Business matters in golf

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

I’ve had inquiries about the golfing future here from as far away as New York and New England. Generally, these are snowbirds living and playing golf at Pine or Cypress three to four months of the year.

Sure, they are anxious, and I can see why. They want to know the playing cost — will it be more than they are paying now?

I’m sorry, but I just don’t have the answers yet, and I don’t want to bug a good friend in the group.

I do know the intended closing date with Centex has changed. It was scheduled to take place in October, but the group has asked to delay it until November.

I have no idea if that is good, bad or indifferent.

I have heard the lack of fairway water may be a problem. Pine Course, for one, depends upon pond water. Mayor Jon Netts told me: “When the city was in control, we could make a decision. But, we don’t have that control anymore, and gaining water rights now is not easy.”

Several previous offerings have failed at closing time, and it’s easy to assume this may be happening again. But, there are always reasons in any request, and this undoubtedly fits that category.

It may surprise you to know that golf courses can’t exist on player fees only. Palm Harbor, for example, has had about 43,000 players so far this year, but has yet to show a profit. Golf courses nationwide have the same problems. It’s a business, and it must be profitable to survive.

Here and there
Ty Capps, of Palm Coast, who hopes to make it big time, stumbled in his first nationwide appearance and failed to make the cut. Capps started well with an opening round of 73, but struggled to a 78 in the second round.

Three people that deserve popular recognition are Joyce Jackson, Mickie Mann and Shelby Lee. Jackson jumped into league management for nine-holers, at Palm Harbor. The popular Gene Thrower was a recent winner with the Jackson group, and I have a feeling huge smiles were shared.

Mann and Lee have been steady performers for years, and if Harry Davis were not in the same league, they would have been saluted time and again. One more is John Sbordone, the superb stage director here who constantly asks himself, “Why can’t I break par?”

I’m anxiously waiting for the call that says he did.