HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 15, 2021 AGENDA 144a*. 1 ° .,J" , r
Nantucket Land Bank Commission! +,.g, per{ �'``
Special Meeting of December 15, 2021
r— Sconset Golf Course,260 Milestone Roki JAN , 3 PM 2�I Nantucket,MA LL
CALL TO ORDER: 12:15 P.M.
A. CONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
1. GOLF BUSINESS
a. Sconset Golf Course Proposed Improvements—Site Tour
ADJOURNMENT
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1. 1
MINUTES
Nantucket Land Bank Commission
Special Meeting of December 15, 2021
Sconset Golf Course, 260 Milestone Road
Nantucket, MA
CALL TO ORDER: 12:15 P.M.
PRESENT: Mark Donato, Kristina Jelleme,Neil Paterson, Allen Reinhard, John Stackpole.
STAFF PRESENT: Jesse Bell, Executive Director; Eleanor Antonietti, Executive Assistant.
Sconset Golf Course ("SGC") General Manager, Alan Costa; SGC Director of Agronomy, Sean
Oberly; Morningstar Golf and Hospitality LLC, President and CEO, Matthew Galvin; SGC
Superintendent, Ryan Scotto; SGC Manager, Michael Haberl;Nantucket Engineering&Survey,
P.C.,Art Gasbarro; and Ian McNiece, were also present at call to order.
A. CONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
1. GOLF BUSINESS
a. Sconset Golf Course Proposed Improvements—Site Tour:
The purpose of the meeting was to review and understand the reasoning behind the conceptual
improvements proposed by Golf Architect, Tyler Rae, at the Sconset Golf Course through a
guided tour.
Mr. Oberly led two groups on a review of the proposed changes explaining that the redesigned
layout was meant to resolve safety concerns and improve the overall golfing experience. For ease
of reference, a more particular description of the proposed improvements, as articulated by Mr.
Rae, is incorporated herein: The following proposals are recommended by golf management
and the golf architect, and they have not been endorsed by the Land Bank Commission at this
time.
Hole#1
-Rebuild and level teeing grounds for added square footage and playability, continuing the dual
tee theme that currently exists with Hole#5
- Add attractive bunkering to enhance the player experience and impressive views from the
clubhouse off the first tee
-Expand the green, reverting to the original shape and size to accommodate more golf rounds
and enhance flag stick locations for variety during the season
Hole#2
- Add new tees, yardage, and square footage to provide more variety in tee lengths for all skill
levels
- Re-route the golf hole down the northwestern property line to provide more width and a
straighter simpler line of play tee to green. This will alleviate the boomerang, wrap-around par 5
hole that currently exists and remedy the awkward nature of the hole
,._1 - Utilizing the historic layout of the property,we regain yardage and an old hole corridor that
goes back to the 1920's and the original routing of the golf course
- This change would further elongate Hole#3 and create a pleasant, open natural savannah to
right of Hole#s 2, 3 and 4
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^ December 15, 2021
Hole#3
- Stretch the teeing grounds back close to the property corner to provide a green-to-tee scenario
which existed on the original links,restoring lost charm
- The redesigned hole will more suitably fit the landscape and gently slide left to right in the
natural terrain, creating an attractive, subtle golf hole
- At the green, we utilize an existing green pad with no need to rebuild or spend extra funding on
constructing a new green. We would like to give it a groomed look by adding tightly mown short
grass around the perimeter of this green to give players a different type of recovery shot other
than a bunker or other hazard
Hole#4
-Instead of walking over 100 yards to the next tee and then playing a dead straight golf hole that
brings Hole#1 green directly into play, we have focused on safety concerns here and have
moved the tees directly behind the third green, giving the hole an entirely new angle and shape
- Shifting the tees then gives us ample room for the new natural looking fairway bunker, which
serves to break up and slow down golf balls hit toward Hole#1 green
- The fairway is then expanded leading into the right side of the approach and green to allow all
- skill levels to run the ball up the right and roll the ball onto the green
- One bunker is found on the left side of the expanded green which will sit naturally below the
green in the landform
Hole#5
-The joined tee with Hole#1 will be expanded and leveled to accommodate more play. As it
currently sits,the teeing ground is both an eyesore and so undersized that divots have no chance
at recovery. The intention of the proposed routing is to make the flow more seamless for golfers.
