Keeping The Peace In Mt. Lebanon

NOTE: This editorial was from last week's Almanac, but was only recently posted to their web site:

Did the Mt. Lebanon commissioners put the cart before the horse?

In creating a balanced budget, township officials added $30,000 in the revenue column from projected alcohol and food sales at a yet-to-be realigned clubhouse at the municipal golf course. Public resistance to the plan, though, may leave a funding gap in the township’s bank account.

Read more here....

Some Lebo Residents Want 'Dry' Golf Course

Commissioners in Mt. Lebanon found themselves in a dilemma March 9, when nearly a dozen residents came to a public hearing voicing opposition to serving liquor at Mt. Lebanon Golf Course.

The problem? When officials approved the 2009 budget in late 2008, they balanced it with some $30,000 in projected revenues from serving alcohol and snacks at the municipal golf course. Commissioner Joe DeIuliis said construction proposals from companies which might convert a section of the clubhouse into a eatery, bar and swag shop are due on March 23.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/03-11-ML-liquor-B

Suds At The Golf Course?

Officials in Mt. Lebanon say it's time to make the public golf course friendly for beer drinkers.

In approving the 2009 budget, Mt. Lebanon municipality will apply for a liquor license for a portion of the clubhouse, which would be converted into a concessionaire where municipal employees would sell beer and other Mt. Lebanon golf course swag. Most of the details have yet to be finalized, but commissioners set the direction for the concessionaire on Dec. 15. The plan is not without its critics.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/12-24-beer-at-golf-crse-B

Experience LEBO Golf Outing

For all you golf lovers out there, Experience LEBO has an event for you. Experience LEBO, the group that put on the ULTRAparty in uptown Mount Lebanon last summer, is hosting a golf outing on Saturday, June 14th at the Mount Lebanon Golf Course. The event is limited to the first 48 people who sign-up. Cost of the event is $60, which includes 18 holes w/cart, golf pro tips/analysis, prizes for first and second place teams, individual prizes for closest to pin on hole #1 and longest drive on the 8th hole, plus a 4-course dinner at Atria’s. For more information on Experience LEBO’s golf outing and other events go to www.experiencelebo.com. To sign-up for the golf outing, send an email to brett.satterfield@gmail.com.

Lebo Golf Course Eliminates Its Pro

After managing to employ and retain only four golf professionals during its first 100 years of existence, Mt. Lebanon Golf Course begins its second century of existence without any.

That's because Mt. Lebanon, a tidy nine-hole municipal layout that celebrated its 100th anniversary last summer, hired Dave Boal, a non-PGA professional, to be the golf-course manager in charge of running the day-to-day operations of the facility.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08057/860471-136.stm

Golfers Can Still Learn From Kluck

Golfers at the Mt. Lebanon municipal course can still take lessons with Matthew Kluck, although through a new arrangement. Commissioners Monday agreed to a settlement with Mr. Kluck, the longtime head pro who filed a lawsuit in federal court two years ago, claiming age discrimination.

Without admitting to any wrongdoing or liability, Mt. Lebanon agreed to pay $15,000 to Mr. Kluck and $10,000 to his attorney.

Link 1: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07347/841135-55.stm

Link 2: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_543575.html

Mt. Lebanon Golf Pro Settles Discrimination Suit

Mt. Lebanon officials have reached a tentative settlement agreement with the golf pro of their public course, who filed a federal age discrimination lawsuit last year.

Matthew Kluck, 49, claimed officials began trying to force him out in 2001, then intentionally made his job more difficult with reduced pay to make him quit. Kluck made about $61,000 when he filed the suit in January 2006. He sought reimbursement for lost pay and bonuses.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_530855.html

Mt. Lebanon Celebrates 100-year History Of Oldest Municipal Golf Course

Amid the lush green fairways dotted with golf carts, 150 people Saturday evening toasted the 100th anniversary of the Mt. Lebanon Public Golf Course on Pine Avenue during a daylong fete that culminated in the unveiling of the Historic Landmark plaque honoring the oldest municipal course in the state.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07193/800976-55.stm

Golf Course Is Local Historic Landmark

Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation has designated the Mt. Lebanon municipal golf course on Pine Avenue as a local historic landmark.

The course will celebrate its 100th anniversary July 7. A morning nine-hole Family and Friends golf event, which will include lunch and entertainment by the Center for Theater Arts and the Organ Grinder Man, costs $200 for a foursome.

An afternoon 18-hole event concludes with a cocktail reception, entertainment from Uptown Rhythm and Brass and a chance to meet Steelers great Rocky Bleier and his wife, Jan, who are chairpersons for the event. The afternoon event costs $400 per foursome, including the reception.

Admission to the reception only is $50 per person. Throughout the day, Mt. Lebanon's golf pro, Matt Kluck, will offer free clinics and sponsor Cleveland Golf will have a demonstration tent.

Community chairpersons for the event are Steve and Amelia Dean.

To register online, go to www.mtlebanon.org and click on "recreation" or pick up a form at the golf course, Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center, library or municipal building.

Link: www.postgazette.com/pg/07130/784638-55.stm

Lebo Golf Course Anniversary Coming

[T]here is a celebration going on this summer at Mt. Lebanon Municipal Golf Course, and it shares a slice of history with another local club planning a big summer celebration -- Oakmont.

Mt. Lebanon will celebrate its 100th anniversary July 7, commemorating the history and origin of a course that began as a private 18-hole layout known as Castle Shannon Golf Club and was built by an erudite Scotsman named George Ormiston, one of the original members at Oakmont. What's more, eight of the original greens remain at the municipal course -- greens that appear to have been influenced by the great Scottish designer, Donald Ross.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07121/782361-55.stm

Golf Course Gets Face Lift This Summer

The Mt. Lebanon Municipal Golf Course on Pine Avenue will have a slight face-lift just in time for its centennial celebration this summer. On Monday, Mt. Lebanon commissioners awarded a $332,000 contract to Frontier Construction Co., of Jones Mills, Westmoreland County, for Phase I of the golf course master plan.

According to Mt. Lebanon Recreation Director David Donnellan, Phase I will improve the drainage on the bunkers and greens, add new tees and bunkers, and make the fifth green more visible from the tee.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/southwest/s_497521.html