2021 Newsletter

Fellow and Prospective Members,

As I look out my window at a white landscape I’m reminded that it was only a few weeks ago that I still had my clubs in the car ready for the next playable day. So much for that thought. I hope this Newsletter finds you and yours healthy and looking forward to the upcoming season at BFR. On January 23rd the Executive and Tournament Committees along with Barry Wilson, Jim Becker, and Jay Dennis met to discuss their and our plans for 2021. I’d like to take this time to elaborate on them but before I do I’d like to thank each of you for continuing to support the Men’s Club and BFR. It was a challenging year, with a halting start, but golfing was one of the few activities we could safely enjoy and it was hugely important that we were able to spend time with friends and acquaintances, albeit at a distance. We had 95 members in 2020 and we averaged over 60 players weekly in our events. That’s the highest percentage of participation we’ve ever enjoyed!

Some key takeaways from the meeting are noted below so I hope you’ll take a few moments to familiarize yourself with these and other important information about the coming season.

• The course will remain as 27 holes this year with no construction projects scheduled other than course maintenance.

• BFR Management has significantly increased this year’s maintenance budget. They have tripled the amount to be spent on crabgrass control, and approved course-wide liming as well as a continuation of the tree and brush removal started this fall. Most importantly, the irrigation system that I reported last year was fixed has undergone significant repair and enhancement and we’ve been assured is now fully operational. A working system will allow the maintenance department to achieve Management’s commitment to faster smoother greens, consistent fringes, and well maintained tees on a consistent basis this year.

• The Bar and Restaurant will be run by BFR Management this year. Renovations are being completed this winter in anticipation of a fully open facility at some point during the season. A grill area for burgers and hot dogs will be constructed adjacent to #9 White for take away orders. The initial plan is to be open between 10-2 on weekends. New beverage carts have been purchased and will be roaming the course earlier than they have been in the past.

News

The following slate of Officers was elected at our annual meeting following the Fall Classic last year.

Executive Board

President – Stephen Young

Vice President – Jim Clark

Treasurer – Paul Pedemonti

Secretary – Barry Kleinberg

2021 Season Passes and Men’s Club Greens Fees: Barry Wilson has advised us that Greens Fees for Men’s Club Events in 2021 will be $30 for walkers and $40 with a cart. This is a huge discount from the $59 that the public pays on the weekends. Full Memberships are also available for $1000 plus cart fees. If you purchase a Full Membership and join the MC you will pay a significantly discounted rate of $10 per round per person for your cart anytime you play. Please note that Men’s Club dues are NOT included in the price of this membership so please be sure to send your application and check to the address listed on the website. In addition for the first time ever Chits earned in MC events can be used to pay for carts as well as merchandise.

Tee Times: In 2021 the Men’s Club will have exclusive tee times between 8:00-10:00 for our events. In 2020 over 85% of us teed off during this time slot and by keeping the Front Nine empty ahead of us until 8:00 we will enable the maintenance crew a better window to work on the course without interference. Those who need to play outside of this guaranteed time slot can still do so but a tee time may only be available if you book 8 days or more before the event. Since tee times outside of our block will be filled by the public you can expect to be merged into public play if you choose this option. The EC and TC will be working closely with the Pro shop to minimize the number of open or partially filled tee times within our block so there are ample slots for all of our members. This means that singles and twosomes may be called and asked to join another group to open times for our members. Jay will continue to send a tee time attachment out each week as a reminder of who is scheduled to play and what times or slots are still open. Please make sure you check this each week and alert the Pro Shop to any changes that are necessary.

2021 Schedule Highlights

Opening Day: This year our season starts on Saturday, April 3rd due to the following day being Easter Sunday. Call any time after March 22nd to reserve your tee time. If weather or course conditions prevent us from playing that day we’ll try again the following Sunday. I’m looking forward to seeing you there.

Match Play Championship: Sign up for the Match Play tournament will begin on May 2nd. The first 32 members who pay the $20 entry fee will be eligible. Your handicap index will determine which flight you are in and your seeding within the flight.

Club Championship: This year’s event will take place on July 10th and 11th. We will continue the 54-hole format for the Gross Division and 36 holes for the Net Divisions. In case of Division ties a 3-hole playoff for the Net Divisions and a Sudden Death playoff in the Gross Division will follow. Please remember that you must have played in a minimum of 5 Men’s Club events (including Match Play) to compete in this event.

Senior Championship: This event will be held on August 1st as a tournament within the scheduled event. Keep an eye out for details as the date approaches.

Member/Member Championship: This event is scheduled for September 11th & 12th.

Fall Classic: As usual this Shotgun event takes place on the first Sunday of October and is chock full of significance. It is the final POY event after which the winner is determined. It is the date for the Free Golf Shootout, and it is the date we elect Officers for the 2022 season. A great day and a lot of fun.

2020 Major Tournament Winners

Club Championship: Congratulations to Zak Alexander (G) and Paul Dooley(N) for winning their respective divisions.

Senior Championship: Bruce Kraczkowsky (G)in a playoff vs Bobby Marques and Tom Scarrozzo and Harv Sylvan (N).

