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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 - Golf Board - Annual ReportCultural, Library, and Recreational Services Golf Division City of Fort Collins GOLF BOARD 2004 ANNUAL REPORT The City of Fort Collins Golf Advisory Board normally meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. October through April, and at 7:30 p.m. May through September. In 2004, the Golf Board held eight Regular monthly meetings, and primarily met at the Collindale Clubhouse in the Phillips Room; however, the March meeting was held at the SouthRidge Clubhouse, and the May, July, and November meetings were held at the City Park Nine Clubhouse. The Regular Meetings scheduled for June 16, August 18, and October 20 were cancelled due to a lack of pertinent business at the time, and the Regular Meeting of December 15 was cancelled due to the holiday season. In 2004, ten citizens appointed by City Council served on the nine -member Golf Board. They were Larry Buckendorf, Lauren DeRosa, Manuel Jimenez, David Johnson, Mindy Markley, Claire Nelms, Dan Preble, Mike Sanders, Grant Sherwood, and David Thilmany. Manuel Jimenez resigned from the Board in March because he moved out-of-state, and Council appointed David Thilmany to replace him effective April 6, to a term that will expire December 31, 2007. The regular terms of Claire Nelms and Mike Sanders expired on December 31, and Council in December appointed Vanessa Kabel and Jay Kammerzell to replace them effective January 1, 2005 to terms expiring December 31, 2008. Claire Nelms chose to not reapply for membership, and Mike Sanders was not eligible to reapply as he had served at least two consecutive four-year terms. Mike Sanders had been an outstanding member of the Golf Board for 9 1/2 years, serving the third longest term in Golf Board history. Over the years Mike missed only nine of 89 meetings the Board held during his tenure, and he was an elected Officer for much of his time on the Board, including serving as Board Chairperson from September 1999 through March 2002. Mike contributed a great deal of leadership and innovation to the Board and Staff especially regarding complex financial and fee structure matters; and the Collindale Clubhouse building and many of the recent Golf Capital Improvements, as well as our upgraded Junior Golf Program that he helped champion are a direct result of his efforts. At their March meeting, the Board unanimously re-elected David Johnson as Chairperson, Mindy Markley as Vice Chairperson, and Lauren DeRosa as Board Secretary for 2004/2005. Councilman Bill Bertschy continued to serve in 2004 as City Council Liaison to the Golf Board. Manager of Golf Jerry P. Brown provided administrative support to the Board, and Administrative Aide Dawn Worth, who replaced Stacy Kelley who left employment with the City in April, provided clerical support to the Board. Former (retired) Administrative Aide Patty Carroll provided such support in April and May. The most significant issues/action items that the Golf Board dealt with in 2004 were as follows: Golf Play and Revenues Remain Down in 2004 - The Board has been following this issue closely and has expressed their concerns and have provided some suggestions and input to Staff. City Park Nine Golf Course • 411 South Bryan Avenue • Fort Collins, C0 80521 • (970) 221-6650 Collindale Golf Course • 1441 East Horsetooth Road • Fort Collins, CO 80525 • (970) 221-6651 SouthRidge Golf Course • 5750 South Lemay Avenue • Fort Collins, CO 80525 • (970) 226-2828 Golf Administration • 215 North Mason Street, 3rd Floor • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO80522-0580 • (970) 221-6350 FAX (970) 221-6586 • www.fcgov.com golf The City Golf Fund was financially restructured in mid-2004 to match the circumstances and conditions of the new realities of our situation and that of the Golf Industry as a whole, and we were able to continue to remain fully self-supporting, which is required as a City Enterprise Fund operation. As a point of reference, 2003 had previously been the worst year on record for the three City Golf Courses for both total rounds of golf played and percent of Operating Revenues (basically fees and charges) received. However, the downward trend persisted into 2004 as golf play and revenues continued to decline in Fort Collins, and were generally down almost everywhere in Colorado and nationally for a number of reasons. The popularity of the game of golf itself has declined since 2001, primarily due to the poor economy, and also since the 9-11 terrorist attacks many folks are spending more of their time and their available leisure dollars (if any) differently. In addition, there has been an over -construction of new golf courses both nationally and regionally during the past decade, which translates into more supply than demand. This may be good for golfers but it