Golf Course Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2015 04 20

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Tallahassee, Florida State University's facility, which states on the course's web site: "Complimentary use of the golf course is provided to volunteers." Some of the courses offering free rounds for volunteering are municipal facilities, which means they are operated by state, county or city governments. Young said municipal courses and state universities are not exempt. He also had a stern warning for facilities that not only are not in compliance but are advertising that fact. "I would take [the advertisements] down and not employ people under those circumstances," Young advised. Fleming Island and Cimarrone avoided stiffer penalties because club management cooperated fully with the government. Young said the clubs paid only back wages and were not hit with additional penalties or fines because of their level of cooperation and because there was no history at those clubs in otherwise violating wage and hours laws. Young said he has one other open investigation that he could not discuss. He said his division, which includes 41 counties in Florida, recently conducted a random investigation targeting 10 golf courses. Two, the Daytona Beach Golf and Country Club and the Tomoka Oaks Golf Club in Ormond Beach, were using the practice. Fleming Island general manager Troy Albers said his club was investigated after one of the volunteers, disgruntled because he was asked not to use his free rounds during peak periods, called the Labor Department. "Everyone had been happy with the arrangement, with the exception of one person," Albers said. "It was a win -win for the volunteers and the club." Albers said that he had a volunteer force of 15, who worked as first -tee starters and on- course assistants to help keep the pace of play going. He said he now has to do those tasks with two paid employees. Aschenbach said the subject was discussed at the most recent chapter meeting. "It's unfortunate that this practice has to end, because I think it was somewhat of a tradition in golf," he said. "In this day and age, when we've got economic challenges and pace of play challenges, it's not the best news a course owner or general manager can get." Aschenbach is a professional at the Amelia National Golf Club. He said the club has not used volunteers since it opened. Other facilities, such as the TPC Sawgrass, the Sawgrass Country Club, the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club and the Hampton Golf courses, use only paid labor. Jim Howard, director of golf at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, said: "It's just not worth the risk." 16