Yorkton Council has approved the 2019 fees and charges at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course.
“Council’s current direction is to operate the Deer Park Golf course as a community recreation facility similar to other sport, culture and recreation facilities that are typically provided by municipalities, such as ice arenas, swimming pools, libraries, art galleries, ball diamonds, soccer pitches, and playgrounds. Therefore, the golf course is provided similar investment to ensure golf remains a publicly available recreation activity,” explained Darcy McLeod, Director Community Development, Parks & Recreation with the City at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.
McLeod noted ultimately, the success of a golf course is dependent on a number of factors including weather, course condition, service and cost. The area’s market has the most significant impact on the success of the golf course. This includes:
*The community’s ability/willingness to pay;
*Other competing entertainment options;
*The number and condition of courses in the area; and
*Maintaining affordability vs. recovering appropriate level of costs.
It is important to balance the cost of participation with the community's ability to pay, he said.
“The pricing for golf at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course is aimed to be in the mid-range of other similar golf courses in the Province. If the prices are set too high, people will not participate at that course and choose another less expensive course in the area. This is especially true for the casual or social golfer. If fees are set too low, the golf course may be considered undervalued and create suspicion as to why it is so inexpensive. This is true if you are an avid golfer looking for challenges and quality. In both cases, the result could be a poor reputation for the golf course, which negatively impacts rounds played which translates into (revenue),” continued McLeod.
“When making recommendations on fees, Administration looks at various factors, including rates at other golf courses in Saskatchewan. We also recognize that markets are different throughout the province as are course standards and levels of service. Past Council direction was to ensure that golfing at Deer Park was available to the residents of Yorkton as a feasible recreation opportunity, especially for our community’s youth. The intent is to create a strong future for the golf course by encouraging youth to learn the game and continue playing into their adult years. Administration is trying to cultivate avid, loyal golfers who will be regulars, while at the same time encourage the casual or social golfer to participate.”
Still the course should recoup as much of its operational costs as possible.
“Increasing revenue to offset operating costs is the overall goal for Administration at the golf course. One method for increasing revenue is to increase rates. This is also an effective method to maintain a rate balance with other similar courses, ensuring we do not fall too far behind the market; however, this does not necessarily guarantee an increase in overall revenue. Administration’s preferred method is to increase rounds played with the idea that the more people that golf, the more revenue will be collected,” said McLeod.
In 2018, 16,654 rounds of golf were played at Deer Park.
In an effort to increase rounds played in 2018, Council chose to reduce some rates while freezing others:
*The New Adult rate was reduced to $800.00 from $1,095.00 and resulted in a 75 per cent increase in New Adult passes being sold (from 10 to 40) from 2017.
*The Young Adult rate was reduced to $500.00 from $640.00 in order to attract young golfers and resulted in a 59 per cent increase in Young Adult passes being sold (from five to 12) compared to 2017. A Young Adult is defined as turning 25 or under in 2018.
*The Twilight fee was reduced to $27.50 from 33.00 and the available time shifted earlier to accommodate earlier sunset times. This resulted in a 63 per cent increase in Twilight rounds played (from 145 to 472).
*The green fee rates were frozen at the 2017 rate which resulted in a nine per cent increase in green fee rounds played.
*A three per cent inflationary rate was applied to the remaining rates and passes.
In addition, in 2019, the course will see some construction occur throughout the season. Work will continue on the new hole #8 as well as the new #7 green with irrigation and drainage work also planned. Although these improvements are not expected to negatively impact course playability, there may be some disruptions throughout the season. Therefore, in an effort to continue to increase revenue by increasing rounds played, Administration is recommending that the Deer Park green fee rates continue to be frozen at the 2017 level. Further, that the season pass and other golf-related revenue rates receive an inflationary increase of three per cent, which are rounded for ease of communication.
Deer Park daily green fee rates were last increased in 2017.
The adult season pass for 2019 will by $1230, and an 18 hole round played from 6 a.m. to 12:59 will be $44.
