An
upbeat annual report on the city-owned Black Gold Golf Club, compiled
by Yorba Linda's Parks and Recreation Director Mike Kudron and
reviewed by City Council members at a recent meeting, labeled the
club's most recently completed fiscal year “very successful.”
While
club revenues fell short of projections made for the beginning of the
2015-16 fiscal year by $284,769 and actual income from the prior year
by $198,281, expenses also declined – by $540,825 from budget
estimates and $247,610 from the past year.
So the
club's net income before capital expenditures was $815,197 from
revenue close to $5.7 million. After investing $106,880 in
improvements – closed-circuit TV security system, parking lot
sealing, a new modular dance floor and other items – net income was
$708,317.
Green
fees brought in a bit more than $2.7 million, nearly $70,000 more
than last year and just $5,550 behind projections. A total 55,544
rounds were played, 58 fewer than last year. Tournament rounds
totaled 9,158, about 17.2 percent of paid rounds.
Income
from the golf shop, food and beverage sales and facility use were
down from beginning-of-the-year projections and prior year results,
ranging from 3 to 18 percent. Revenue from the catering operation
totaled $184,184, up $50,297 from the past year.
One
reason for the course's “excellent playing condition,” Kudron
stated, is the seven-year, 112-acre transition from rye grass to
kikuyugrass, with fairways up to 97 percent completed. Wall-to-wall
coverage, including roughs and turf slopes, should be finished within
two years.
“The
warm season kikuyugrass' drought-tolerant nature enabled the
elimination of daytime watering of established areas without
jeopardizing turf health,” Kudron noted.
Other
highlights from Kudron's report:
--Exposure
for the next generation of golf enthusiasts is aided by acting as the
host facility for the men's and women's golf teams at Cal-State
Fullerton and Yorba Linda, Esperanza and El Dorado high schools and
hosting parks and recreation classes and many junior-level events.
--Food
and beverage “continues to be a strong profit center,” Kudron
noted. Taco Tuesdays averaged more than 50 guests weekly during
summer and early fall. Also, a Fall Wine Faire, holiday buffets,
Breakfast with Santa and Sunday brunch “all draw families from
Yorba Linda.”
--In
addition to the 55,544 individuals playing golf rounds, the club drew
14,823 to meetings and banquets; 14,354 to restaurant a la carte
dining; 12,738 to the practice facility; 9,373 to events and
tournaments; and 8,700 to weddings.
--The
club has an increased presence on social media: a Facebook page with
more than 12,000 “likes,” higher than any other stand-alone
Southern California golf club; a 26 percent increase to 31,833 for
website views; and a 43 percent jump in Instagram followers. A return
of 2,084 customer surveys showed an average 9.3 out of 10 service
rating.