Parks & Playground Commission tables request to sod golf course
EL DORADO — With city revenues in a steady decline so far this year, the El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds Commission tabled Friday a request to spend money for sodding to improve a portion of the green at Lions Club Municipal Golf Course.
Golf pro Mike Hoelzer broached the topic while presenting his monthly report, which includes financial statements, for the golf course.
City officials and parks and playgrounds commissioners have noted that LCMGC has been operating in the red for the past several years.
They have also said that while the course has significantly improved since Hoelzer was brought on board in 2014, and many golfers who had left the facility for other area courses have since returned, the facility has consistently operated in the hole.
The golf course was part of the discussion during an El Dorado City Council budget review meeting earlier this week.
City Treasurer Bonnie Wyles said then that 2016 expenses for golf course are running under budget so far.
“I just buy what I need. I don’t have anything that I want out there,” Hoelzer told parks and playgrounds commissioners Friday
Mayor Frank Hash said Tuesday that the city has made investments in recent years to help improve Lions Club.
“The golf course itself and the equipment are pretty much where we would like it to be, but the play is not turning out out there,” Hash said then.
Hoelzer reported Friday that play at Lions Club is down by 101 rounds for the year, but income has remained fairly level in comparison to the first two quarters of 2015.
Hoelzer said he took a survey of the mowing program at the last week.
“Except for the greens, the golf course is in the best shape I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” Hoelzer said.
EPPC chairman Rex David Hurst agreed, saying
that crews can lay down sod to tend to the numerous brown spots along the greens.
Hoelzer said with work that has been done within the past two years, the troublesome spots have shrunk and are mostly relegated to a few holes along the outer edge of the course.
He said trees have been trimmed in certain areas to help stimulate grass growth with sunlight, and the grass is still recovering from an incident last summer in which the greens were accidentally sprayed with herbicide by an outside service.
To further improve the condition of the greens, Hoelzer said about $1,500 would cover the cost of a couple of pallets of sod, if commissioners felt the 2016 budget could handle the expenditure
Hurst asked his fellow commissioners their thoughts on spending the money.
“What if we didn’t do more sodding? What do you suggest? Watering and other regular maintenance?” Commissioner John Thomas Shepherd asked.
Hoelzer said the problem areas would continuedecrease n size from top dressing and continuing to allow the grass to grow.
“It’s just going to take time. It’s 50-year-old greens,” Hoelzer said.
Robert Edmonds, director of public works, said that even though 2016 expenditures for Lions Club are running nearly $40,000 under budget this year, city revenues are running 13 percent behind those of the first six months of 2015.
“The golf course is running $75,000 in the hole to date. You’ve only got a couple of good months of play left out there, and I would just caution you about spending any unnecessary money out there,” Edmonds said.
“That’s why I said that if it’s going to put us in a bigger hole, don’t do it. It would be nice if we could,” Hoelzer reiterated.
Added Shepherd, “If it’s affecting play at the golf course, then we need to get it fix, but if it’s playable now …”
Hash suggested that the group take a look at what improvements are needed to draw more players to Lions Club and compare the costs against the return on investment.
“The improvements you need to bring people back are the greens. This year we could have done nine holes for $15,000,” Hoelzer said.
He previously presented the idea to commissioners, saying that the other nine holes could be completed the following year.
“Then you shut down your golf course for half of the summer,” Edmonds said.
Hoelzer said nine holes would be open while the project is under way, and golfers could play the same nine holes twice to complete 18 holes.
Edmonds also said Friday’s meeting was the first time he had heard about the $15,000 cost estimate.
Hoelzer said he had previously spoken with Edmonds about the matter.
“I’m not getting into what you and I have had conversations about before. The daily maintenance of that golf course needs to be between you and I,” Edmonds said.