May 2010

            PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE– Joe Hart


Under Siege
Sometimes it feels as if we are being attacked from all sides.

Yesterday I attended the meeting of the Los Angeles City Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners at which the Park and Rec’s Golf Division presented its proposal for upcoming fiscal year 2010-2011. The Board approved green fee increases at all the L.A. City courses and put Rancho Park and Wilson in a special category with “premium” green fees.

Effective July 1, 2010
The new 18-hole green fees for Rancho and Wilson will be:

Residents: $33 Monday-Thursday, $37 Friday, $43 Weekends
Non-Residents: $38 Monday – Thursday, $42 Friday, $48 Weekends
Seniors: $20 Monday-Thursday, $23 Friday
Senior non-residents: $25 Monday-Thursday, $28 Friday

Green Fees for Harding, Encino, Balboa, Woodley Lakes, and Hansen Dam will be:

Residents: $30 Monday-Thursday, $34 Friday, $40 Weekends
Non-Residents: $35 Monday – Thursday, $39 Friday, $45 Weekends
Seniors: $19 Monday-Thursday, $22 Friday
Senior non-residents: $24 Monday-Thursday, $27 Friday

There were about a dozen representatives of clubs throughout the City speaking against the fee increases, but it was a fait accompli, the Board having been commanded by the Mayor’s office to balance the budget per specific guidelines. There is still some hope for a reduction in the proposed fees depending on the result of an audit that the Board commissioned, but I would not expect much.

Even more serious for the future well-being of our club is a new proposal from Golf Division that would severely restrict the number of tee times that we can utilize. The Golf Division is proposing to limit our weekend tournaments to 30 players per event and to require that all tournaments begin after 8:00 a.m. Obviously these proposals could mean the end of golf within the City clubs as we know it.

Yet another bit of news is the Golf Division’s adoption of new watering regimens for the courses. This will mean browner and harder fairways (and greens) over the next couple of years. While perhaps not so aesthetically pleasing, it doesn’t have to be a negative. It will change the way the course is played. If you remember last month’s home tournament, the hard greens required different approaches to many of the holes, allowing for balls to run out after landing. But it didn’t change the competition. We are definitely going to have to get used to this, and at all courses, not just Rancho Park.

To respond to the Park and Rec Board of Commissioners action, we want to get some help from accountants/auditors who can review the Golf Division’s financials and projections. The Board appears to be receptive to any reasoned approach that might help solve their fiscal dilemma. We are also trying to identify a consultant, experienced in the golf business, who can review the Golf Division’s operations. If you can help us on either front please contact me or any of the other board members.

And a Bit of Good News
I like to end on something positive, so I will mention that this year’s club championship will set records, with 137 entries in the four flights. The weekend weather forecast is for temperatures in the 69-71 degree range, perfect for golf. The course is in fine shape, especially the greens. This promises to be a spectacular tournament. Have a great time.