City of Youngstown takes another shot at privatizing Stambaugh Golf Course

By DAVID SKOLNICK

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Privatizing most of Henry Stambaugh Golf Course’s operations didn’t save the city any money in 2010, but Youngstown officials plan to give it another shot this year.

The privatizing effort actually cost the city a little more money in 2010, a $27,288 deficit, than when it last ran the course itself in 2009, a $26,540 deficit.

But the cash-strapped city has significantly reduced its losses at the North Side golf course from a few years ago. The course typically loses about $100,000 annually.

In 2008, the city lost $113,342. But that is somewhat deceptive because the city-owned course was closed for seven-and-a-half more weeks in 2010 and six more weeks in 2009 in comparison to 2008.

The city paid $76,000 to David Boos, the course’s golf pro since 2006, to manage the nine-hole golf course last year.

But the city also spent about $19,000 last year to pay other personnel at the course, primarily part-time cashiers, as well as spend $5,000 for grounds maintenance supplies and equipment and $2,500 for utilities.

“Our challenge is to drive revenue up while trying to keep expenses down,” said Jason Whitehead, the park and recreation director and the mayor’s chief of staff.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.