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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 t.FA 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 Land Bank Commission Page 2 ^ 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 Land Bank Commission Page 3 `._ 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 Land Bank Commission Page 4 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 1 j •