Reader THE PLANTATION PALMS
AUGUST 2020
PUBLISHED BY IKARE PUBLISHING INC. WWW.IKAREPUBLISHING.COM - 813-991-7843
THE OFFICIAL Newsletter OF PLANTATION PALMS
Congratulations to Plantation Palms Golf
Club for their Tampa Bay Times 2020
People Choice Best Golf Course award! We
are proud to be an integral part of your
success.
How times have changed. 10 years ago the
two biggest issues in the community were
the trucks crashing into the overhang on the
guard house and the Evan’s family putting
the golf course up for sale. After many
months of closure, the guard house was
rebuilt to raise the roof and overhang to
what it is today. The Evan’s Family listed
the course showing it had $1,387,930 in
revenue and a loss of $248,854. They also
showed that a buyer could carve out 12
acres to replace the driving range with
medium density housing. MJS bought the
course in April 2011 for $2.1 million with a
loan from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The
“carve out” area has its own history.
5 years ago we launched the BBOC, “Bring
Back Our Course” efforts to open the
course. It had been closed since May 2014,
weeds were 6’ high, the club house and
maintenance building vandalized and the
outlook was dismal. On August 12, 2015,
Simon Fitzpatrick hosted our 1st Block
Captains meeting in his living room. We
were doing everything we could do to find
a new buyer for the course. It took a year
of hard work, but we were successful and
the club opened in the fall of 2016.
Then the North Canal, the South Canal,
Front Entrance Beautification and
upcoming New Street Sign’s and
Resurfacing of our roads ……
Throughout the 20-year history of our
community we have faced challenges and
with the dedication of leadership and
support of the community we maintain our
premier location in the Tampa Bay region
status.
August is a busy month as we kick off our
HOA annual budget process in preparation
for our October HOA “budget meeting”.
This coupled with a new Reserve Study
with major revisions will make for an
interesting few months. We have 2
opposing factors, on one side our dues are
coming down because we’ll be done with
our golf course Services Agreement and
our attempts to cover the last few dollars
of the upcoming MSBU tax. On the other
side, many of our core expenses continue
to increase. The good news is that overall,
our dues are coming down. We are already
one of the lowest costs comparable HOA’s
around.
UPDATED INFORMATION
51 homeowners were sent HOA dues
“reminder letters” with add-on
charges.
HOA security gates are again being
crashed at night. Large fines and
repair bill are going out to piggy
backers and others.
Condominium Associates is fully
operational and open by appointment
only, call (813) 341-0943.
ARC’s requests for house painting
and new roofs continue at a strong
pace.
The 2 law suits against the
community are 2 years old and the
plaintiffs have still not set a court
date. This will easily lapse into 2021
and continues as a drag on the HOA.
For much more community and golf club
information you can just visit my Plantation
Palms web/blog site at https://
ppgolfcourse.wordpress.com/.
Once again, you can find Diane and I
enjoying dinner on the veranda at
Mulligan’s, so please stop by and say hi.
Just remember to stay 6 feet away!
Stay safe and healthy!
Jim Hammond
President
813.751.7156 [email protected] Website: lisabrown.thegriffingroup.net
Lisa Brown and the Griffin Group!
Enthusiasm and
experience to sell your
home during these
difficult mes.
Call me for a FREE
home value
assessment.
Virtual and Social distancing op ons available!
We never charge overtime
We are never closed for business
Plumbing and Drain Cleaning Experts
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President Jim Hammond
Vice President Simon FitzPatrick
Secretary Ana Vazquez
Treasurer Chris Zenel
Members Jason Imler
Brett Greiveldinger [email protected]
Chris Gelroth
Architectural Committee Brett Greiveldinger - Chair Jeff Kurek, Ron Kordusky Ron Scotch, Sheryl Zenel
Simon FitzPatrick Dirk Ahle
Landscape Committee
Simon FitzPatrick - Chair
Newsletter Committee Jason Imler
Safety and Security Committee
Jason Imler, Chair
Fining Review Committee Jeff Kurek - Chair Joseph Schleigh,
Mike Mogab, Janice Tremblay Dan Jarvin
Property Manager
Condominium Associates 2019 Osprey Lane Lutz, FL 33559 813.341.0943
LCAM – Association Manager Breisy Loforte
We will have a board meeting.
August 20th Probably zoom with details to
follow.
