Happy New Year, from Westfield GC!!! Christmas is over for 2021 and most of the decorations have been taken down. It is hard to believe New Year's Celebrations are behind us and it is already almost half way through January of 2022! Below are some notes to keep you abreast of what has been going on around Westfield since the course closed this past December...

This past December, the grounds staff, along with some volunteers, started to control burn around the ponds in an attempt to control some of the weeds, thistles, etc… Some of it was completed, and some more will have to be done before we open this spring once the grass dries a bit so it can be burned. We have purchases some new target banners for the driving range, as well as some new flags for the flagsticks to be used on the golf course. We are also getting more new mats for the driving range, to complete the mat replacement we started last spring. We are also looking to increase the size of the irons only turf part of the range along the left side, by the hedge. Grounds crew personnel have also taken out more trees which were dead from the Emerald Ash Borer. Some of this was done late fall when we were still open. Some others were taken down after we closed. Westfield GC also faired fairly well from the big wind storm we had about a month ago. We only lost a limb on one of the trees out of play on Hole #6.

The weather has not been too bad this winter, so far, with only a couple of decent cold snaps. We had a pretty long golf season in 2021, with our season lasting again into December before the weather made the course unplayable. Just so everyone knows and on the same page, the course will be closed for play until it is officially re-opened again this spring. IF we get a stretch of weather which melts the snow, we would appreciate people staying off the turf until we let you out. This will help eliminate any unnecessary damage to the tees, fairways, and greens. The turf is extremely vulnerable to damage coming out of the winter, than it is going into the winter, since the thawing turf is soft.

If you are looking to have any club repair/re-gripping of clubs done over the winter, please feel free to bring those in! I can do grips now, at least for a while, until we have to temporarily store merchandise for the Motor Parts and Equipment trade show, which usually takes the entire building, and is going on as scheduled, from my understanding. That happens on the first Wednesday in March. Carpets will be cleaned right after that show is completed, and then the Pro Shop will be set up again for the 2022 Season.

If you would like to take care of your 2022 Season Pass early, before the course opens, we can do that! Just stop by the Pro Shop and we can take care of that for you! That way, you can be ready to play when the course opens in the spring and can avoid any lines in the Pro Shop from those paying their Season Passes on the first day(s) of play.

With Judy’s final retirement this past October, I will definitely be looking for help in the Pro Shop for 2022!! More details below in this newsletter, but if you are interested, PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP!!! I can get you an application and we can discuss what the job actually entails. (See below….)

Other items…

Available for ALL 2021 Members/Season Pass Holders to participate in, for the 2021 Season…

Rules-

1.    Any 2021 Westfield GC Member/Season Pass Holder may attempt to bring in a “NEW” Member/Season Pass Holder to Westfield GC. (“New” Member/Season Pass Holder being anyone who has not been a Member/Season Pass Holder the previous year or more to Westfield.)

a.    If that current Season Pass Holder is able to bring in one (1) “New” Season Pass Holder, EACH person gets a 10% Discount on the year’s Season Pass Holder rate.

b.    If that Member decides to bring in two (2) new individuals, the current Season Pass Holder gets a 15% discount on their Season Pass. The two new individuals that individual brings in get a 10% discount on their Season Pass.

c.     If that current member brings in three (3+) NEW individuals, the CURRENT Season Pass Holder gets a 20% discount and ALL additional new people brought in by the current season pass holder get a 10% discount on their Membership/Season Pass Holder rate for the year.

2.    The MAXIMUM Discount to be given out is 20% off.

3.    As long as ALL individuals remain Season Pass Holders for the following year (for example a new Season Pass Holder in 2021 wishes to remain a Season Pass Holder in 2022), those individuals are now eligible to do “head hunting” for the next year and try to bring in another new person, or more at a discount.

4.    Season Pass Holders will now not only be able to join Men’s League(s) or Women’s Leagues, but they will also gain a benefit of getting 10% Member discount in the golf shop. (10% discount avail on in-stock, as well as special orders,)

a.    The 10% discount is on golf shop merchandise ONLY (hard and soft goods). (The 10% discount is NOT available on golf car rentals, push cart rentals, trail fees, greens fees, food, soft drinks, club repair or golf instruction by the head professional, or tournament entries, or League Fees.)

5.    Any Current Season Pass Holder can bring in another individual at ANY Season Pass Category. The discount per Season Pass holders could be, for example….

a.    Single bringing in Single, or Couple, or Young Adult

b.    Family bringing in Family, or Couple, or Young Adult

c.     Single bringing in Family, or Couple, or Young Adult

d.    Family bringing in Single, or Couple or Young Adult

e.    Junior bringing in Junior, or Couple, or Young Adult

f.      Family or Single Season Pass bringing in Junior, or Couple or Young Adult

The idea of this program is to try to entice more people to join Westfield GC!! This could/should work as a pyramid with one member bringing in a person, then the next year both those individuals bringing in two more individuals, etc., etc.…

Any discounts offered in the Bar/Lounge would be at the discretion of Whalen’s at Westfield.

