Golf rebounds at Yorba Linda's city-owned Black Gold Golf Club, while expenses climb

 

Yorba Linda's city-owned Black Gold Golf Club saw a substantial increase in rounds played by the end of fiscal year 2021, which – despite some pandemic-related problems – resulted in a net income of $123,578 based on revenue just over $6.5 million

Green fee revenues totaled nearly $4 million, eclipsing the previous year's sum by close to $1.2 million, or about $860,000 more than was expected when the club budget was drawn up in 2020. Nearly 14,500 more rounds were played than last year.

And importantly, according to an annual report prepared by Rich Cessna, the club's general manager, “In looking to the future, the team at Black Gold will continue to strive to pay down the negative cash that was incurred during the years when the golf course lost money.”

Cessna noted the goal is to pay off the negative balance and establish a capital improvement project fund. “After two decades of operation, the facility is beginning to show its age and will require updating and replacement of furniture, fixtures and equipment,” he said.

Also up from the past year was revenue from the driving range, which increased by nearly $150,000. However, tournament rounds dropped from an expected 10,300 to 6,926. Also down was income from weddings and banquets, $246,391 less than last year.

The club's operating expenditures jumped by 56% over what had been budgeted, largely due to COVID-19 cleaning and sanitizing, Cessna noted, with more than $180,000 spent.

Derricks Grille income also increased, just over $260,000, as a plan was implemented to change the eatery's perception from a golfer's amenity to a full stand-alone restaurant to draw diners from Yorba Linda and surrounding cities.

Cessna reported, “”With the best view in Yorba Linda, guests could now enjoy the best food, service and environment.” Most meals were served outdoors on a patio because of COVID-19 restrictions.

The club's good fortune tracks the nation's golf trends. “With limited activities available, golf became the outlet many Americans needed, and golf's popularity soared,” with current golfers playing more, golfers who left the game returning and adding new golfers, Cessna said.

“With the total numbers of golf rounds dramatically increasing, it was challenging to host so many players while still maintaining all COVID-19 protocols,” Cessna noted. Golf cart dividers were added and carts were sanitized after each use, among other pandemic-related changes.

Cessna's year-end report added, “The management team is always monitoring new trends and technologies that will maintain Black Gold's competitive position in Southern California.”

Among the areas Cessna identified for improvement in the short-term: interior painting and lighting, wedding venue lawns, driving range equipment and banquet room audio upgrades.

“Additionally,” he said, “the golf course irrigation system will need to be replaced in 5-10 years, which will be a large-scale project.”

Yorba Linda's City Council adopts emergency ordinance to protect single-family neighborhoods

 Yorba Linda's City Council has adopted an emergency ordinance that is designed to preserve the character of the city's single-family neighborhoods to the extent possible under legislation recently approved by the state that went into effect Jan. 1.

The ordinance, approved at a Dec. 21 meeting on a 4-0 vote, takes advantage of provisions in Senate Bill 9 that allow cities to draft ordinances to establish written standards to regulate aspects of the controversial legislation.

Generally, SB 9 requires cities to approve development of up to two housing units on a single-family parcel and the subdivision of a parcel zoned for residential use into two parcels or both.

The bill passed the Senate 28-7 and the Assembly 45-19. Interestingly, Yorba Linda's senate and assembly representatives, Democrat Josh Newman and Republican Phillip Chen, did not vote on the measure. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the legislation Sept. 16.

According to a report from Nate Farnsworth, the city's planning manager, the bill “would threaten the character of existing neighborhoods and negatively impact property values, personal privacy and fire safety,” which, he said, would justify an urgency ordinance.

Among the provisions of the city's emergency ordinance: minimum of one parking space per unit; no short term rentals; preservation of building separation, landscaping and lot coverage standards; and units cannot exceed 16 feet in height and must be single story.

Others include: housing units may be denied or require design review if there is an issue with respect to adequate water and sewer, traffic flow or public safety; exterior design compatible with primary dwelling and surrounding neighborhood; and solar panels are required.

Regarding lot splits, the city's ordinance requires that the new parcels be roughly equal in size, with no more than 60%-40% maximum; be at least 1,200-square-feet; the property owner must occupy one of the units for a minimum of three years; and no further subdivisions are allowed.

As an emergency ordinance, the city's new law doesn't require a second reading and a 30- day wait period until implementation, and it went into effect the same date, Jan. 1, as SB-9.

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 Grant funding from Proposition 68, the $4 billion Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018, will be used for construction of a basketball court at Vista Del Verde Park, located on Lakeview Avenue southwest of the Black Gold Golf Club. Construction is expected to begin in late 2022.

Total Proposition 68 funding will be $219,944, plus $43,989 in city matching funds, since the project will not serve a “severely disadvantaged community,” the requirement for full funding. Additional funding, as needed, will come from park in-lieu fees paid by property developers.

 Proposition 68 was approved by 57.4% of statewide voters in the June 2018 primary election. Yorba Linda voters opposed the measure with a 64.6% “no” vote.