Losses chipped at golf course
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.
Privatizing the course 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 had lost 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 with 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. “Our goal is to drive traffic [to the course] and to make enough revenue to break even this year.”
When asked how that can be done, Whitehead said, “To be honest, I don’t have any ideas. We’ll try to promote the golf course. We’ll also look at the agreement to see if we can adjust it” to provide financial incentive to whoever manages the course if profits exceed expenses.
Whitehead said he wants to see if the city can find someone to manage the course for less than the $76,000 paid to Boos last year. The agreement could include bonus pay for hitting certain financial benchmarks while still saving the city money, he said.
The city opted last year to privatize most of the golf course’s operations to save employee costs.
The city laid off eight part-time park and recreation workers in September 2009. The workers made $7 to $9 an hour with no medical benefits.
If the city runs the course itself, it would have to recall the laid-off workers, Whitehead said.
The city wants to open the 88-year-old golf course March 1 and close it Nov. 30, weather permitting, he said.
The green fees at the course were raised $1 last year. They won’t be increased this year, Whitehead said.
City residents pay $8.50 to play the nine-hole course. Those who don’t live in the city pay $9 a round. Those age 60 or older play for $1 less.
The city is applying for a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to cover 75 percent of the $20,000 cost for exterior improvements to the course’s clubhouse. Without the grant, the work won’t be done.