Questions raised over golf tournament fees

RANDOLPH – Golf course fees drove a lively discussion during the claims part of the July 6 Randolph City Council meeting.

Council member Janelle Biernbaum mentioned several Randolph Community Golf Course members recently have expressed concerns to her.

“There is some inequity among some of the tournaments,” Biernbaum said, noting the city’s golf board has waived course fees for one tournament and not other ones.

She noted if the golf course fees are waived for one tournament, they should be waived for all of them.

“They’re not making the profits they need to be” making in order for the golf course to continue operating as it is, Biernbaum said, adding the city helps pay for one of the clubhouse staff members’ wages.

Specifically, the city of Randolph pays $15 of the $17-per-hour wage full-time clubhouse coordinator Nichole Meyer makes while the cityowned golf course pays the remaining $2.

Council member Ted Stubbs, RCGC’s tournament director, responded to Biernbaum’s comments.

“I find it really interesting that people approach you and they don’t talk to me,” Stubbs said. “I just don’t understand that. I never hear comments like that.”

The golf competition that has had the course fees waived was this year’s Brian and Dan Tunink Memorial Golf Tournament, which was held on May 22 by Knights of Columbus Council 5143 of Randolph.

“Part of the reason that I think the (golf) board did that or decided to do that was simply because of who the tournament was for and why the tournament was held and where the money was going,” Stubbs said.

Biernbaum responded by saying she mentioned the RCGC members’ concerns to the council because they were brought to her attention.

“I’m not saying anything against you,” she said to Stubbs.

Biernbaum later added, “All I said was I would bring it up. That’s all I said, and I feel like I brought it to” the other council members’ attention.

Randolph City Administrator/Clerk Ben Benton asked Biernbaum whether she would feel comfortable pointing people who approach her with golf tournament concerns in Stubbs’ direction.

“I would be more than happy to do that,” Biernbaum said.

Stubbs noted he is ready and willing to answer questions and address concerns people have about the golf course’s tournaments.

“I have no problem with that,” he said.

Stubbs explained he is in charge of “basically every tournament” that takes place at RCGC and “how things get paid out.”

“I don’t deal with the Knights of Columbus because they pretty much run their own tournament,” he said. “We close the course, but we charge them for closing the course anyway. We don’t charge them per person.”

Biernbaum asked Stubbs whether the golf course-closing fee was waived for the Knights of Columbus’ memorial tournament.

Stubbs noted he did not think that particular fee was waived, but he added he would have to check with Bill Schmit, the golf board’s president, on that.

Biernbaum reiterated she was asked to bring up the RCGC members’ concerns and she felt she appropriately satisfied that request by bringing them up at the council meeting for a discussion.

Council president Dennis Bazata mentioned 100 percent of the proceeds from the Knights of Columbus’ memorial tournament went to the city’s new ambulance fund.

“I don’t have a problem with any of that,” Biernbaum said. “I’m just saying I was asked.”

Bazata, the financial secretary for Knights of Columbus Council 5143, noted more money than what the nonprofit organization actually raised from the memorial tournament – an overall total of $12,281 – went to the city’s new ambulance fund.