MEMORANDUM
City of Lawrence
Parks & Recreation
DATE: October 4th, 2011
TO: Dave Corliss, City Manager
Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manger
FROM: Ernie Shaw, Interim Director Parks and Recreation
RE: 2012 Eagle Bend Fees
I want to further clarify our recommendation to adjust fees at Eagle Bend Golf Course and Learning Center.
The recommendation for reducing the weekday rate is based on Eagle Bend staff’s opinion that the $20 and $36 rates for 18 holes was too high to attract golfers during the week, especially new golfers that have never played Eagle Bend. The operation and maintenance costs are primarily the same if we fill the tee sheet with golfers or only have a few playing the course on a given day.
In 2010, we saw our daily numbers dropping off and as you may be aware we dropped below 20,000 rounds for the first time. In 2011, we implemented specials to reverse the trend. In July and August 2011, we had a 2 for $40 special which brought significant increases in rounds verses July and August of 2010; 65% increase in rounds July 2010 vs. July 2011 and a 66% increase in rounds August 2010 vs. 2011.
July 2010
18 Hole Weekday Greens fee 624 Rounds $12,305
9 Hole Weekday Green fee 200 Rounds $ 4,863
Total 824 Rounds $17,168
July 2011
18 Hole Weekday Greens fee 1670 Rounds $26,925
9 Hole Weekday Green fee 114 Rounds $ 2,707
Total 1784 Rounds $29,632
August 2010
18 Hole Weekday Greens fee 470 Rounds $9,400
9 Hole Weekday Green fee 158 Rounds $4,052
Total 628 Rounds $13,452
August 2011
18 Hole Weekday Green fee 1774 Rounds $28,339
9 Hole Weekday Green fee 79 Rounds $ 2,067
Total 1853 Rounds $30,406
We began running a new special for September and October, which was a $25 round of golf. With September in the books, we’ve seen a 78 percent increase in rounds versus September 2010.
September 2010
18 Hole Weekday Green fee 257 Rounds $5,140
9 Hole Weekday Green fee 148 Rounds $3,832
Total 405 Rounds $8,972
September 2011
18 Hole Weekday Green fee 1481 Rounds $22,300
9 Hole Weekday Green fee 375 Rounds $ 7,527
Total 1856 Rounds $29,827
We feel the $25 per player is the right price to attract more golfers, including college students. We also think it is important to include Friday as part of the weekday instead of the weekend rates.
We are hopeful this rate change will attract more golfers that not only play golf but use the driving range, buy merchandise and purchase from the pro shop concessions.
We also understand that by reducing the rate we have to have a considerable increase in the number of rounds to equal revenue brought in from the old rates, but we feel the most important thing we need to focus on is getting people out to play at Eagle Bend.
We have also listened for years from the senior population who want senior rates and have tried to market more to the senior population with a daily rate that equals the punch card that we currently have, which offers 10 9-hole rounds for $80.
The weekends and Holidays continue to be the prime time for golfers, and at this time we continue to be competitive with our current rates and are not seeking changes at this time. We have also given more options for an annual pass and feel these will be very popular with attracting both current and new golfers to Eagle Bend.
We have a great product at Eagle Bend that continues to get better, and our wish is to get as many people out as possible to try the course because we are confident that they will return to play again.