Westfield GC is looking for some help in the Pro Shop to assist the Head Golf Professional/Pro Shop Manager. Details are below...

Westfield GC is looking for a Pro Shop Assistant, (or two), to assist the Head Golf Professional/Pro Shop Manager with the day to day operations of the golf shop.

Successful candidate(s) will be a team player who is personable, has a positive attitude, and able to engage with members, guests, and staff in a professional and courteous manner at all times.

*Up to 20 to 30 hours/week (sometimes more, sometimes less)

*Flexible start and end dates

*Will train right candidate(s)

Golf shop staff and assistants will be required to exemplify the standards of Westfield GC. They will be expected to work as a team to provide unparalleled service for the members and their guests.

Primary duties include:

·       Greeting members and guests in a welcoming and friendly manner

·       Daily check-in of members and guests and reconciling tee sheet

·       Check customers in and gather information for marketing needs

·       Opening/closing procedures, with attention to detail

·       Assisting Members with tee time, handicap, and other golf related issues

·       Assisting Golf Professional/Pro Shop Manager with merchandise as needed

·       Answer the phone in a professional manner, booking tee times, and taking messages

·       Maintaining an accurate cash drawer at all times in the register

·       Keep a clean, organized, and professional looking golf shop

·       Assist the Head Professional in merchandising

·       Flexible to work weekdays and/or weekends is a requirement

·       Stage golf cars with golf car attendants; wash and put away golf cars when round is complete

·       Organize and stage golf carts for league play each week. Assist Head Professional with league results and post on the website

·       Work with Head Professional in organizing a PGA junior golf program

·       Assist with Managing Tournament Operations

·       Manage Golf Car Operations

·       Other duties as required

·       Assisting with other duties as needed

Experience Required:

·       Experience with the following preferred: moderate to advanced experience with Microsoft Word and Excel. Will train on any other computer programs as the arise

·       Previous experience in golf preferred, but will train right candidate

·       Ability to multi-task and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, at times

·       Previous experience with working a cash register/POS system and keeping accurate cash and transaction control a must!

OBJECTIVES:

Assistant Golf Professionals main objective will be to provide members and guests with the finest golfing experience in the area. The Assistants ability to provide service and enjoyment for the patrons will be measured against the finest clubs in the Winona, MN area. Team members will be encouraged to “step up” and lead others using their strengths, while at the same time learning from other staff and improving upon their weaknesses. The result of this process will be a smooth and efficient operation with well-rounded individuals. Assistants will be leaders and team players that the rest of the operation can look to as professional role models.

Please stop into the Westfield GC Pro Shop during daylight hours to apply or pick up an application, or email BJPaulsonPGA@gmail.com to arrange a time to pick up an application or to drop off a resume.

Perfect job for any recently retired individual looking for something to do!

Westfield GC Junior Golf Program sign-up will be COMPLETELY ONLINE this year! We will be launching a page on the Westfield GC Website soon, which will allow for you to put down all the information needed to sign-up your child for this year’s program. This should really help eliminate bad/non-existent information, such as bad email addresses, missing phone numbers, etc. We will also be taking T-shirt sizes down on this form, as well. More on this to come! Stay tuned for the announcement that the sign-up is live….

Also, We are always looking for donations to the Junior Golf Program! The kids are the future of golf, as well as Westfield GC. Since we do not do the Junior Golf “Turkey Raffle” any more, you can always drop off any donations to the Westfield GC Pro Shop. If you need to get in touch with me, just shoot me an email at BJPaulsonPGA@gmail.com, or send me a text at 507-450-7037, if I am not in the Pro Shop at a certain time. I’ll be happy to schedule a time to meet you at the course.

If you were in Men’s Leagues in 2021, you have the right of first refusal for your League. If you are interested in trying to switch to a different League, or wish to add another League, or just are looking to get into the Thursday Men’s League, please let me know ASAP!!! Later there will be a form sent out, via email, which you can download, print off, and bring back to the Pro Shop filled out. This is also available online on the Westfield GC website… www.westfieldgolfclub.com.

The 2022 Tournament schedule will be completed in the next few weeks. We will send it out vial email, as well as put it on the Westfield Website. We just need to finalize some dates to see how they fit in with some area events to try to eliminate any conflicts. We try to do our best, but there are always some adjustments and changes that need to be made throughout the season.

I am also going to start going to a simple Tournament Entry Form for ALL Westfield GC Tournament entries from now on. This should eliminate any confusion on if anyone is playing, or not in a particular event. More on this later as we get closer to the Tournament Season.

Stay Tuned!!!

We are working on the reciprocal course list for 2022. Some of the courses are already on board again for 2022. I do not anticipate any real big changes to this year’s list, from last year’s list. However, some of the courses are hard to get in touch with until closer to spring. Once completed, the list will be available in the Pro Shop, online on the Westfield GC webpage, and also will be sent in an email attachment in a PDF file.

More news coming in February, and as always, look for any additional emails with news from Westfield GC!

Think warm weather!!

See you this spring, if not sooner!