Lake County Forest Preserve golf courses are performing remarkably well despite continuing stagnation within the golf industry, according to a national golf course consultant.
Golf Resources Associates, Inc., (GRA), reported results from an operational audit of Brae Loch, Countryside and ThunderHawk golf courses to the Finance, Administrative and Education Committee of the Lake County Forest Preserves at a meeting of the committee on February 7.
“This operational audit clearly indicates that Forest Preserve management has taken the appropriate steps to control expenses during these challenging economic times for golf courses, while still providing an excellent experience for Lake County golfers,” said Bonnie Thomson Carter, President of the Lake County Forest Preserves.
The positive report for Forest Preserve golf courses was attributed to management’s efforts to vigorously control expenses while maintaining quality facilities at the four Forest Preserve courses: Brae Loch Golf Course near Grayslake, Countryside Traditional and Prairie Courses near Mundelein, and ThunderHawk Golf Course near Beach Park.
The Lake County Forest Preserves hired GRA, a nationally known golf consulting firm, to project future market trends and to recommend how the Forest Preserve courses can continue to provide a variety of quality golf opportunities in Lake County. The evaluation comes at a time when golf play has declined over the past several years regionally and nationally.
The GRA report gives high marks to golf operations management, playing conditions, and economic operating philosophy of the courses. The District was also recognized for delivering a high level of financial sustainability and continuously improving the quality of the golf experience for patrons, despite a declining golf market regionally and nationally.
The evaluation also offers suggested improvements that include increasing fees modestly, reevaluating costs and benefits of non-resident pricing, and enhancing marketing efforts. Other recommendations include upgrading clubhouse facilities at Countryside Golf Club to accommodate the volume of customers that utilize the site, installing a continuous cart path system at Countryside, and installing a drainage system at Brae Loch to allow the course to more rapidly recover from excessive rain. |