is bad for golf course operators. Specifically here in Fort Collins, the addition of Pelican Lakes and the new Highland Meadows golf courses in Windsor have definitely impacted us. Also, the West Nile Virus situation and the 2003 March blizzard were factors, as well as the storm drainage construction on City Park Nine and the road construction adjacent to SouthRidge in 2003, and the Collindale Clubhouse construction in 2002, which all helped change golfer play patterns at those courses for which we have not recovered. The three City Golf Courses have been experiencing a dramatic loss of revenues and golf play that we first started identifying in May 2002. Since the mid- 1980's golf play generally averaged around 145,000 total rounds annually, but we ended 2002 with 139,583 total rounds, and in 2003 we dropped -off to 124,327 total rounds, over 20,000 rounds below the historic average. And in 2004 we had only 118,781 total rounds played, the lowest on record. The Elimination of Annual Pass usage in Prime Time also contributed to the loss of total rounds ... In 2003 we ended the year with an Operating Revenue shortfall of (-$208,264) or only 91.38 percent of the originally projected budget. 2004 is even lower with a revenue shortfall of (-$248,348) or only 89.91 percent of the originally projected budget. However, Actual Operating Revenues received in 2004 was $6,000 more than 2003 at $2,212,652 even with all the Annual Pass changes. To compensate, we have virtually depleted all of our Golf Fund Reserves, utilizing nearly $400,000 since 2001, and we saved over $50,000 in budgeted expenses in 2003, and approximately $150,000 in budgeted expenses in 2004. We have also cut $203,000 in expenditures from the originally approved 2005 budget by eliminating almost all capital outlay purchases, reducing seasonal salaries availability, not filling a vacant full-time position, participating in the City-wide Employee salary freeze, and by cutting various contractual and commodities purchases such as marketing, travel and training, chemicals and botanicals, eliminating pay phones, etc. We also raised Green Fees for 2005, and our contractual Golf Professionals and Concessionaires plan to try and recruit more golfers and market their courses better. Hopefully these actions will allow us to at least "break-even" in 2005, assuming we won't continue to loose more rounds. Golf Fees and Charges - In May the Board reviewed the Staff Proposed/Recommended 2005 Golf Fees and Charges, and after some discussion, voted unanimously to support the Staff Proposal. After advertising the Proposal, the Board held a Public Input/Comment Meeting on the Proposed/Recommended 2005 Golf Fees and Charges in July, and received only two public comments in opposition to any fee increases due to the poor economy. Board Members felt the increases were reasonable and necessary considering the current financial situation of the Golf Fund, and after further discussion, the Board voted unanimously as follows: All 9-Hole Green Fee rates (including the Twilight rate) and 18-Hole "Senior" and "Junior" Green Fee rates for 2005 be increased by $1.00, and that 18-Hole Regular Green Fee rates for 2005 be increased by $2.00; with 10-Play Punch Card rates increasing proportionally for the 15 percent discount. In addition, Tournament Reservation Fees be increased by $1.00 per 9-Holes. Also, the Board voted unanimously in July to add a new Single Rider/Golfer Golf Cart Fee to be established at $10.00 for 9-Holes and at $16.00 for 18-Holes; and to modify Non -Prime Time hours at SouthRidge making them 6:30 a.m. (or 1 st tee time) to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday from April Through September, plus daily from October through March. The Interim City Manager then approved the 2005 Golf Fees and Charges as Proposed/Recommended above by the Board and Staff. New Public Golf Course in Fort Collins - The 2004 Golf Board Work Plan called for the Board to potentially consider supporting a new public access golf course in Fort Collins by 2007. However, at their September meeting, the Board unanimously agreed with the Staff recommendation to postpone any consideration of looking at a potential new public access golf course in Fort Collins until 2009 at the earliest, as we currently consider this region over -built. City Park Nine Land Sale - In June, 2003, the Board unanimously conceptually approved a request from neighbor Tom Lloyd to sell to him a small sliver of excess land at City Park Nine adjacent to the # 7 Tees. Then in April (2004) the Board again voted unanimously to finalize the sale to Mr. Lloyd of 3,407 square feet of excess land for $14,200. New Concessionaire/Name at Collindale - The original owners of Brauns Bar & Grill at Collindale (Ken and Steve DeLine), our contractual food and beverage concessionaire, sold their interests in the business to their third partner, Scott Manning, and he changed the name of the concession to Manno's Grille at Collindale, and he incorporated a more golfer friendly atmosphere, as suggested to him by the Board at their March meeting. 