In preparation for the opening of the new clubhouse at Westwood Golf Course later this year, the Newton City Council this past week moved forward with reorganizing staff at the facility, purchasing two golf simulators for indoor play and securing public area furniture at significantly discounted prices.

When the clubhouse does open to the public, the city wants to grow its offerings and, in turn, its revenues in the following ways: increased patronage with better food and beverage offerings, increased golf events and tournaments, golf lessons and increased patronage with new golf simulators available year-round.

To accomplish these goals, the city proposed a team of three permanent full-time staff members, which would require some reorganization. The current golf pro/recreation specialist would maintain a majority of his duties but under the new title of operations manager. There would be no change to his salary.

The city reasoned the current golf pro has more so been functioning as manager of the golf course, and there has been little time for him to do other golf pro duties like giving lessons. The title change not only reflects the actual work being done but transfers those duties to a new golf pro.

Which means the new golf pro would focus on growing the game through lessons, tournaments and off-season events and activities around the golf simulators. The golf pro would also become familiar with course functions, such as the irrigation system. The new position would be paid from the Golf Fund.

Council action was required to create the new golf pro position and retitle the current golf pro into the operations manager. The council voted 5-0 in favor of the changes. The third member of the team is the clubhouse manager, which was already authorized by resolution about two years ago.

Two golf simulators were purchased upfront for $126,510 using privately donated funds, with $2,200 from the Golf Fund set aside for the annual fee. The city sought quotes from three vendors: Full Swing, aboutGOLF and Golf Zon. Council approved of the city’s request to purchase the simulators from Full Swing.

While the upfront cost for Full Swing was not the cheapest of the three — that goes to aboutGOLF for $108,700 — city staff argued the combined costs of the units themselves and the maintenance/software fees were the lower cost option over time.

The city council’s approval of the consent agenda — which includes a number of lower priority actions — greenlit the purchase of furniture through designer Christine Pletcher DeZign, who was hired by the city to furnish the clubhouse. Pletcher sourced commercial restaurant/bar furniture and lounge/comfort seating.

City of Newton paid $4,750 for club chairs, a love seat and accent tables from the local Store for Homes, which is supporting the clubhouse project by providing the furniture at cost and a $1,000 reduction on top of that. The city also paid Oak Street Manufacturing of Monticello $10,283.56 for restaurant/bar furniture.

The price of the restaurant/bar furniture was less than the full retail price due to Pletcher’s involvement. If the city had purchased directly from Oak Street Manufacturing, the furniture would have been at a higher, full retail cost. Donated funds and clubhouse project funds were used for these items.