Golf Board of Governors

Golf Committee Special Meeting June 19, 2018 at 4pm City Hall, 11th floor Park Department Conference Room 455 N. Main Wichita, KS 67202 Members: Hoyt Hillman, President, Chair, Thomas West, District II, Cindy Renard, District III, Cory Rainwater, District IV, Richard Schodorf, District V, Shana Appelhanz, Troy Hendricks, Michelle Haun, Troy Houtman, Eddie Fahnestock Absent: Greg Ferris, At-Large, Dr. Michael Williams, District 1, Debbie Burch, District VI Public Agenda Regular Agenda Items Golf Sustainability Report Houtman stated that we are here to discuss the Golf Sustainability Report that was handed out last week. Our goal is to gain the committee’s support with the recommendation in the report. Hillman asked when the recommendation will go to Council. Houtman stated sooner than later. The longer we wait, the greater the deficit becomes. We are owing other departments more and more. The next Park Board meeting will be July 10. West stated that there was not a lot of data showing total number of golfing public versus the total number of courses in Wichita. Looking at closing one public course is good, but there should be a private course to close as well. Hillman asked if there was any data pertaining to this. Hendricks stated that there is information in the appendix. The Business Journal compiles a report of this nature. But their numbers always look similar and are rounded off. Very few courses provide accurate numbers to the public. The PGA used to. Schodorf stated that private courses do not want anyone to know how poorly they are doing. West stated that area demographics are not provided in this report either. Houtman stated that this report was assembled based only on financial information and five specific criteria that was reliable. The information is factual and researched. Rainwater stated that the report did a good job of comparing our five courses on a level playing field. Schodorf stated that he thought the report was excellent. Houtman stated that with resources and political backing we would make huge improvements to our system. But we are not getting that. This is a great first step in the right direction to managing our finances. We can’t continue to operate in the red. Renard asked for a timeline. Houtman stated as soon as possible. Renard asked how much Auburn Hills cost when it was opened. Hendricks stated $12 million. Renard pointed out that the numbers the report shows on page 19, regarding LW Clapp, is different than the numbers on the conclusion. Rainwater asked if anyone is opposed to the conclusion of the report. Hillman stated that as a representative of District III, on the Park Board, he understands the need for the closure, but sees this as a huge step backwards in terms of amenities for District III. Renard stated that if we lose LW Clapp, we will lose specific golfing markets. Schodorf asked if we can accommodate the LW Clapp golfers at MacDonald. Hillman stated that we will never be able to pay off the debt that was incurred by building Auburn Hills. Closing LW Clapp will give the remaining courses the opportunity to stand on their own. Houtman stated the revenues from closing LW Clapp will go into redevelopment of the property and not into the golf fund. Hendricks stated that there are a few questions that we need to as: who supports the staff recommendation to close LW Clapp, should there be community engagement, as a committee member will you participate in the engagement. Hillman stated that the committee can make a motion on the recommendation. As for the community engagement, the committee has supported this and previously asked for it. Houtman stated that what we need from the committee is a vote whether or not to support the recommendation. Regarding the community engagement, we will not be asking questions of the community, we will be informing them and providing them the data to support the closing. We will need the committee to be represented during the community engagement. Hillman stated that there will be some corrections that need to be made to the report. Schodorf made the motion to present the recommendation as amended to the Park Board. The Golf Advisory Committee recommends the report as presented with corrections. West second. Hillman asked who is in favor. Rainwater, West and Schodorf raised their hands. He asked who was opposed. Renard and Hillman, raised their hands. Motion to recommend the report to the Park Board was approved 3-2. West stated that going forward we should look at creating a 6 or 9 hole golf course that could support itself, possibly owned by a 3rd party. He stated that he would be willing to be involved with redevelopment of that property to grow the game of golf. Houtman stated that we need to be concerned about direct competition if the property remains a golf course. Hillman asked if we could look at a Top Golf type of facility, outside of the enterprise fund. Houtman stated that there are other investors looking to do something like that around Wichita. Once the course actually closes, we will be able to start looking at what we can do. It is important that we take the first step now so that we can make the Division sustainable and avoid closing all the courses. Schodorf stated that years ago when we looked at improving LW Clapp, the votes came back that citizens and golfers wanted it to stay the way it was. Our community as a whole does not like change. Hendricks stated that he wanted to provide a quick update on course conditions. Looking at Flint Hills there are some dying greens and issues with winter kill. Wichita Country Club has done some resodding due to winter kill. Crestview has large areas of winter kill as well. Our courses have been suffering, but are still doing well in comparison. Next Meeting July 24, 2018