Although 14 rainy October days equated to a “red” month for Crimson Creek Golf Club, officials say the course is faring better than expected.
“When you look at the economy and the state of golf courses across the country, we''re doing pretty well,” said Steve Ketter, the certified public accountant who handles Crimson Creek''s financial records.
Officials at the Florida-based National Golf Foundation said the industry has been hit hard by the recession and ongoing questions concerning job stability, gas prices and other factors.
“We have a situation where golf courses are seeking financing to avoid foreclosure or are being put on the market,” stated Jim Kass, NGS research director, on the organization''s Web site. “It''s not that there are fewer people playing – the problem is they''re not playing enough rounds.”
The result – in 2008 and through November 2009, more golf courses are closing than opening, according to NGF data. That contrasts sharply with 2001, when 252 more courses opened than closed.
In Canadian County, Surrey Hills Golf Club in Yukon is one of the courses up for sale. According to LoopNet, a Web site which markets properties for sale, the 225-acre course is on the market with a price tag of $8.75 million. Officials at Surrey Hills did not respond to calls requesting information about the course''s operation or finances as of press time.
Ketter said Friday that, when compared with other courses, Crimson Creek''s financial “hiccups” are minor.
“We have our months when we''re looking at losses, and unfortunately bad weather has played a part in lowering our round numbers,” he said. “However, when you look at what we''re facing and what other courses are looking at, we''re holding our own.”
Crimson Creek faced a drop of rounds in October, compared with the same month last year. In October 2008, 1,615 rounds were played at the course; this October, golfers logged 1,200 rounds on the course. The club''s assistant manager, Chrisara Halsey, told trustees during the El Reno Recreational Authority meeting Tuesday how those numbers broken down were a good indication of the cause for the drop.
“Member rounds tell the story – when they drop like that (from 710 in 2008 to 571 in 2009), it''s due to the weather,” she said. “Besides the rain, temperature was also a factor. Last year, the average temperature in October was 73 degrees, and in (October) 2009 it was 64 degrees.”
A drop in rounds also means a decrease in revenue paid to the city of El Reno and the recreational authority by Mike Bone, operator of the Hook ''n Slice restaurant. Under the terms of the lease agreement entered into between the city and Bone, the restauranteur pays the city .60 per each round logged at Crimson Creek. In October, Bone''s total subsidy payment was $720.
Course maintenance expenses also continued to top last year''s costs, but superintendent Michael Payne said items like chemicals and fertilizers should stabilize in coming months.
“We''ve had problems with the greens and dollar spots – they''re just so severe, and they''re not coming along as quickly as I would like,” Payne said. “We''re playing catch-up to get the greens – which are the club''s biggest investment – back into shape.”
Chairman Dale Cox said investments made now would be key to keeping the course on track and headed toward a “better future.”
“As we work on these items, such as getting the greens and other areas in good shape, and then look at the investment we''ve made in hiring a new team to direct the course, we can move Crimson Creek to the next level.”
In addition to Payne, authority trustees hired Richard Buchanan as course pro Nov. 5. Buchanan will take the position Dec. 1. He said Tuesday he plans to hit the ground running.
“We have a lot to do, but the course has so much potential,” he said. “I''m really excited about what we can do here.”