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Golf course future secure?
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| Johnny Robinson picks up balls at the Rabun County Golf Club driving range. The fate of the course may be settled by a possible takeover by the county. |
By Chris McCaa Staff Writer
Clayton is close to successfully relinquishing ownership of Rabun County Golf Club in an effort to salvage the course's financial future.
Rabun County Board of Commissioners Chairman Pat Marcellino Sr. said the county was nearing a decision to take control of course operations and alleviate its financial burden on the city.
"The commissioners all seem to agree that the best way to handle the situation is for the county to take over," he said.
He said the next course of action would be determined by Clayton.
"We're waiting for the city to make the next move," Marcellino said. "I would like to see something in writing."
Over the past several months, the city explored several options including leasing the course to a private company, transferring ownership to the county or closing the course.
City Manager Cissy Henry said until any plans were finalized with the county the city was still keeping its options open.
"If the county doesn't take it over, we're still open to lease proposals," Henry said.
Travis Chivers, an entrepreneur and former member of the PGA Tour, said he approached the city in May with a proposal to lease the course. He said leasing would have transformed the course into a substantial revenue source for the city.
"I absolutely saw (the course) making a profit," Chivers said. "The city would make money from the lease and a percentage of the overall profit."
Chivers, who said talks with the city had ended, cited his experience as a consultant for a private interest who overhauled College Park Golf Course in Atlanta. He said the experience served as evidence of his ability to do the same for the Rabun County Golf Club.
"It was a (municipal) course very similar to the one in Rabun County," he said.
In addition to building a driving range, Chivers said he geared the course (in College Park) toward the city's youth in order to revitalize it.
"We built a junior golf facility that's nationally recognized, where all junior golfers who live in College Park and are under the age of 15 play free," Chivers said.
He said if granted the opportunity to lease the course from the city, he would have made several alterations.
"I would have improved the driving range, added an additional nine holes and lengthened the course to make the overall golfing experience more pleasurable."
Marcellino said he was unsure what changes would be made to improve course operations under county ownership.
"I'd have to talk with someone who's an expert in that," Marcellino said. "We might have to have a golf pro or golf course superintendent to advise the commissioners as to what to do."
Katheryn Granberg, a candidate for the Post 3 commission seat, said she opposed the idea of the lease option.
"I feel if somebody leases it they're gonna have to turn it into a profit maker and raise the rates," Granberg said.
She said the course provided her and other residents on a limited income with an affordable place to play golf in the county.
"I can't afford to play at Kingwood or Sky Valley," Granberg said.
Chivers said the course would never be a success as long as numerous interests were attempting to influence its operations.
"There are just too many hands on the course, like the city, the mayor, the county and PARS (Partners of the Rabun County Golf Club) telling each other what to do," Chivers said.
Chivers said the course's overhead to compensate course employees depleted much needed financial resources for the course to operate successfully.
"Their payroll is an exorbitant amount of money, and that's what's killing it," he said.
City accountant Kathy Allen said the course employed too many workers during certain times of the year.
"They had four full-time and two part-time employees down there this winter," Allen said.
Full-time employee Johnny Robinson said the course did not require a large staff during the down season to sufficiently maintain course operations.
"There's not a whole lot to do in the winter except pick up range balls and general maintenance," he said.
Chivers said he examined payroll expenditures by obtaining the course's financial records from the city.
"I have everything, including profit loss and revenue reports," he said.
Marcellino said he did not see the need for the county to request detailed expense reports from the city regarding course operations before making a decision to take over ownership.
"We all know the city's losing money on the course," Marcellino said. "Why look at the stuff when you know it's a losing proposition."
Rabun County Golf Club operating losses (2000-07)
2000 $7,626
2001 $20,619
2002 $52,941
2003 $73,930
2004 $49,672
2005 $34,308
2006 $61,994
2007 $57,752
Total $358,842
Rabun County Board of Commissioners Chairman Pat Marcellino Sr. said the county was nearing a decision to take control of course operations and alleviate its financial burden on the city.
"The commissioners all seem to agree that the best way to handle the situation is for the county to take over," he said.
He said the next course of action would be determined by Clayton.
"We're waiting for the city to make the next move," Marcellino said. "I would like to see something in writing."
Over the past several months, the city explored several options including leasing the course to a private company, transferring ownership to the county or closing the course.
City Manager Cissy Henry said until any plans were finalized with the county the city was still keeping its options open.
"If the county doesn't take it over, we're still open to lease proposals," Henry said.
Travis Chivers, an entrepreneur and former member of the PGA Tour, said he approached the city in May with a proposal to lease the course. He said leasing would have transformed the course into a substantial revenue source for the city.
"I absolutely saw (the course) making a profit," Chivers said. "The city would make money from the lease and a percentage of the overall profit."
Chivers, who said talks with the city had ended, cited his experience as a consultant for a private interest who overhauled College Park Golf Course in Atlanta. He said the experience served as evidence of his ability to do the same for the Rabun County Golf Club.
"It was a (municipal) course very similar to the one in Rabun County," he said.
In addition to building a driving range, Chivers said he geared the course (in College Park) toward the city's youth in order to revitalize it.
"We built a junior golf facility that's nationally recognized, where all junior golfers who live in College Park and are under the age of 15 play free," Chivers said.
He said if granted the opportunity to lease the course from the city, he would have made several alterations.
"I would have improved the driving range, added an additional nine holes and lengthened the course to make the overall golfing experience more pleasurable."
Marcellino said he was unsure what changes would be made to improve course operations under county ownership.
"I'd have to talk with someone who's an expert in that," Marcellino said. "We might have to have a golf pro or golf course superintendent to advise the commissioners as to what to do."
Katheryn Granberg, a candidate for the Post 3 commission seat, said she opposed the idea of the lease option.
"I feel if somebody leases it they're gonna have to turn it into a profit maker and raise the rates," Granberg said.
She said the course provided her and other residents on a limited income with an affordable place to play golf in the county.
"I can't afford to play at Kingwood or Sky Valley," Granberg said.
Chivers said the course would never be a success as long as numerous interests were attempting to influence its operations.
"There are just too many hands on the course, like the city, the mayor, the county and PARS (Partners of the Rabun County Golf Club) telling each other what to do," Chivers said.
Chivers said the course's overhead to compensate course employees depleted much needed financial resources for the course to operate successfully.
"Their payroll is an exorbitant amount of money, and that's what's killing it," he said.
City accountant Kathy Allen said the course employed too many workers during certain times of the year.
"They had four full-time and two part-time employees down there this winter," Allen said.
Full-time employee Johnny Robinson said the course did not require a large staff during the down season to sufficiently maintain course operations.
"There's not a whole lot to do in the winter except pick up range balls and general maintenance," he said.
Chivers said he examined payroll expenditures by obtaining the course's financial records from the city.
"I have everything, including profit loss and revenue reports," he said.
Marcellino said he did not see the need for the county to request detailed expense reports from the city regarding course operations before making a decision to take over ownership.
"We all know the city's losing money on the course," Marcellino said. "Why look at the stuff when you know it's a losing proposition."
Rabun County Golf Club operating losses (2000-07)
2000 $7,626
2001 $20,619
2002 $52,941
2003 $73,930
2004 $49,672
2005 $34,308
2006 $61,994
2007 $57,752
Total $358,842
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bob wrote on Jul 31, 2008 7:03 PM: