City to close McCall Lake Golf Course

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by Slava

Heres a link: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...748/story.html

The tone of the article certainly makes it sound like increases. That would lower my desire to play Maple Ridge from about 15% to about 1%. Looking through my bank history it cost $51 for a round last September. That course should be about $30, max $40, for 18 holes. I'm sure the sustainability has nothing to do with over-staffing the place with unionized city workers on bloated contracts though and everything to do with green fees.

[Kybosh]

I have absolutely no clue how these courses apparently lose money. The courses are always fully (over) booked, not much cheaper than similar private courses, have very minimal staff and minimal maintenance now. The economics make absolutely no sense to me. What is the problem here? Poor management? Green fees not high enough? Something does not add up with the city gold courses.

[Northendzone]

for the record, i like mapleridge, and it is a good value, given the golf market here in calgary.

i think part of ther eason the city courses lose money is because they allow you to book, and then be a now show, with no financial penalty. most private courses want your CC # up front and they say they will bill if you are a no show. personally, i have never not shown up, so i can't comment on that. to me the city should do that. as it is frustrating to go on the web and see the tee sheet is full and then show up at the course, and there are only a few folks out there.

i do beleive that the city should stay in the golf business, but it would be interesting to see what rates they feel they need to break even.

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I have absolutely no clue how these courses apparently lose money. The courses are always fully (over) booked, not much cheaper than similar private courses, have very minimal staff and minimal maintenance now. The economics make absolutely no sense to me. What is the problem here? Poor management? Green fees not high enough? Something does not add up with the city gold courses.

Every employee at the course is paid a minimum of $25/hour. Doesn't account for it all, but it adds up.

[goodyear]

Originally Posted by Slava

Breaking on twitter from a number of sources, is that the city will close McCall Lake after 2014. No links yet, but that's the plan.

How long until the others are gone as well?

Read the bolded part about a golf course closure, left satisfied.

[Fire]

Probably a good idea, but I will miss the wide open fairways. Slice the ball pass the neighbouring fairway? No problem still a clear shot to the green.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Fire

Probably a good idea, but I will miss the wide open fairways. Slice the ball pass the neighbouring fairway? No problem still a clear shot to the green.

You can still get that experience with the front 9 at Fox Hollow.

[pylon]

[Dion]

The only city course worth keeping open is Maple Ridge.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Slava

I forgot to mention in the first post that they are also "re-structuring" the green fees for the other courses. So I would expect that courses like Mapleridge are about to see some increases.

The fees always go up every year.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Oh yeah, at least Silverwing will be under the new runway, us avgeek golfers are saved!

Silverwing will be insanely close to the new runway on several holes. It will be fun. I kind of think McCall became redundant once Silverwing opened. Much better course, only a few bucks more.

[Bigtime]

I have still yet to play Silverwing, but I must now play McCall a few more times the next couple of seasons before it closes.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

I'm tired of the War on Golf in this City. Pretty soon it'll be impossible for the youth of this city to get into this game.

If the City isn't able to provide affordable golf due to the salary structure of it's Unions, lease the facility and land out to the private sector with certain stipulations on green fees. Isn't Fox Hollow under such a lease already? I'm pretty sure these packed to the gills courses can turn a profit under a more reasonable labour structure.

I can understand the argument the land is now too valuable, but replace it with something on the outskirts of the City.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I gotta imagine most or all of the par-3's will also be going soon. Those really can't be profitable. Maple Ridge is more interesting to me in the sense that I think with a little renovation (irrigation and maintenance mostly) it can be a great course. Also agree the city needs to be more punishing for no shows. City courses are generally pretty tough to get decent tee times to and charging for no shows will deter people from booking the prime times and not showing up.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I gotta imagine most or all of the par-3's will also be going soon. Those really can't be profitable. Maple Ridge is more interesting to me in the sense that I think with a little renovation (irrigation and maintenance mostly) it can be a great course. Also agree the city needs to be more punishing for no shows. City courses are generally pretty tough to get decent tee times to and charging for no shows will deter people from booking the prime times and not showing up.

The city does an excellent job of punishing no shows.

Two no-shows will result in the automatic suspension of booking privileges for 14 days.

Further no-shows will result in penalties up to and including suspension of booking privileges for the remainder of golf season.

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Recreatio...penalties.aspx

[FlamesKickAss]

I think they have clamped down a little bit with the golf card booking, but not 100% sure on that.

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by Dion

The city does an excellent job of punishing no shows.



http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Recreatio...penalties.aspx

If someones acct is suspended for this reason, they can easily just register a new account under a different name etc. No problem.

Besides, its not no shows that account for all the empty spots on a supposedly booked solid course- its the cancellations 1 hr before tee time that the system allows. Yes, it is a nice feature, but I guarantee eliminating that element and going to a 24 hour cancellation like every other course would help. Nothing will really change this until there is a financial penalty for a no show.

[malcolmk14]

They punish no shows but they have a cancellation policy that lets you cancel 1 hour before your tee time.

You can book a prime Saturday morning tee time a week out, then cancel it 61 minutes before with no penalty. It's hilarious. They are just bleeding money.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

They punish no shows but they have a cancellation policy that lets you cancel 1 hour before your tee time.

You can book a prime Saturday morning tee time a week out, then cancel it 61 minutes before with no penalty. It's hilarious. They are just bleeding money.

At the same time there is walk ons waiting for people to cancel on a Saturday morning. From my experience I find alot of golfers cancel the night before. I can go to the online booking sytem on a Friday night (between 7- midnight) and have zero problems getting a prime time tee time on any Saturday morning.

The cancelation policy is a bit flawed and i agree.

[FlamesKickAss]

Even if they made it 12 hours it would be better.