Member/Member Championship: Mike Clark and Joe Dabkowski(G) and JM Woodward and JA Woodward(N)

Spring Classic: Mike Clark(G) and Rich Bronson(N)

Presidents Cup: Chris Sedgwick(G) and Don Crowe and Barney Light(N)

Fall Classic: Mike Clark(G) and JB Woodward and Jim Nardini(N)

Player(s) of the Year: Mick Robberds(G) in a playoff with Mike Clark and Paul Dooley(N).

Note: If you are new to our club or just want to make sure that

you understand our point system for determining the winners,

go to the Club Policies Tab on the home page.

Match Play Champion: Thanks to all of you who participated in this Championship. I’m happy to report that there were no significant delays or scheduling difficulties for the contestants and we had a number of new faces as flight winners. It’s a great way to qualify for the free golf shootout and to pick up some merchandise credit along the way. This year’s winners were:

A Flight – Joe Dabkowski B Flight – Brian McDermott

C Flight – Harv Sylvan D Flight – Jack Richardson

Congratulations to this year’s winner – Harv Sylvan

Free Golf Shootout: The Top 2 Gross and Top 4 Net POY earners, along with the 4 Match Play flight winners, plus the lowest Gross and Net scores from the Fall Classic (who hadn’t already qualified) are sent to White #9 to test their nerves in front of a rowdy gallery to win Free Golf for the following season. This year’s winner was Joe Dabkowski.

Views

Please Pitch In!

Everyone wants to play on a course that’s perfectly groomed and maintained and we each have a responsibility to do our part in making that happen. The grounds crew cannot fix every ball mark, replace every divot, and keep every trap raked. I ask each of you to do your part by replacing or filling more than just the divot you made, raking more of the trap than the part you were just in, and fixing as many balls marks as you can each time you play.

Tournament Eligibility

Please take a moment to familiarize yourselves with the Rules and your Responsibilities for posting eligible scores. Firstly please note that in any MC event you need to play with another MC member for your score to be eligible. In Member/Member events your partner does not count as that other member so at least one other MC member or assigned spotter is needed. There are two tournaments, the Club Championship and the Member/Member Championship, where we assign the final day pairings and tee times. The primary rationale for this rule is to allow the afternoon round in the Gross Div., or possible playoff in the Net Div., to take place without delay at an anticipated time. This allows the Club to clear space for us during public play hours and to insure that players in contention are playing together and finishing their 2nd rounds at similar times. Please note that if you miss your tee time for these CC’s you may be penalized or disqualified from the tournament.

Course Etiquette

Every year we need to remind our members that fivesomes are NOT allowed (except by permission) and that Carts should Never be driven up to and on the fringes. Both of these behaviors have been displayed by our members and are not acceptable. Thanks for everyone’s future cooperation.

Handicaps and Posting All Acceptable Scores

The EC and TC would like to remind each member that it is a club requirement to post all acceptable scores for handicap computation. This is a requirement for all match play, stroke play, 2-ball and 4-ball events (9 or 18 holes) including Men’s Club or other weekly league play as well as any and all rounds played by the Rules of Golf at home or away courses. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact any BFRMC Committee member after you have referred to the Handicap Notice under the Club Info tab on website.

Housekeeping

Pro Shop Credit for New Member Referral – We offer a $25 golf shop credit for members who refer a new member to us. You will only receive credit if the person you refer puts your name on his paid application in the space provided and hasn’t been a member during the last 3 years.

Redeeming Pro Shop Credit

One of the benefits of playing in the Men’s Club is the opportunity to win Pro Shop credit. Any unused credit you have from last year can be used until May 1st of this year for products in the shop or for orders you place by then with the staff.

Dues

2021 Membership Dues

$160 - Regular Members (30 and over)

$ 95 - Junior Members (18-29)

Please note that if your completed application and dues are not received by March 15th we cannot guarantee that you will have an active handicap in time for our first tournament.

If you have or wish to maintain a handicap thru another course or entity please contact us for details regarding your dues.

All members in good standing have exclusive access to the following:

o Guaranteed Sunday Morning Tee Times

o Certified USGA Handicap

o Entry into all of the 31 Weekly Men’s Club Tournaments with:

o Multiple divisions of play based on established handicaps

o Gross and Net Payouts for all divisions

o Points toward BFRMC Gross and Net Player of the Year award

o Eligible for entry into the BFRMC Match Play Championship

o Chance for entry into the BFRMC Free Golf Shootout

Hole in One Insurance (first premium) – Membership dues include $5.00 to cover up to $175 of a bar tab per H-I-O in a Men’s club event. If the fund is exhausted during the season a notice will be sent to all members to alert them to the need to make a supplement payment to extend their protection of coverage.

Lastly, on behalf of the Executive Board and Tournament Committee, I’d like to thank each of you for supporting the Men’s Club and allowing us to manage its affairs. We encourage you to reach out to us with your thoughts, suggestions, and ideas and look forward to seeing you this year.

Stephen Young - President