Huge Rate Increases, what would you do?

CP_Circa62 · February 28, 2014

Something isn't quite adding up. The hoa owns the course and sub sizes it in some part. How many rounds does the course get in a year? And it doesn't sound like it has a large maintenance budget.

I'd also ask more about the arrangement where the pro gets the range- unless his salary as gm/pro is very low, something doesn't sound right.

I'd have your group make a few trips to ER and let them see the drop in revs, then explain your situation to the HOA board or a board member.

HR Dave · February 28, 2014

I'm surprised that in an area that has the weather for year round golf that there would be so few courses available to you. I live in upstate NY and can play 20 courses within 30 minutes of my house, sure lots of them are dumps, but the ones that are, know they are and price themselves accordingly.

oregongolf · February 28, 2014

[quote name='HR Dave' timestamp='1393649318' post='8769690']
I'm surprised that in an area that has the weather for year round golf that there would be so few courses available to you. I live in upstate NY and can play 20 courses within 30 minutes of my house, sure lots of them are dumps, but the ones that are, know they are and price themselves accordingly.
[/quote]

I wouldn't call Flagstaff an area for year round golf...

30 minutes isn't bad for a weekly game though. If it were your daily club or something, I could see it being a problem. Enjoy your better rates and better course!

snookybusby · March 1, 2014

I would consider trying the drive a couple of times and just see how it goes. Of course, I grew up in the country so it took me over half an hour just to get to high school! But essentially, life is only two points on a line: birth and death. And the whole adventure is getting from one to the other. You may find that you enjoy the drive even if there is nothing to look at. Get Sirius radio or something. But a 30 minute drive is just nothing. My dad drove over an hour to work every day. Once you get used to it, it's not so bad. : )

ncosper · March 1, 2014

[quote name='oregongolf' timestamp='1393649608' post='8769728']
[quote name='HR Dave' timestamp='1393649318' post='8769690']
I'm surprised that in an area that has the weather for year round golf that there would be so few courses available to you. I live in upstate NY and can play 20 courses within 30 minutes of my house, sure lots of them are dumps, but the ones that are, know they are and price themselves accordingly.
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I wouldn't call Flagstaff an area for year round golf...
[/quote]
Thats for sure! Unless you call golf weather a high of 32 with a foot of snow on the course golf weather we are lucky to play from April through October. Guaranteed at least two rounds of snow during that time period too. The misconception people have of Arizona is humorous when they see golf on TV meanwhile we are 30-40 degree colder just 1:45 minute drive away...

ncosper · March 1, 2014

[quote name='CP_Circa62' timestamp='1393636739' post='8768358']
Something isn't quite adding up. The hoa owns the course and sub sizes it in some part. How many rounds does the course get in a year? And it doesn't sound like it has a large maintenance budget.

I'd also ask more about the arrangement where the pro gets the range- unless his salary as gm/pro is very low, something doesn't sound right.

I'd have your group make a few trips to ER and let them see the drop in revs, then explain your situation to the HOA board or a board member.
[/quote]

I'm not sure of the numbers but the pro told me that last year league play was 1/7th of business and was about 3,000 rounds. If the 1/7th was rounds played not revenue its means they had 21,000 rounds. Not sure if that is what he based the 1/7th off of or not.

I think the problem with the Maintenance is that the course pays half of the maintenance budget, but the private course gets way more attention. I think the public course ends up paying far more than it benefits from.

I am also not sure what the pro getting the range really means. I doubt he will make any extra money from it, I think its more of a control thing. It doesn't make a lot of sense because the guy that ran it for the last 5-6 years was amazing at it, and didn't want to quit.

I kind of doubt that we will even need to approach the HOA or board. Based upon what I've heard from our members I don't think our group will ever want to play Continental as an exclusive home course again. People love the idea of playing elsewhere, aren't worried about the drive, and want the better quality in courses. We will probably just wait until they beg us to come back, then throw it into our rotation. They'll be kicking themselves for years if that ends up being the way it goes.