From the Tee Box : Is golf at a crossroad in Bella Vista?
Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Two months ago, I wrote about declining play and increasing costs. Last month, I discussed efforts to increase play on Bella Vista golf courses. Today, I want to complete my trilogy by dealing with the challenges ahead for golfers in our community.
Understand that this article does not reflect any official or unofficial decisions by the Joint Advisory Committee on Golf, Bella Vista's golf management or the Property Owners Association Board - just my observations regarding Bella Vista golf.
We are at a crossroad. The present volume of play will not support the increasing cost of maintaining our eight golf courses, given the present POA allocation for golf.
Between 1998 and next year's proposed budget, the number of annual rounds of golf will have decreased by 150, 000. Those lost golf rounds represent more than a 2 million dollar reduction of income when both greens fees and cart rentals are included. With declining play and rising costs, something has got to change.
Last month, I spoke about efforts to increase play. While there has been an excellent increase in young golfer rounds, the additional number of rounds is a drop in the proverbial bucket financially. In short, we need to substantially increase POA membership, particularly in golf.
Last year, 7, 000 Bella Vista residents played at least one round of golf. These residents included 2, 100 Value Card holders, who accounted for half of all the rounds played in 2007. Within the 2, 100 Value Card holders, only 5 percent played 90 rounds or more, 65 percent played between 75 and 90 rounds and the remaining played less than 75 rounds.
To substantially increase golf revenue, we need to attract more members of the middle group, which averages six to seven rounds a month, since they represent two-thirds of our demographic.
Where do these potential golfers live ? Look around.
Earlier this year, the JACG studied several alternatives aimed at increasing play. We believe a large number of potential golfers, who do not live in Bella Vista, reside in Benton and adjacent counties. We need to provide an opportunity to encourage these non-Bella Vista golfers to play golf and enjoy our other recreational choices on a regular basis.
The JACG proposed that several POA-owned lots, which could not be built upon, be divided into 2-foot square lots and sold to nonresidents to provide access for the owners to all Bella Vista amenities. Two thousand "mini-lots "were envisioned, with half of the lots being purchased by golf enthusiasts.
The JACG recommended these mini-lots be sold at a cost of $ 300 to $ 500, with the stipulation that the lots could only be sold back to the POA.
Our objective was to increase revenue from the mini-lot owners in the form of monthly assessments, greens fees and cart rentals. We identified an $ 860, 000-per-year opportunity at minimal cost to the POA. We were told that our proposal was not possible.
We assessed the financial gain by creating a golf club within golf in Bella Vista, which is a common practice in many parts of the country. A golf club member would pay an annual fee in return for no additional greens fees or cart rental charges. Unfortunately, too few golfers are playing sufficient rounds each year to justify the range of club membership dues we envisioned. The result of our analysis shows the revenue increase would be very small or possibly negative.
So, where does this leave us ? The alternatives are choices many residents selectively do not want to hear: increasing the golf allocation and reducing other allocations; raising various golf fees; reducing maintenance, resulting in poorer quality courses; or lowering the number of golfing holes.
The POA Board has a Use Subcommittee that is studying Bella Vista residents'use of all facilities. The group's objective is to more fairly distribute funds to the competing budgets in our community - administrative and operational facilities, golf, lakes and recreation.
I do not know what the outcome will be, but I have to believe the POA has very difficult - and to some folks, unacceptable - golf decisions to make for the 2009 budget. It is a very tough year financially for the U. S., and Bella Vista is no exception.
I encourage you to attend the JACG meetings, which are held the second Wednesday of each month in Riordan Hall. This month's meeting will start at 6 p.m. Oct. 8. From November through March, the meetings are held at 8: 30 a.m.
Every attendee is given a chance to speak to the committee on whatever golf topic is important to them. It is your opportunity to inform us of your concerns, as well as maximize your information on golf-related issues.
• • • Louis Adler is a member of the Bella Vista Property Owners Association's Joint Advisory Committee on Golf.
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