town hall video recording
Please click the video to view the full Town Hall Presentation, along with the Q&A.
If you have any questions or feedback regarding the Town Hall, please reach out to your General Manager, Eric Thorsteinson, at ethorsteinson@silverspringsgolfclub.com. Thank you!
PROJECT OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES
Over the summer, the Board and its Committees have been working diligently to address the critical need to replace our aging irrigation system, which remains the Club's top priority.
Since last fall’s vote, the Board established a dedicated project team, led by Vice President Rod Maier, to review the irrigation proposal and conduct thorough due diligence. As this project exceeds $250,000, it requires approval from two-thirds of voting shareholders to proceed. That vote will take place on October 17th.
Taking the learnings from last year’s vote and other successful irrigation projects, and supported by the extensive work of select committees, the Board has developed a revised irrigation proposal. This revised proposal reduces the cost, financial impact and impact on play to members, and incorporates feedback from previous consultations.
The opportunities that have been focused on throughout this proposal includes:
- Delivering a modern and efficient irrigation system that enhances courses conditions, turf health, and member experience
- Reducing the impact on member play during irrigation construction
- Minimizing the financial burden on members
- Enhancing our water stewardship efforts as a Club
- Signaling our steadfast commitment to continual improvement and investing in the Club
This webpage is a dedicated source for the project for members to review and gather information on leading up to the vote. The shareholder vote will be on October 17th, 2024, where members can vote in-person, or through our online proxy, which will be released prior to the vote.
It is imperative that all members understand the project and participate in the voting process. Thank you for taking the time to engage in this project and for the ongoing passion you show for your Club.
CURRENT SYSTEM DEFICIENCIES
- Failing Components: Various components of the system, including valves, glue joints, PVC piping, and sprinkler heads continue to experience leaks or failures.
- Poor System Performance: The current system suffers from poor, uneven, and inefficient water distribution, lacking the ability to control different water requirements between different areas of microclimates (i.e., sun and shade; high and low areas).
- Increasing Costs: Repair costs, increased maintenance demand, and supplementary watering contribute to rising costs each year.
- Increased Water Consumption: Silver Springs averages nearly 29 million gallons (110 million litres) of water consumption per season. The Club has a responsibility to demonstrate responsible water stewardship, which is challenged by the inefficiencies of our current system.
- Discontinued Parts: The system includes a multitude of different sprinkler heads that are largely discontinued, resulting in replacements that are difficult to source or are not available.
- Insufficient Isolation Valves: This limits the ability to complete simple repairs without significant disruption.
- No As-Built Drawings: Without accurate diagrams, locating and addressing specific issues becomes challenging and delays necessary repairs.
MODERN SYSTEM BENEFITS
- Improved Water Distribution: A new system will provide greater and more uniform control, ensuring water is distributed efficiently across the course. This will eliminate current issues with dry areas and the need for supplementary watering, and areas that over-watered by the current system. In turn, this will significantly improve the overall health, playability, and aesthetics of the course by maintaining healthier and more consistent turf.
- Reduced Water Consumption: With more precise control, we expect to reduce water consumption by 12-18%.
- Lower Operating & Maintenance Costs: Failures and leaks are common, disruptive to play, and costly to repair. A modern, reliable and efficient system will operate at a lower pressure to reduces wear and tear on components and decrease power usage. This will lead to lower operating and maintenance costs and reduced risk of failures in the system.
- More Efficient Use of Resources: With a new system in place, our turf care team can shift focus from frequent irrigation repairs and maintenance to improving the fit and finish of the course.
- Outdated Components: Many parts of our existing system, such as valves, joints, piping, and sprinkler heads, are failing or becoming increasingly difficult to source due to obsolescence. A new system will replace this aging infrastructure, ensuring we can continue to provide excellent course conditions.
Maximizing member play is a critical factor in evaluating irrigation construction options. The Board has evaluated two potential options for scheduling the irrigation construction work. Significant engagement has taken place with a number of potential contractors, but the final approach will be confirmed through the contracting process that would take place following a positive vote from members.
Below is an overview of the approach:
- Goal: Maximize the number of playable holes during construction
- Target: 18 holes in play for the majority of the construction period
- Only 1 hole out of play at a time (9-day duration, pending contractor verification)
- Use Short Game Area as a temporary 19th hole during disruptions
- No additional cost premium for maximizing playability included in project estimates
- Project Duration: Conduct construction from August 1 until mid-late October over 2 seasons
- Hole Closures: 1 hole will be taken out of play at a time for 9 days during construction
- Project Disruption: Full play from start of season to August 1 (excluding any early season impacts from prior year work)
- 19th Hole Utilization: Short Game Area will serve as a temporary replacement for closed holes
- Project Schedule: Tight project schedule with limited contingency unless an earlier start date is selected
COST OVERVIEW
Estimated Cost Project: $3.2MM
Estimate includes 15% contingency and 3% escalation
Since last year’s proposal, the Board and its Committees have worked significantly to lower the project cost and financial impact on members. The total project cost has been reduced from ~$3.7 million dollars last year to ~$3.2 million for the proposed irrigation project. This lower estimate includes the removal of any course enhancement costs, reduced project management and consulting fees, while maintaining a 15% contingency factor, and a slight increase in irrigation system costs.
FUNDING SOURCES
The funding is based on structuring, financing, and reporting the irrigation replacement as a standalone project. The project cost breakdown consists of 50% financed by bank debt, and 50% from club equity. The proposed funding model for the project consists of three (3) financing sources:
Shareholder Assessment
Facility Improvement Fee
Bank Debt
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Irrigation System Course Tour: With Lance Morris, Golf Course Superintendent
Watch Video
Irrigation Project Video Update: Ways to Stay Informed with Rod Maier, Vice President and Irrigation Project Coordinator
Watch Video
President's Address: August 2024
Watch Video
Article: Golf Course Life Cycles
Learn More
Silver Springs Master Plan
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