Odgen Council considers golf course plans
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By SCOTT SCHWEBKE
Standard-Examiner staff
sschwebke@standard.net
OGDEN -- Mayor Matthew Godfrey is hoping for a silver bullet from tonight's town meeting to gather public input on strategies to solve Mount Ogden Golf Course's growing financial deficit.
Godfrey said during a city council work session Tuesday night that his administrative staff has been working for years without success to make the golf course solvent.
He hopes members of the public will provide solid suggestions that may help address the golf course's difficulties.
"It's really easy to say we need to market it better and that we need to get more golfers out there," he told the council. "Those platitudes are very convincing. But those platitudes aren't very helpful."
Godfrey presented financial data that show, on average, Mount Ogden Golf Course had $440,582 in revenues and $744,061 in expenses between 2004 and 2007. Total debt at the course stands at about $2 million, he said.
The course's poor design makes it too difficult for the average golfer and its inadequate clubhouse hampers the facility's ability to host major tournaments that are crucial in helping it turn a profit, Godfrey said.
The course also receives stiff competition from 13 other courses located within 20 miles of the city, he said.
Although Ogden's reputation as a high-adventure hub has taken off, it hasn't gained the same attention for golfing, Godfrey said.
"It's not about marketing Mount Ogden Golf Course; it's about trying rebrand the city a golf mecca. It's hard to do."
Godfrey also presented the council with four options to comply with a demand from auditors that debt at the course be addressed.
The council took no action Tuesday, but may establish a committee to look at strategies.
Ogden resident Bill Critchlow said the course's men's association plans to present its own proposals soon.
One of Godfrey's options recommends a voter-approved tax increase to subsidize the course and allow operations to remain unchanged.
Another strategy would involve issuing about $6 million in voter-approved bonds to redesign the course so that it's more playable and enticing to golfers.
A fourth strategy calls for establishing a special improvement district for neighborhoods surrounding the course so that property owners who benefit most from the facility could fund improvements or operational shortfalls and debt repayment.
Another alternative calls for closing the course and allowing it to return to its natural state.
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