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Politics & Government

Plan for Private Management of Deerpath Tees Off Residents

City leaders explore options after revenue drop, projected deficit by 2014.

Fans of Lake Forest’s Deerpath Golf Course literally stood up in support of keeping the management of the course in the hands of the city at Tuesday night's public forum.

One of the changes under consideration by city leaders is entering into an agreement with a private golf course management firm, which would take over the course’s daily operations.

“I’d like everyone here who is against this to stand up,” said Lake Forest resident Robert Wayne, after which the vast majority in attendance did just that.

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Residents packed into Gorton Community Center for a meeting intended to be a dialogue about how to move forward with the management of the course in the wake of a significant reduction of revenue and rounds in recent years.

City officials had hoped to break the audience up into groups to gain feedback on a variety of areas. However, that idea was scrapped when the audience indicated they wanted to be heard in a more traditional question/answer forum.

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“We are trying to begin a process of what may be good for Deerpath,” said Third Ward Alderman Tom Morsch, who also serves on the golf committee, which is tasked with finding a resolution to the issues at the golf course.

One resident criticized the city for not including a Deerpath Golf Club member on the committee, which drew applause from the audience.

What the Numbers Say

Deerpath Golf Course broke just about even with $1,269,024 in revenue and $1,271,483 in expenditures during fiscal 2011, which runs from May 1 until April 30.

“The city did subsidize the golf course for the first time in its history,” said Lake Forest Finance Director Kathy Reinertsen.

Revenue at the course has been on a steady decline since it was at a high point of a little more than $1.6 million in fiscal 2007.

The number of rounds has decreased dramatically during this same period. In 2007, the golf course recorded just fewer than 39,000 rounds. In 2011, fewer than 33,000 rounds were recorded.

Current economic conditions, and a string of rainy golfing seasons in recent years are attributed to the drops.

“Weather accounts for some of the reason why less rounds are being played,” explained Mary Von Arsdale, director of the Parks and Recreation Department.

What the Future Holds

Projections by the city’s finance department indicate that finances will not improve in the coming years. Revenues are projected to decrease more, and the golf course could stand to have no money by 2014 and be subsidized by as much as $220,000 in fiscal 2014.

Deerpath Golf Course is expected to be operating at a deficit through at least fiscal 2016, if changes are not made.

In recent months, the city has sent out requests for information to several golf course management firms around the country and is considering four firms as potential management companies for Deerpath.

The golf committee expects to send out requests for proposals to these firms in the near future, and have a future meeting with residents in October.

A decision on the future management direction of the course is expected in November.

City Seeks Input

City leaders stressed that their minds are not made up in regard to the future of Deerpath’s management, and they want input from residents as they seek the best solution.

However, some residents were not convinced that the city is open to their suggestions. They cited a similar meeting last fall, where many people volunteered to help develop a better marketing plan for the golf course.

“It just feels like a done deal,” said resident Mike Borkowski. “You’re saying it’s not, but it feels like it is.”

Borkowski added that after last year’s meeting, he received no response from the city to his offer to help with marketing Deerpath.

Residents and city officials agreed the golf course needs a stronger marketing effort, and that other ideas to drive more revenue and draw more golfers to the course should be explored.

“We ought to look very carefully at what we can do for ourselves and help drive these changes,” said Morsch. But he cautioned that the task may be easier said than done.

“It’s very easy to say we can do it ourselves, but it’s very hard to execute.”

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