Wittman
CLAYTON — Elaine Wittman, assistant to the city manager, provided an annual report to members of Clayton council about the status of Meadowbrook at Clayton, the city owned public golf course and banquet facility.
Wittman said the number of golfers increased by 150 from last year making 2024 the best year yet with about 1,000 additional paid greens fees through Sept. 30. Car rentals increased as well.
Golf outings increased from 19 to 20 this year, which Wittman said was the maximum number the course could handle in order to accommodate golf leagues and open play.
The upward trend in greens fees, cart rentals and passes along with an increased fee for golf outings helped put Meadowbrook in the black. The cart fee was increased $2 when new carts were put into service.
The Premier Pass fee was also increased $125 for residents to $1,200 and increased $255 for non-residents to $1,450.
“Even though we were down a few passes this year we actually made it up in the revenue for the fees we were charging,” Wittman said.
She also said there were no major capital projects in 2024 other than what was carried over from 2023 – a well pump project that is still under way for the irrigation system.
Due to supply chain issues the arrival of new Yamaha golf carts that were scheduled to arrive in September 2023 did not arrive until May 2024. As a result, Meadowbrook did not have to pay for the cart lease during that time frame resulting in a savings of about $21,000 in 2024.
A full-time golf technician position was not filled.
“We did see a savings of $38,000 in wage and benefits and $30,000 in contracts, supplies, and equipment because of what we cut this year,” Wittman noted.
The course switched credit card vendors this year that resulted in about a $10,000 savings in credit card fees.
“All golf courses have ebbs and flows with the weather. This year has been awesome,” Wittman said. “We could not have asked for a better season. I really do believe you can see that in our recovery rate, which is the revenue divided by the expenditures – we are in the black this year with a total of $107,000 as of September 30 in golf. We will talk about the banquet facility, but overall, we are up about $47,000 this year.”
Regarding the concessions and snack bar – starting April 1, 2022, drinks and snacks were offered year-round in the Pro Shop to support golf operations.
“This is when we switched from having an exclusive caterer who also operated the snack bar,” Wittman noted. “This year we were open April 25 through October 13 and in late May 2024 we received our very own beverage cart which has been fabulous for golf outings.”
Wittman said it was difficult to determine the exact revenue generated from food and drinks/alcohol sales since items purchased might have been used for concessions in the Pro Shop or the snack bar or even banquet operations.
“We do try to split that up to try to get a good estimate of net revenue, but it does look like we are earning a small profit from the snack bar operations and we definitely are with concessions because it doesn’t take any other staff time because the Pro Shop is already staffed,” Wittman said.
The banquet and event operations through September 30 realized about 101 rentals and 67 community rentals utilizing Meadowbrook. The community rentals included Northmont Rotary, fire and police meetings, Northmont Chamber events, Northmont City Schools events, the Northmont Parents Golf Association, YMCA, and a Chair Fitness class.
There were less alcohol sales with 2024 rentals due to more graduation parties and baby showers being booked and more rentals utilizing smaller rooms in the banquet facility.
Marketing expenses were cut by $6,000. The flat roof project was completed and the elimination of skylights prevented rain from leaking inside as had happened in the past.
The banquet facility is about $60,000 in the red but with the golf operations and banquet operations Meadowbrook made a profit of about $47,000. Last year at the same point in time Meadowbrook was in the red $94,000.
“We are making headway and it has been very nice to see all of the play on the Pickleball courts as well this year,” Wittman said.
Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or email [email protected].
