City of Lawrence

MEMORANDUM

Parks & Recreation

DATE: February 6th, 2008

TO: Dave Corliss, City Manager

Cynthia Boecker, Asst. City Manger

Jonathan Douglass, Asst. to the City Manager

FROM: Ernie Shaw, Interim Director Parks and Recreation

RE: CM Report-- Eagle Bend

In 2007, Eagle Bend Golf Course and Learning Center’s revenue collected consistently remained ahead of the year’s budgeted expenditures. By year’s end revenues exceeded operating expenses by $148,056 (figure does not include debt service on the facility of approximately $287,000 annually).

Weather played havoc with the amount of golf played throughout the year. The total number of rounds showed a decrease from the previous year. Most of the decrease was weather related, but also lost was the Lawrence Country Club member’s traffic we enjoyed in 2006 while the club’s course was under construction (1359 rounds throughout the year). From the outset, staff monitored expenditures, keeping them in line with revenue.

Eagle Bend hosted one more tournament than it did in 2006. Noteworthy tournaments included the Kansas Golf Association’s Public Links State Championship Tournament and the Kansas Junior Golf Association’s Junior Series Tournament. Staff continued public lessons for all level of golfers and added instruction for 60 University of Kansas students for a golf class. Leagues (Men’s, Women’s and Senior’s) maintained or decreased slightly.

Junior lessons and camps continued to see increases. The recreation instruction program Tee-Off With Dad continued to see positive growth. With the increased participation of junior golfers and to continue its growth, Eagle Bend will be focusing on junior golf in 2008. Eagle Bend received 10 sets of youth clubs through the Sticks for Kids campaign through the National Recreation and Park Association and the Golf Course Builders Association, which will be utilized in programming and made available for youth playing the course, encouraging youth participation in the game of golf.

Eagle Bend will also give complimentary golf passes for children ages 11 and under when accompanied by a paying adult to play the Junior Bend course layout created by the addition of 2 sets of junior tee markers in 2003. The offer will be restricted to Monday through Friday and will be limited to 2 junior complementary fees per paying adult. We want to create a family golf outing at a reasonable price and create an opportunity for parents to introduce their children to the game at an early age. Staff is also looking at the Junior League and ways to enhance the experience for juniors to continue developing their interest.

Staff has also conducted research into the creation of an annual pass, which would consist of a one-time fee for the year. It would provide unlimited green fees and use of the driving range for one calendar year. Cart fees would not be included. Many area municipal golf courses offer pass programs for its patrons and experience tells us when a golfer commits financially to one facility for a year, they are less likely to play at other golf courses. Also, the financial commitment translates into more rounds played per year because it increases the perceived value of the program.

The increased number of visits will allow staff to build relationships with patrons. The relationships will assist in increasing sales in merchandise and food and beverage, as well as provide us honest feedback of their experiences at Eagle Bend. The annual pass would cost $750 and are scheduled to begin on March 1, 2008. Those purchased after March 1 would expire a year to the date of purchase.

We currently offer 10-round and 20-round play cards at reduced rates. Plans are to add a 5-round play card at a 10 percent discount to patrons. The 10-round card is discounted 15 percent and the 20-round card is discounted 20 percent. We are also planning on reducing the yearly individual range pass from $300 to $200 and are planning on eliminating the family range pass we’ve offered. To date, there has been no one that has taken advantage of this special program.

We will also be minimizing specials run throughout the year to provide more consistency in pricing. Plans also include expanding the Student Special for area college students we’ve run the past few years, providing them reduced pricing when they arrive in August for college at an area universities.

Because extreme heat during summer months takes a major toll on grass, we are converting fairway number 1 and 10 to zoysia grass to test its viability. If successful, we’ll be developing a plan to convert the entire course over to zoysia in the next few years as money allows.

As stated in previous memos, golf course evaluation will be conducted through out the year by staff and patrons to address problems as they arise. We are hoping Mother Nature will cooperate this year and provide good weather for golf.