The city owns 36 holes at Page Belcher Golf Course, and 36 holes at Mohawk Golf Course, which have been operated by Billy Casper Golf since 2008. Mayor G.T. Bynum said the “courses cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars more than they were supposed to,” and is looking closely at the operations going forward.
Tulsa, Okla.’s new contract with Billy Casper Golf has been sitting unsigned for two weeks on Mayor G.T. Bynum’s desk, and he intends to look closely at the city’s golf operations before he does, Tulsa World reported.
“We are concluding a year when our courses cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars more than they were supposed to, and we need to have a better understanding of how that happens and how we can make sure that does not happen in the future,” Bynum said.
The city has four courses at two sites: 36 holes at Page Belcher Golf Course, and 36 holes at Mohawk Golf Course. Billy Casper Golf was selected to run the courses in 2007 and took over operations in 2008. The city’s decision to privatize operations of the golf course came after years of significant losses compounded by deteriorating course conditions, World reported.
The mayor at the time, Kathy Taylor, recommended in her budget that 18 holes at Page Belcher and nine holes at Mohawk be closed.Those losses—which topped $1.4 million in 2007—have shrunk significantly since Billy Casper Golf took over, World reported.
In the past three fiscal years, the city’s golf course system has lost an average of $169,000. During that time, the city has provided an average of $166,333 in equipment and operations funding, according to figures provided by the city.
Bynum said that although he believes most people think Billy Casper Golf has done a good job, now is a good time to take a look at what is the most efficient way to manage and operate the courses in a world-class way, World reported.
“I don’t feel like we have had that discussion here at the city in a decade, probably since Mayor Taylor originally hired Billy Casper Golf. So, now, with that contract up for renewal, I think it gives us that opportunity to look at it.”
Tom Wolff, General Manager of Billy Casper Golf, said he believes his organization has improved customer service, streamlined operations and gotten the most out of the money it has had to improve course conditions, World reported.
The city paid the golf courses’ utility bills for a couple of years, freeing up operating revenue to redo the greens, Wolff said, and has also funded a parking lot. But those are the only major capital investments the city has made in the golf courses since Billy Casper Golf took over, Wolff said.
“Given the amount of money that they spend on golf course operations, I think it’s a value,” Wolff said of Billy Casper Golf. “Let’s face it, the last year they (the city) operated the golf courses, they did 78,000 rounds; we did 110,000 last year.
“To increase 40,000 rounds, or 30,000 rounds, in the golf business in the last 10 years, that is a pretty remarkable number.”
In his office at Page Belcher Golf Course, Wolff uses the same chair that was there when he took the job in 2008, and the rest of the furnishings came from the restaurant and pro shop downstairs, World reported.
“We don’t spend money frivolously,” Wolff said. “From Day 1, (when) I stepped off the plane from Tulsa International Airport, I knew I was spending taxpayer money, and it is a responsibility I take very seriously.”
Wolff said the best thing the city could do to help boost revenues at the golf courses is to build better clubhouses. Page Belcher’s event space is an outdoor patio area shared by golfers; at Mohawk, the clubhouse can hold about 35 people. Billy Casper Golf’s pitch for $12 million in Vision Tulsa funding for new clubhouses never made it onto the ballot, World reported.
“The real bang for the buck is in clubhouses,” Wolff said. “We turn away business—and I do mean event business—because we can’t put everybody someplace.”
Bynum said the city’s review of golf course operations is part of a broader examination of the Parks and Recreation Department. Some of that work is being done by the City/County Parks Realignment Commission. The goal, Bynum said, is to not only make the city’s golf courses better, but to improve the entire park system, World reported.
“One of the leading reasons for having our Parks Realignment Commission…is the recognition that we have a parks system that I don’t think is living up to its potential,” the mayor said. “It has tremendous potential but could be so much more than it is today.”
What is not being contemplated, the mayor insisted, is closing any of the city’s golf courses, World reported.
“Absolutely not,” Bynum said. “I am the grandson of a guy (Joseph LaFortune) who founded a public golf course (LaFortune Golf Course) here because he grew up without a dime and hated the fact that the only people who got to play golf were the rich people with country club memberships.”
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