Greetings! Although it is sad to see another golf season end, we are excited for the improvements planned for the course next year. The year 2021 was another very successful season for CCC.
- Many outside tournaments that had been cancelled due to the pandemic returned; there were strong greens fees and cart rentals and membership volume that we have not seen in more than a decade.
- Everyone’s patience was very much appreciated as we onboarded the new ForeUp system, which has worked well this season
- And, we know how fortunate we are to have such great staff in place who continue to make Champlain better and better each season.
- We would also like to thank all of you that participated in the fundraisers for the covered deck project, as well as those who gave very generous donations to make this project happen.
- It is important to note that this project is funded solely through fundraising efforts. The project is currently being completed and will be ready for the course opening in the spring.
On behalf of the board, I would like to thank everyone that participated in the Construction Assessment Survey, the results and accompanying comments were overwhelming positive with 80% in favor of proceeding with the assessment. We feel this speaks volumes to your commitment to the Club. For those who were against the survey and had questions, we encourage you to continue asking questions, attend board meetings, etc. We are all volunteers with the sole purpose of moving Champlain in the right direction. With agreement to move forward with the improvements, the priorities are 1. Pump house, 2. Bunkers, and 3. 18th green.
The Pump House
DAF Services has been contracted to build the new pump system. They installed our existing system that has served us well for nearly 30 years. Chris Saylor did a considerable amount of research before committing to DAF, and we looked at other options; however, the technical support and service that DAF has provided us over the past 30 years, sometimes on short notice when time was of the essence, played heavily into our decision. The new pump house will be operational in the spring. I know most of us only see the pump house as the green building that is next to the pond on number 14, but I wanted to share some pictures of the actual pump so everyone can see just how deteriorated it has become.
Bunker Restoration
Plans for the bunker replacement project are moving forward with Lajeunesse Construction. Again, for this project, we spent a considerable amount of time discussing the best possible way to proceed. At the onset of the 2021 season, we considered tackling this in-house with our own greens crew, who no doubt would’ve done a great job. After speaking to Chris Saylor, we agreed that given the limited staff on his team, the rapidly deteriorating condition of the bunkers, and not having the proper excavation equipment, a company that specializes in golf course construction could complete the project more efficiently—especially considering that this is a major undertaking, and the greens crew would need to simultaneously tend to the course. Chris and his crew will still play a large role in supporting the contractor with the project, which is slated to begin in the spring. Closer to the season, we will be able to provide a clearer schedule.
18th Green Renovation
In the survey, there were many comments about the 18th green. Most comments were in favor of changing the green; however, a small number of people requested that we keep it as-is. Designs have not been finalized yet, but we received a few estimates for a complete reconstruction to give us a sense of cost. Before we proceed with any changes, we will provide renditions of different proposed designs and submit them to the membership for feedback—just as we did with the Construction Assessment Survey. The timeline has not been set for this project, as it most likely will occur in the 2023 season.
The board has decided to cap the membership at 430, which was the membership count this past season. We believe that exceeding this figure would not only impact our existing members’ ability to book tee times, but it would also impact our ability to bring in much needed revenue from guests. The new 2022 dues structure follows on our Membership page, or you can access the Membership Form or Installment Payment Form directly. Please notice that for your membership to be secured, you will need to submit your dues, or at least the first payment should you opt for the installment plan, by February 1st. Existing members should secure their membership by this date; after February 1st, membership will be open to the public and accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis until the cap is met.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we wish you all a healthy and safe winter. We already look forward to opening day, which hopefully will be here before we know it. As always, we encourage feedback, comments, as well as participation at our board meetings for anyone that would like to attend. The meetings occur the second Monday of each month. Please send us an email at golf@champlaincountryclub.com. Again, thank you for being part of the Champlain Country Club family!