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STAYING THE COURSE
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A QUICK CLOSING: The Youngstown-owned Henry Stambaugh Golf Course was closed for only one day — Saturday — as the city tries to save money. Al Campbell, 81, a retired steel worker from Youngstown, waits to play nine holes at the course. He plays there almost every day.
Despite rough times, Stambaugh remains in play
The city golf course lost $100,000 last year and is expected to lose a little less than that this year.
YOUNGSTOWN — The “closing” of the city-owned Henry Stambaugh Golf Course didn’t last long.
Because of the city’s struggling financial situation, it closed the course Saturday.
City officials met Saturday morning and came up with a plan to reopen the course Sunday, Mayor Jay Williams and Jason Whitehead, director of that department and the mayor’s chief of staff, said Wednesday.
The city never gave any public notice that the course on the North Side reopened.
“In our scramble and last-minute work,” the city forgot to announce the reopening of the course, Williams said.
The cash-strapped city closed the nine-hole course because it laid off most of Stambaugh’s employees last week.
City officials decided to “realign” the parks and recreation department staff to keep the golf course open, Whitehead said.
“It’s kind of a juggling act,” he said.
The city laid off nine park and recreation department workers Friday in an effort to reduce its expenses.
Overall, the city laid off 13 employees Friday with an additional five workers losing their jobs Sept. 18.
The city moved some of the park and recreation office personnel and supervisors to the golf course to keep it open, Williams and Whitehead said.
City officials haven’t decided how long to keep the course open, but the goal is to keep it operating through the end of October, Williams and Whitehead said.
The city typically keeps Stambaugh open through the end of November.
“It will be open as long as we can,” Whitehead said.
The course, which opened in 1923, is a financial drain on the city and has never turned a profit, Whitehead said.
The city lost $100,000 last year operating the course, he said. The loss this year is expected to “be a little less” than $100,000, Whitehead said.
The city’s recreation programs, including summer camps and its pools, don’t make money but help with the area’s overall quality of life, he said.
It costs $7.50 for a city resident to play the nine holes at Stambaugh and $8 for those who don’t live in the city. Those 60 or older play for $1 less.
The city last raised its green fees — by 50 cents across the board — in late 2006.
If the city’s finances don’t improve, the course’s hours and days open would be reduced beginning next year, Whitehead said.
City officials say the 2010 deficit is significantly more than $1 million but haven’t given a figure.
skolnick@vindy.com