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This newsletter is mailed to the residents of Plantation
Palms monthly at no cost to the community. IKare
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Savanna Board of Dirctors
Keith Rodrigues – President [email protected]
Gary Bradford – Vice President [email protected]
Elise Mysels – Treasurer [email protected]
Jane Pope – Secretary [email protected]
David Brooks - Board Member [email protected]
Savanna Property Manager Condominium Associates
2019 Osprey Lane Lutz FL 33559 813-341-0943
LCAM - Association Manager Salvatore Paradiso
Assistant Association Manager Jamie Vallejera
Website and Facebook
Information…
There is a new website for Condominium Associates – it is https://condo.cincwebaxis.com/ . If you had an account before, you can go to the site and click “forgot my password” and you will be sent a link to set up a new password. If you never registered before you can register on the site. If you have any problems or questions you can contact the Association and they will assist in setting up your account. Plantation Palms HOA is on Facebook. Check out the link and join in at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/502894743220130/
It is way too hot for you to be working outside...call me!
Palm Tree Trimming Mulch Replacement Rock & Stone Installation
Landscape Design & Installation Property Clean Ups Driveway Pressure Washing
Plantation Palms Resident 11 Years!
Wouldn’t it be nice to park your boat, RV, or work trucks in your driveway
or side yard? Let’s put a plan together if HOA rules don’t fit your style.
Plantation Palms Page 5
Events - We are currently scheduling events and tournaments for the remainder of the year as people are getting prepared for their gatherings, but we continue to take great care in addressing special needs as well as taking all necessary preventative measures to protect everyone’s health and best interest. Of course, we would still like to be your venue of choice for any special occasion or event you may be
planning, so give us a call when you’re ready and we can discuss how to make your event truly memorable! We are continuing to offer $250 OFF room-rentals for the remainder of the year for all events occurring before the end of 2020, which includes a complimentary wedding ceremony when you book by August 30, 2020.
Reserve your golf tournament today! Large or small tournaments have a variety of options and services so call today to get on the schedule. We are also still offering $100 gift cards for major events and golf tournament referrals, and a $50 Gift Card for smaller events. Carolyn Carrozza is always available to discuss your plans for us to host your special celebration or event and can be reached by email: [email protected] (or) 813-996-4653 ext. 158.
From the Golf Shop - Plantation Palms is having a very busy summer despite the summer heat, but the Golf Staff is always available to assist and address players’ needs as we always strive to develop a higher standard of quality service. The ProShop and cart-staff continues to work diligently through the Covid-19 pandemic to keep everyone safe. We will continue to take the necessary precautions for our staff and patrons, including the sanitizing and disinfecting protocols on all of our inside services and all other general contact-items, including carts, mini-course clubs, and range baskets/tokens. MASKS ARE REQUIRED while indoors on the property at all times without exception unless you are seated in the restaurant and eating with your party. We appreciate everyone’s participation as wearing masks and observing proper distancing is a challenge, but necessary to protect us all!
League Play at Plantation Palms for the summer/fall is here, and the feedback has been very positive. The Monday Night Ladies League is a 3-Hole, 6pm start for anyone that would like to meet and mingle with some golfers from the community. It’s $10.00 per person which includes a small bucket of range balls. If you’re interested in joining please contact: Kathy Knox - [email protected]. The Friday Men’s League is a 9-hole league with tee-times starting at 5:30pm. It is $10.00 for members to join, and $19.95 for all other players which includes a small bucket of balls as well. Contact Andrew in the ProShop to get your name on the list! Tee times can be made online at www.planationpalms.net with no booking fee and special rates for non-members, or call the ProShop for assistance: 813.996.4653. If you’d like to discuss course improvements, maintenance, events, groups, lessons, golf camp or league sign-ups, or any other course-related concerns, Director of Golf Andrew Dawes can be reached by email: [email protected] (or) in the golf shop most mornings. Golf Course Maintenance - We have had a number of questions and even lost a few members who asked “why have course conditions deteriorated in the last few months? Was the maintenance budget cut? Below are some answers to these questions, but rest assured that conditions will improve quickly and fully through the summer. Drought – We went 17 days without rain, a record for this time of year. Contrast this with the 3 solid months of rain last year! Recent
rains are helping, though we still have a large rain deficit. Irrigation System problems – We are still experiencing major problems from the system being shut down for 2 years. Would you believe
that we have found catfish in the pipes? We are currently installing large flush-outs to purge the system and are dealing with continual clogging of sprinkler heads until this is resolved.
