributions of over 10 years are included in the plaque which reads:

 

“The Whibley Bridge”

James “Jim” Whibley

Golf Course Construction Supervisor

Planner and Greens Superintendent of Eldale Valley Golf Club from 1963-1973

It has taken along time to get this point in history, and I’m thankful we can celebrate these important contributions by Mr. Whibley and the sacrifices of his wife Marilyn.

 

  • Other update this season also include various Club Championship Board, Course Records, Framed Prints, trophy case and a history area on the website. Also, coming soon will be the details about a new Club Volunteer plaque.

 

Equipment additions also include a new Whistler mower (used for cutting down the naturalized areas), fertilizer spreader, and a new Range Picking Cart. Internally, kitchen flooring, main computer server, copier, washroom fans, security cameras, front garden addition, #3 & #8 tee sign area upgrade, a new property locking system, painting, fire plan, and updated staff manuals are also underway or completed.

 

The major project for 2025 on course will be the opening of #16 green, along with #14 gold and black tees, #17 gold & black tees after the fall renovation. It’s too early yet to confirm how the winter treated these newly sodded areas or to predict an opening. For now, and once open, we will play off a temporary tee for #14 gold black. #17 tee we may have a couple of options and will confirm closer to opening. For #16 green, a temporary green will be maintained at the end of the fairway. The tee-blocks for #16 will also go back one set during this time to assist with yardage and safety, example, bronze to Silver, Silver to Gold and Gold with Black.

 

After hosting two major events in 2023, the Ontario U17’s and this past 2024, the Canadian U15’s, EGC is again stepping up with another group of dedicated members to volunteer as we take the pride of EGC and of our country on to the world stage and the PGA Tours, 2025 RBC Canadian Open. We will have an entire hole marshaled all week by members of Elmira Golf Club led by Adam Ferraro, Lisa Bauman and Bruce Kingsbury.

 

Some key events on the scheduled this season include: a one-day qualifier in August on a Thursday for the Ontario Mens & Sr Mens Better Ball – which will provide another opportunity for volunteers as well as we believe a great event for some of our own members to compete! We are also hosting a one-day Tee-It-Up Junior Tour event on a Monday in July and the final round of the WCCSAA Highschool championships on a Tuesday in September.

 

The Games Committee lead by Olivia Richards have some exciting events planned for this year including a new date for the Member Guest and the RBC Scramble qualifier. The handicap sub committee of the Games has also reviewed and updated the handicap holes through Golf Canada. These changes will be outlined in the new scorecards and more detail on these results from the committee is coming soon. Enhancements are also planned for our own Junior Program including a Jr Interclub, orientation, clinics, league and various events through the games committee lead by Clinton Rayfield and Adam Ferraro.

 

The membership waiting list total of our 4 key categories being Adult, Intermediate, Flex and Junior Program, continues to sit at over 200 total persons. In most cases it’s a 2-year wait and longer.

 

We will have two new key staff joining us for this season in each department. Tyler Buder, Golf Shop Operations, who plans to join the PGA of Canda as an assistant professional, in the near future. Olivia Gregga has been hired as a Lead Hand-Supervisor in Turf Operations with plans to become an Assistant Superintendent, also in the near future.

 

Thank you to three long time Committee and Board Members who are stepping down after this meeting: I have had the pleasure or working closely with each of these gentlemen, and their dedication, commitment and time spent on Elmira Golf Club has been a major contribution. Thank you to Lee Clemens, Clark McAlpine and Pat Bishop.

 

Thank you for attending, to our many Volunteer members, our Board, Committees and to the great management team we have at this great club.

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2025

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