Recreation Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2018 07 23

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Future of municipal golf in many cities uncertain I Golf Advisor Page 8 of 27 Not all munis are the stereotypical budget courses with subpar conditioning and issues with slow play. Many get it right. After all, a third of municipal facilities DO make a profit. It is worth noting that no two munis play by the same rules to balance their budgets. Some must hire city union workers at higher wages, while others use management companies to skirt the issue. Some must pay for their own administrative staff for duties such as accounting/human resources/marketing and public relations, Singer said, while others just use city staff without adding those expenses to their bottom line. Comparing profitable munis to ones that aren't isn't always a fair fight. Even so, it probably won't surprise you which ones do well. Bethpage State Park, home to five courses on New York's Long Island, and Torrey Pines near San Diego regularly host major golf events. That has made them famous, creating demand and higher greens fees. Bethpage Black (https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/16929-black-at-bethpage-state-park-golf-course/) will host the 2019 PGA Championship, followed by the 2024 Ryder Cup. The South Course at Torrey Pines (https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/16418-south-at-torrey-pines-municipal-golf-course/) in La Jolla, Calif., shares hosting duties with the renovated North Course (https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/14528-north-at-torrey-pines-municipal-golf-course/) for the PGA Tour's Farmers Insurance Open and will host the 2021 U.S. Open. Other famous munis include TPC Harding Park (https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/231-tpc-harding-park-harding-course/) in San Francisco, host of 2020 PGA Championship and 2025 Presidents Cup, and Chambers Bay (https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/16343-chambers-bay/) in University Place, Wash., near Tacoma, host of the 2015 U.S. Open and owned by Pierce County. The city -owned courses of SoCal's swanky Coachella Valley are flush with amenities you won't see at most munis. It's the only way to keep up with all the posh private clubs throughout the region. Desert Willow Golf Resort (https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/15372-mountain-view-at-desert-willow-golf- resort/) in Palm Desert and Indian Wells Golf Resort (https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/163-indian- wells-golf-resort-celebrity-course/) in Indian Wells offer free valet parking, nice clubhouses and high - end service. The SilverRock Resort (https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/16485-silverrock-resort/) in La Quinta held the PGA Tour's Bob Hope Classic from 2008-2011. One of my favorite courses of all time is a muni - the Olympic Course at Gold Mountain (https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/14628-the-olympic-at-gold-mountain-golf-course/) in Bremerton, Wash. Golf Advisor's Tim Gavrich swears by his local muni, the 36-hole Sandridge Golf Club (https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/15436-lakes-at-sandridge-golf-club/) in Vero Beach, Fla., owned and operated by Indian River County. Sacramento's municipal courses are creatively run by Morton Golf Management. Its centerpiece, the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, has a rare public Alister Mackenzie golf course (https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/224-alister-mackenzie-at-haggin-oaks-golf-course/) on site, but the real draw is everything else (https://www.golfadvisor.com/articles/haggin-oaks-golf-complex- sacramento-california-15175.htm): a lighted, automated driving range that stays open 24 hours in summer, a nine -hole putt -putt course, an indoor/outdoor Player Performance Studio for club fitting and lessons and a Super Store stocked with fashions and gear. Haggin Oaks has led the charge in the growth of Footgolf, devoting its nine -hole Arcade Creek (https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/225- arcade-creek-at-haggin-oaks-golf-course/) course to the game, as well as to beginners and juniors golfers. https://www.golfadvisor.com/articles/municipal-golf-crossroads-17751.htm 6/29/2018