Columbus’ two city-run golf courses were stuck in the rough last year and it’s unknown if a mulligan will help them to profitability this season.
The two courses, Greenbelt and Rocky Ford Par 3, lost a combined $48,957 in 2018 — eight times more than the courses lost in 2017, according to city figures. The steeper loss was mainly due to inclement weather, which cut into the courses’ revenue, said Nikki Murphy, director of sports programs for Columbus Parks and Recreation, which oversees the courses.
Extensive flooding in April 2018 resulted in high water at both courses, and a lengthy recovery process.
“Obviously, last year was affected by the weather, particularly in the first quarter of the year,” she said. “But we rebounded nicely by the end of the year. We’re going in the right direction. We just need Mother Nature to cooperate with us.”
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Last year, Greenbelt saw revenue fall from $324,635 to $299,534, not including the city’s sales tax revenue, which totaled $6,126 between the two courses. Greenbelt also saw expenses go up $35,475. Revenue exceed expenses at the course by $21,201 in 2017.
Rocky Ford Par 3, for its part, has seen a net loss the past three years even though expenses decreased by $4,801 and revenue (not including sales tax) increased $7,926 last year. Murphy said the losses at Par 3 were due, in part, to the course’s low prices.
“The rates are really pretty low (at Par 3),” she said. “It’s intentional. It’s our feeder course. It gets people in and gets them comfortable with the game with the hope that they transition to Greenbelt.”
Overall, the two courses lost $6,006 in 2017 and $48,957 in 2018. Though revenue exceeded expenses in 2016, Murphy cautioned that the golf courses were not fully staffed that year, which may have understated the costs. Columbus Parks and Recreation uses the 2017 numbers as a barometer, she said.
The golf course challenge
The city’s struggle to keep the courses out of the red reflect the challenges of operating aging golf courses in unfavorable and unpredictable weather conditions, city officials said. The city has failed to break even the last two years despite seeing increases in memberships, league participation and golf and foot-golf outings.
The number of rounds played dropped in 2018, but are still up 6,123 rounds compared to 2016, the last year the golf courses were profitable, according to city data.
Parks officials had projected that 18,000 rounds of golf would have been played in 2018 at Greenbelt, and 10,000 rounds at Par 3.
In 2018, 18,467 rounds of golf were actually played at Greenbelt and 9,560 at Par 3.
The golf courses went under parks department control in October 2015 after the city ended a management agreement with Steve Cohen LLC. Cohen, who had worked for the city’s golf program since 1977, decided not to renew his contract with the city.
The city created a nonreverting fund for the golf courses to be used to cover personnel costs, supplies, utilities and other services. The hope then was that the cost of the courses would be paid through course revenues.
When the parks department unveiled its master plan in 2017, the golf courses were selected as an area needing improvement. Strategic upgrades were proposed including clubhouse improvements, better amenities and better infrastructure.
But in 2015, when the city regained control of the two golf courses, many of the golf courses’ facilities were “in disrepair,” according to Murphy.
“We inherited aging courses that didn’t get all the love they deserved,” she said.
The city discovered Greenbelt’s parking lot “was like driving through landmines,” and resurfaced and renovated it, Murphy said. The doors and windows on the course’s clubhouse were aging and needed to be replaced.
The kitchen was renovated to meet the health code, and the doors to the outdoor bathrooms described as “rusted, vandalized and malformed,” were replaced, Murphy said.
Last year, the course’s maintenance facility was vandalized and broken into two or three times, which prompted city officials to install security systems at both course’s maintenance facilities.
Currently, some shingles have been sliding off the clubhouse roof at Par 3.
Course maintenance
Keith VanDeventer, golf pro and manager of the courses, said maintaining the courses and keeping up with the weather are among the biggest challenges the two golf courses face.
The first half of 2018 was unseasonably cold and wet, according to city officials. In April, Haw Creek flooded part of the Greenbelt course, which is next to the creek. The flood deposited debris, silt and sand onto the course and briefly shut the course down, according to VanDeventer. Par 3, for its part, had standing water and some run-off from adjacent roads.
“You’re always dealing with the weather,” VanDeventer said. “The weather presents the biggest challenge for us. If you get a lot of rain, it keeps people from playing.”
Murphy, however, said the goal is not for the city to turn a profit on the golf courses.
“Our goal is to strive toward revenue neutral status,” she said. “We have a huge expectation that we don’t hike up our prices. While we can make three or four times more on rounds, we feel it is important that people of all economic backgrounds can play.”
Currently, Murphy said the city will introduce birthday party rentals at Par 3 this year and hopes to expand the city’s golf leagues and sponsorships to boost revenue.
“We are going to be focusing on retaining sponsorships for our golf carts and will start doing birthday party rentals at Par 3,” she said. “We are starting to rejuvenate and grow our leagues. We think our outing numbers are going to grow this year.”
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Rocky Ford Par 3
Established in 1963, Rocky Ford Par 3 has 18 holes, a pro shop, driving range and concessions. The course is geared toward beginner golfers and families, according to the course’s website.
Greenbelt
Greenbelt Golf Course was built in the 1930s and was originally called Columbus Golf Club. Currently, it has nine holes, a club house, pro shop, driving range and concessions, including alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages are not sold at Rocky Ford Par 3.
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Par 3
Season Passes
Adult: $379.50
Family: $445.50
Senior (60 years and older): $324.50
Daily Pricing:
9 holes: $8 ($10 with pull-cart)
18 holes: $12 ($16 with pull-cart)
Senior 18 holes: $10 ($14 with pull-cart)
Greenbelt
Season Passes
Adult: $698.50
Family: $929.50
Senior (60 years and older): $577.50
Daily Pricing:
9 holes: $12 ($19.50 with an electric cart)
18 holes (Monday to Friday): $18 ($25.50 with an electric cart)
18 holes (Saturdays and Sundays) $18 ($28 with an electric cart)
Senior 18 holes (Monday to Friday): $24 (with an electric cart)
— Source: Columbus Parks and Recreation Department
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