Even though Salt Lake City tapped golf revenues for other recreation programs, the golf program is "healthy and facing a bright future," according to the Utah Foundation.

In a report issued this week, the private nonprofit research organization concluded that while some golfers may not like it, the "modest use of golf fees for other recreational purposes seems reasonable at this time."A restricted golf enterprise fund financed the city's golf courses until late 1992, when Mayor Deedee Corradini merged the fund with the city's overall recreation program.

The action drew a howl of protest from golfers who complained that it wasn't fair to ask their self-supporting program to subsidize nonprofitable recreation activities.

"We golfers are the only ones paying for the recreation deficit," said Lou Skokos, an outspoken critic of the city's golf policies. "How can they say that that's reasonable?"

Utah Foundation analysts said that although the golfers' protest is understandable, an evaluation of recreation financing shows that only 5 percent ($300,000) of the $7 million golf fund has gone to other kinds of recreation.

The remaining $1.5 million spent on other recreation activities came from fees, sponsors and advertising, the foundation said. Like the golf courses, the city's tennis courts are also self-supporting and contribute a "modest $1,200 a year to help subsidize nonrevenue programs," the analysts added.

Also, although Block 57 Plaza's recreational programs are now part of the city's recreation system, all of the city's recreation expenditures for the plaza are reimbursed by the Salt Lake Redevelopment Agency, the foundation said.

Skokos disputes the foundation's figures, saying the recreation division's deficit - made up by golfers - was closer to $538,000. And according to Skokos, the golf program's financial condition has been severely compromised by the merger with recreation.

"How can it be healthy and facing a bright future when Corradini herself admits that the recreation program will never be self-supporting?" Skokos said. "What that means is that the golf program will lose more and more money, and there's no end to it."

Utah Foundation analysts, however, said Corradini and recreation officials have established a plan to maintain the high standards of the golf program. Among other things, they have appointed an experienced golf administrator, Dick Alexander, and developed a capital improvement program for each of the city's seven courses.

"Taking these things into consideration, Salt Lake City public golf is on a sound footing and facing a bright future," the analysts said.

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However, they said some fine-tuning may be necessary, particularly in the area of course management. Before they were made full-time city employees in 1992, the golf pros who managed the courses were independent contractors who hired their own staffs and financed operations through concession revenues.

According to the Utah Foundation, most of the proposed fine-tuning involves the status of the pros. Some city officials are apparently suggesting that some of the profits from golf shop sales and lessons be restored to the pros.

In addition to restructuring the golf program in 1992, the city implemented a complicated new greens fee structure. Rates are higher at premium courses and at prime times.

Despite the overall positive report, the Utah Foundation advises golfers to keep an eye on the program. Noting that fees are politically easier to increase than broad-based taxes, the analysts said, "It is possible that some future city administration might increase public golf fees unreasonably to avoid or minimize a tax increase."

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