Hot weather and a floundering economy have contributed to a continued decline in the number of rounds played at Salt Lake County golf courses.
Because the county has three courses that require bond payments totaling just under $3 million, the reduced play has caused concern for County Council members already facing a tight budget this coming year.
The Salt Lake County Council heard information this week from the county auditor's office projecting that if the current revenue loss of 14 percent continues throughout the summer, the county could be facing a $1.6 million loss from the golf enterprise fund. The county would be forced to cover at least $300,000 of those losses from other funds.
"Unless there's a major windfall from another source, the ability to meet the debt service will be a major challenge," said Jim Wightman of the Salt Lake County auditor's office.
So far this year, rounds at all county courses are down about 16 percent, with Meadowbrook and South Mountain both down about 25 percent. South Mountain is of special concern for county leaders because of the $1.1 million bond payment they owe this year on the course.
The only good news for the council was that operating costs have also dropped, by more than $200,000 during the first half of 2002. Last year, the council told Mayor Nancy Workman, whose office oversees the enterprise fund, that the fund needed to become less of a burden on the county budget.
David Marshall, Workman's chief administrative officer, said golf has dropped in Salt Lake County just as it has dropped throughout the state, and even the country. And while he could not promise that the county could increase play at their courses without slashing prices to unprofitable levels, he did say that the operations were becoming more efficient at all courses.
"I cannot provide you increased play, because of the economy and other factors," he told the council. "But I can guarantee that we will work to maximize the play we do have on our courses."
Councilman Jim Bradley said that one of the biggest problems for the county may not be the operation of the courses, but the fact that they are expected to be successful businesses while also serving the general public. Instead, he said that the council should maybe consider treating them as public recreation centers, which are not expected to be profitable.
"With the prices we charge (at the courses), there is no way . . . you can say you're running it like a business," he said. "If we don't call it a business, that would change the whole nature of this conversation."
Councilman Steve Harmsen said that the county should also look at attracting the core golf population, senior citizens, with an annual pass program. He pointed out that the Salt Lake City courses which have not lost rounds are those more heavily used by seniors, and the county should look to bring those regular golfers to its courses.
"We are doing a real disservice if we don't look at annual passes," he said. "With declining rounds, if we are first to the post with an annual pass, we will win."
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