Can Municipal Golf Courses Survive?

If you're reading this article it's because your community has its own municipal golf course in controversy because it is a financial drain on taxpayers. Be sure to Like this article - and make sure your city 'Managers' read it.

Municipally owned and operated golf courses need not be a drain on taxpayers. They should be self-supporting and a contributor to the local golf economy. Closing them because they cannot operate in the black is a cop out.

See the opening picture showing a Chicago area municipal golf course of over 50-years that has never dipped into the local treasury (taxpayers) to pay it way. I took that picture (Mike Kahn, Golfmak, Inc.)

Meanwhile, municipally owned golf courses everywhere are sending out RFP requests for advice to help them resolve their operational deficits. Pressure from City Hall to eliminate the drain on local taxpayers is making life difficult for what was once a positive recreational facility for its citizens. However, the problem with hiring outside companies through the RFP process is that it is expensive, time-consuming, and not likely to solve the issue. 

It is our opinion based on experience that very little if anything will be resolved following the RFP process. 

We have a better way.

Encourage your City Hall to hire the Golfmak, Inc. team through its general operating account because we are inexpensive and we can begin our analysis almost immediately. We did exactly that for a municipally owned golf course on the outskirts of Chicago. Our analysis and input were adopted and the business continued to flourish - still without taking a dime from taxpayers.

The subject municipal golf course in your community is likely no different from the one in the picture: 

•  Except it operates at a profit

•  It contributes to building the local golf economy

•  Thousands of its residents of all ages play and enjoy the golf course

•  Due to excellent management practices, it is always in perfect condition

•  It represents precious green open space and it's environmentally friendly

•  It employs full and part time people

•  It contributes $ millions to the local economy

Ask your City Hall to request a quote for our on-site review and market analysis of its municipal golf course. We think they'll be pleasantly surprised with our work and modest fees. 

WE ARE THOROUGH

Our analysis can take up to a month. We look at everything. We watch everything. We get to know its customers. We get to know how management and the employees behave. We review the concessions. We review operation budgets and the P&Ls. We review the budgets. We review cash handling, inventory management, reporting and employee accountability. We want to know how the facility is overseen by City Hall. We get to know the relationships with neighboring golf courses. We write a report with our recommendations.  

If you want to see your municipal golf course move the right direction start by urging them to arrange a conference meeting with the team of Michael Kahn, Golfmak, Inc. and William McIntosh, Golf Specialists, Inc. They are welcome to include any members of City Council, City Manager, or City Comptroller to learn about us and our 100+ years combined experience in the golf course business. We can openly discuss the particular golf course so we can all be on the same page.

If we determine that a municipally owned golf course can survive on its own, we’ll show how it can be accomplished. However, based on our study, if in our experience we believe a municipal golf course project is doomed rest assured we’ll express that opinion.  

We have excellent references.

Call: 941-739-3990 or write mike@golfmak.com anytime.

Mike