2004 "Fort Collins Fore Kids" Event - In June, 93 girls and boys ages 7 to 12 attended the 8th Annual "Fort Collins Fore Kids" Introductory Youth Golf Clinic held at City Park Nine. This event is co -sponsored and supported by the Golf Board, and coordinated by City Park Nine Golf Professional Dave McCleave, PGA, and his staff, with the help and support of Collindale Golf Professional Jim Greer, PGA, and his staff, and SouthRidge Golf Professional Dale Smigelsky, PGA, and his staff. For a $2.00 Pre -Registration Fee, each participant received hands-on instruction on putting, chipping, driving, and golf course rules and etiquette from our PGA Professionals, as well as refreshments, a 2 for 1 swim/skate pass for EPIC or the City pools, a 25 percent off coupon for youth golf lessons, golf and lesson information booklets geared to youth, and Walrus again provided free ice cream to all participants. Fort Collins Country Club Golf Professional John Hanrahan, PGA, and Paula Watson-LaKamp of the City Recreation Marketing Office also provided donations and much assistance. SouthRidge Protective Netting - In May we installed an additional 500 linear feet of protective netting and ten 40 foot tall steel poles at SouthRidge along Lemay Avenue, completing Phase 2 of the project, which allowed us to re -open the existing 14th tee boxes and return the course to maximum yardage. Phase 1, 600 linear feet, was completed in 2003. Golf Board Bylaws Modifications - In January the Board unanimously voted to approve the City Attorney and Staff recommendations which were introduced in November 2003, to modify their Bylaws to eliminate several unnecessary portions and to bring them up-to-date, and be in -line with all State and City laws, codes, etc. Staff Turnover - In 2004 nearly 1/4 of the Full -Time Golf Division City Staff changed. As previously noted, Administrative Aide Stacy Kelley left City employment in April and was replaced by Dawn Worth in June. In addition, Golf Technician Tom Fry, who worked at Collindale for 18 years, retired in June, and was replaced by Dennis Smith, who had worked at Collindale as a Seasonal for nearly 14 years. In October, Collindale Assistant Superintendent Paul Brauer retired after 27 years of service, and was replaced by Golf Technician Mike Enright who was promoted. Mike's position will remain unfilled until at least Spring to save the Golf Fund some money... also, Dave McCleave, PGA, began as our contractual Golf Professional & Concessionaire at City Park Nine on January 1, 2004, replacing Mike Goff, PGA, who decided to not renew his Agreement for 2004 due to health and personal reasons. Dave was selected from 10 applicants through an RFP (Request For Proposals) Purchasing process. Computerization - In April, in conjunction with the Recreation Division Rec Trac system, we installed the Golf Trac computerized system at all three Golf Course Pro Shops, which allows us to monitor all point -of -sale golf merchandise and services by computer rather than paper, and gives us the ability to schedule tee times on the computer instead of using written forms. In addition, we converted both Collindale and SouthRidge to fiber optics and upgraded our telephone systems, which will save us money in the long-term. City Park Nine previously had fiber optics installed. Both Collindale and SouthRidge are also utilizing wireless technology elements which saved us some money on the fiber optics installation Other Golf Board Issues of Concern - Also in 2004, the Board in February submitted to the City Manager, at his request, a memorandum requesting approximately $500,000 for various Golf Capital Improvements from our Unfunded Capital Outlay List, in a priority order, with the funding to come from the potential Sales Tax extensions to be voted on by the electorate in 2005. However, none of the Golf items were considered when the final City Manager recommendations were submitted to City Council ... In March the Board received a copy of a letter from the City Manager, partially in response to a September 2003 Board vote to unanimously oppose a potential portion of the Fossil Creek Trail that could be located on SouthRidge Golf Course. The City Manager stated that a trail through Soudi idge would be unsafe, and his recommendation would be to not have a trail run through the Course ... and finally, in November, the Board voted unanimously to oppose a potential Disc Golf Conceptual Proposal/Inquiry from Mr. Bill Wright, the owner of the Wright Life (an alternative sporting goods store in Old Town) to locate such a facility on a City Golf Course, noting that the two sports are not compatible and combining the two together would cause a great deal of conflict.