Public to weigh in on Salt Lake City’s troubled golf system
By CHRISTOPHER SMART | The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Feb 02 2015 03:00PM
Hearing » Unlike most of the city’s recreation programs, golf must be financially self-sustaining.
After months of jawboning about what to do with Salt Lake City’s golf system that is drowning in red ink, the City Council will hear from golfers Tuesday evening.
A public hearing is slated at the council’s regular 7 p.m. meeting in room 315 at City Hall, 451 S. State.
The eight-course system is more than $1.8 million in debt and has racked up some $23 million in deferred maintenance.
Suggestions on how to balance the books include closing some courses, raising green and cart fees and switching some courses to secondary water.
The council already has determined to close the Jordan River Par 3 in Rose Park.
Wingpointe also looks to be on the chopping block after the Federal Aviation Administration ruled that Salt Lake City must pay fair market value to its landlord, the Salt Lake City Department of Airports. The current rent of $1 would go to about $600,000.
The golf program is operated through an enterprise fund that is set up to be self-sustaining and separate from the city’s general fund. In the past, the City Council has refused to subsidize golf through the general fund.
Since 2001, rounds played on city courses have slipped 18.4 percent, according to an analysis by the Matrix Consulting Group. During that period, rounds at Wingpointe were down 30 percent, while Rose Park and Glendale were off 24 percent.
Wingpointe and Rose Park account for 84 percent of the $1.8 million debt, according to the Matrix report.
Further, Salt Lake City golf will lose another $1.5 million over the next five years if all courses remain open, the report said.
http://www.sltrib.com/home/2132008-155/public-to-weigh-in-on-salt
For a PDF of the Matrix report go to…
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