Chemical mis-applications – Early this year, our prior superintendent applied a combination of treatments that, although perfectly legal, were not suitable for the green collars. As a result, we had major damage to collars, most of which has been corrected. We are currently combatting fairy ring fungi and goose-grass weeds.
Management – Our Area Superintendent is working closely every week with David Knapton, Plantation Palms Superintendent, to correct turf conditions and get back on the road to improving further
Maintenance Crew – The owner approved a 50%+ increase of maintenance crew members through the summer to restore conditions and get ahead on maintenance projects. We went from 10 crew members to 16.
Budget – Plantation Palms leads the Ace Golf Group in maintenance spending this year.
The course has some minor closures as the greens are being aerified: The Front-9 (and practice green) will be closed on July 20th and 21st.
The Back-9 will be closed July 22nd and 23rd. We are currently in the process of: Completing repairs to the irrigation control system and flushing out
irrigation lines throughout the course. Continue re-growing grass and addressing “weak” spots where
necessary. *Focus on mitigating goose-grass and weeds throughout the course. Continue re-building some of the damaged greens and bunkers Improving green’s condition with proper applications and aeration. Continued on page 6
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Plantation Palms Page 6
Plantation Palms Golf Continued... Course Superintendent David Knapton remains completely committed to improving our course conditions on all levels and can be reached by email, or you’ll find him running around the course almost every day: [email protected] Food and Beverage - Mulligan’s Irish Pub is open Dine-In and on our extensive outdoor veranda, and is absolutely still available to prepare your To-Go (or) Uber Eats order. Visit us online to get a copy of our NEW menu, or call directly so that we can assist you. Our monthly specials-menu options are available, providing fresh new choices for your dining pleasure. Inside seating is still limited to regulation and guideline-standards, and tables are also available outside overlooking the 9th and 18th greens. Live music has returned to Friday Nights, so call ahead if you’d like to reserve a space or to inquire about details for your visit. We greatly appreciate your continued patronage!
Mulligan’s Irish Pub - 813.996.4653 (Ext 3) If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Food and Beverage Director.
Matt Downey can be reached by email: [email protected]
Introducing – Golf Tips by Andrew Dawes, Director of Golf at Plantation Palms
How Can I Get Better Results from My Practice? The old saying "practice smarter, not harder," is the key to seeing improvement from your practice time. Quality practice means having a specific purpose to your practice. And that's only possible if you have a clear understanding and awareness of your strengths and limitations. Don't show up at the driving range and just randomly hit balls. Have a plan, pick targets, execute shots! Don't practice in the dark - it's hard to see the way to improvement. How Should I Warm Up Before My Round of Golf? To prepare well for a round of golf you should arrive at the golf course at least an 45 minutes before your tee time. Start on the practice green where you can establish a smooth, deliberate tempo. Don't putt at the cup, but at tees, or coins, or just a spot on the green. Focus on speed control and tempo. Then spend a few minutes chipping to a tee on the practice green. The smaller the target the better the focus! Walk to the practice range and stretch; once you feel loose, start hitting balls. Use your wedges first, then move to the middle irons, then the long irons and finally the woods. Finish your warmup with the club you intend to use on the first tee, making slow, rhythmic swings. And time your warmup to end so that you can stroll to the first tee and tee off within a few minutes and hit it straight down the middle or at least hit that first shot knowing what to expect after your practice!
Storage Facility- Space Still Available
Do you need a place to store that RV, vehicle, wave-runner or boat, close to home without it being in your driveway? Keep your toys or vehicles nearby and easily accessible. We have space available to store your property on site at our fenced/gated maintenance facility with 24 Hour Monitoring at lower rates than other storage facilities.
Special Recognition:
Thank you to all of the volunteers that have donated their time over the past couple of years and helped a great deal to make Plantation Palms a great success! Our volunteer program is no longer active but we now have a couple of gents that were volunteers, and now employees serving as Starters/Rangers. If you see Larry Somerville or Keith Walker around the course please don’t hesitate to ask for assistance if needed. We would also like to recognize Daniel Mancuso, our recently promoted Assistant Superintendent from our Maintenance Staff, as a shining-star. Daniel always goes well above and beyond what is expected, and truly sets the pace for how our maintenance staff operates each and every day. He is an exceptional person both personally and professionally and deserves to be recognized as truly one of the best. We are very fortunate to have him on our team and have promoted him to the Assistant Superintendent position. If you have any questions or concerns about the golf course or pub, contact Chris Gelroth to help facilitate your solution: 813.996.GOLF (Ext. 163) or by email- [email protected]
Plantation Palms Page 7
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