Scheduled for consideration by the Golf Course Committee at its regular meeting on August 6, 2026
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
REVISED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR
GOLF COURSE COMMITTEE MEETING
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2026, 5:00 P.M.
A regular meeting of the Golf Course Committee of the City of San Clemente was called to order by Chair Divel on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA. Committee Member Page led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENT: Grady Ela, Rick Divel, Mandy Hamilton, Ben Page, Robert Zumberge STAFF PRESENT: Samantha Wylie, Beaches, Parks and Recreation Director Randy Little, Maintenance Manger
Debbie Fields, Administrative Assistant
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Approval of Minutes
Motion by Committee Member Page, seconded by Committee Member Zumberge, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the minutes of the Golf Course Committee Regular Meeting held on November 20, 2025.
AYE: Ela, Divel, Hamilton, Page, Zumberge
NOE: None
2. SPECIAL PRESENTATION
None
3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Ray Short, a San Clemente resident, raised concerns about the limited availability of tee times on Wednesdays over the past five year.
Bill Chapman, a San Clemente resident, thanked everyone who is involved with the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course.
4. OLD BUSINESS
None
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Review of the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course Comprehensive Market Analysis and Financial Review and the Golf Course Master Plan Update Samantha Wylie, Beaches, Parks and Recreation Director, introduced representatives from Staples Golf Design and THK Associates.
Josh Goeden of Staples Golf Design presented a PowerPoint overview of the Master Plan, highlighting the goals and objectives of the plan, budget considerations, and a hole-by-hole analysis with design recommendations aligned with the plan’s goals.
Golf Course Committee REVISED Regular Meeting Minutes February 5, 2026 Dan Conway, President of THK Associates, presented findings from the golf market and financial review, including recommendations on pricing, operations, and facility improvements; projected revenue growth and net operating income; strategies to enhance the golfer experience, social amenities, and overall course value; and long-term recommendations to strengthen the facility for the community over the next decade.
Commissioners either individually or in agreement discussed the following:
• TopTracer driving range technology
• Bunker renovation
• Re-designing of the course
• Duration of course renovations
• Driving range netting improvements
Rick Talt discussed proposed improvements to the practice putting green and provided conceptual drawings to the Committee.
Richard Miller, a San Clemente resident, discussed opportunities to expand dining space and proposed improvements to the driving range.
Charlie Calhoun urged a full renovation of the golf course, noting it would preserve its long-term value to the community, while limited upgrades could create maintenance challenges and reduce its future viability.
Don Gascoigne, a San Clemente resident, proposed constructing a new golf clubhouse and driving range at Waterman Field (Vista Bahia) so the existing clubhouse could be dedicated to weddings and events.
Victor Cabral, a San Clemente resident, Council Member, and former Mayor, urged the committee to clearly identify the golf course’s top priorities, emphasizing that the Council relies on their input as the voice of the community while balancing budget constraints.
Motion by Committee Member Zumberge, seconded by Committee Member Ela, CARRIED 5-0, to adopt the Master Plan priorities as presented, with the irrigation system and bunkers designated as the top priorities, and with a focus on mitigating errant shots throughout the golf course and driving range, expeditiously.
AYE: Ela, Divel, Hamilton, Page, Zumberge
NOE: None
B. Golf Scorecard Review & Update
Samantha Wylie, Beaches, Parks & Recreation Director, presented the proposed scorecard with minor updates to the rules section. A recommendation was made to resize the scorecard to 11 inches to align with PGA requirements and reduce printing costs.
Motion by Committee Member Zumeberge, seconded by Committee Member Page, CARRIED 5-0, approve the recommended changes to the scorecard, including the size reduction and related updates.
AYE: Ela, Divel, Hamilton, Page, Zumberge
NOE: None
Golf Course Committee REVISED Regular Meeting Minutes February 5, 2026
6. ITEMS FROM STAFF
A. 2nd Quarter Golf Course Activity Report
B. Staff Communications
Samantha Wylie, Director of Beaches, Parks & Recreation, provided an update and responded to questions.
• City Council has directed issuance of an RFP for pro shop operations, consistent with the Committee’s recommendation. A task force (Committee Chair, City Manager, staff, and liaison) will develop the RFP. • Resident cards require a current utility bill and matching photo ID; photo ID must be carried while playing.
• Recruitment for the Golf Course Golf Manager is underway. • A municipal code amendment for adoption to strengthen tee time reservation enforcement will be presented to the City Council in early March. Evaluation of multi-factor authentication (MFA) will continue.
7. ITEMS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
A. Subcommittee Reports
i. Fees Subcommittee (Hamilton, Zumberge)
None
ii. Pro Shop Operations Subcommittee (Divel, Hamilton)
None
B. Committee Member Items
Committee Members either individually or in agreement discussed the following:
• foreUP and preferred tee times, two times per year
• Two holes on the first hole at the end of the range
• Install wooden club stands at each hitting bay in the driving range • Appreciation to the Pro Shop staff
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Committee Member Ela, seconded by Committee Member Zumberge, CARRIED 5-0, to adjourn at 6:57 p.m. to a regular meeting on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers located at 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA. _____________________________________ Date: _______________ Golf Course Committee Chair
_____________________________________ Date: _______________ Beaches, Parks and Recreation Director