Instead of heading over the current par three 5th,players come here. This allows golfers to finish
on the new Hole#9 at the Clubhouse while their friends watch them finish on the porch/deck
- We add copious amounts of drainage beyond the old watery farm ditch crossing the fairway
and bring back the old"quarry bunker" beyond the tee shot landing area
- The green is pushed back 80 yards to make this a solid par 4 and one of the better golf holes on
the course
Hole#6
- One of the simple and elegant"Victorian Era" golf holes that still exists at Sconset is found at
Hole#6. The tees gently shift west towards the property boundary giving the hole a slight dogleg
right feel
- The two existing bunkers crossing the fairway get a slight upgrade with new drainage and sand
and light shaping to keep the historical element of their placement intact
-The green gets slightly expanded to resemble its old world, squared off look of the past
Hole#7
-Hole#7 has the least amount of changes other than Hole#1
- The infrastructure of replacing and expanding current tees and bunkers is all that needs to be
done to help bring this hole back to life. At the moment it is worn out and tired looking
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December 15, 2021
Hole#8
-Another hole where not much change is proposed is Hole#8. The existing green site is
adequate and the hole just gets a shift in tee location to accommodate the new Hole#9 green site
- The watery farm ditch gets opened up and exposed
- The green shape is returned to its more classic look and two bunkers guard the right side to give
the hole more interest off the tee
Hole#9
-Utilizing the existing tee locations,the hole is vastly improved, and the green is pushed up the
hill toward the Clubhouse
-The two major existing concerns with balls dangerously flying into the road and the wettest
fairway and green on the course are alleviated by moving the green up and out of the flood zone
and further from the road
-when changing and moving this green uphill,this then gives us the potential to use the current
6th green down by the parking lot as either a short game area or practice putting green
-This creates a much better finish to the round with the Clubhouse looming over the final green
where many patrons can watch their friends and fellow golfing companions putt out and end
their games
- The uphill finale is a vast upgrade to the current Hole#6 that occupies this space, which could
be considered the weakest hole on the current course. The primary defects are that it is saturated,
a liability will balls careening into oncoming traffic, and it has a parking lot directly behind the
green,providing a less than ideal aesthetic. In addition,it gives the players a really difficult and
hazardous walk up the steep hill to the Clubhouse after putting out on the current green. We have
seen many golfers slip and fall during this trek.
- The newly proposed golf Hole#9 gently climbs the hill diagonally providing the golfer a softer
approach to hit the ball into the uphill green. We feel this is a transformational change for
Sconset that will be met with immediate approval by the golfers.
Art Gasbarro reported that a drone survey for early January 2022 had been scheduled. The
ground survey targets will be sited to assist in drone mapping the 1st week of January. He
explained that with regard to permitting, it would be best to avoid work in the buffer zones, and
the corners of the property likely would pose the biggest challenges in terms of environmental
impacts. For instance,he pointed out that there is a certified vernal pool at the end of the
proposed Hole#2 and the new tee boxes for Hole#6 may be sited in priority habitat.
There was discussion about the replacing of different types of greens (e.g., nursery greens, sod
cut out, or push-up greens). Mr. Oberly indicated that they would likely strip and cut out sod and
incorporate a"dirty sand mix". Mr. Galvin emphasized the importance of maintaining continuity
suggesting that the old greens be renovated to match the new greens.
_ Mr. Oberly indicated that the project would need to occur in phases. Mr. Galvin suggested that
the work could be phased according to discipline, i.e.,initial phase could be clearing and tree
work. Mr. Gasbarro estimated that the surveying, local and state permitting, and procurement for
the work would take at least 18 months. He indicated that he would collaborate with the design
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December 15, 2021
team in working to keep the design changes under certain regulatory thresholds.
Upon a motion made by Commissioner Jelleme and duly seconded by Commissioner Stackpole,
it was unanimously VOTED to authorize Art Gasbarro to develop and prepare an existing
conditions site plan in order for the Commission to further evaluate Mr. Rae's proposed
improvements to the Sconset Golf Course.
ADJOURNMENT: Upon a motion made by Commissioner Jelleme and duly seconded by
Commissioner Reinhard, it was unanimously VOTED to adjourn at 2 p.m.
Attested to: 01 //"
41C-R11
Mark Donato Secretary
Accepted,Approved, and Released by the VOTE
of the Commission this 11th day of January 2022.
%-1/1
Neil Paterson, Chairman
DOCUMENTS AND EXHIBITS
Nantucket Land Bank Commission
Special Meeting of December 15, 2021
1. SGC 3D Renderings of proposed changes
2. SGC Narrative of proposed changes
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