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Deer Park looks to attract more golfers

Yorkton Council approved the fee schedule for the Deer Park Municipal Golf Course at its regular meeting Monday.
Deer

Yorkton Council approved the fee schedule for the Deer Park Municipal Golf Course at its regular meeting Monday.

It was outlined in a report circulated to Council that Deer Park is owned by the residents and taxpayers (the owners) of the municipality with the primary purpose to:

• Provide recreational opportunities to improve the quality of life for people in the community,
• Provide opportunities for tourism, and 3. Attract industry and business to locate in a community.

“Council’s current direction is to operate the Deer Park Golf course as a community recreation facility similar to other sport, culture and recreation facilities that are typically provided by municipalities. (ice arenas, swimming pools, libraries, art galleries, ball diamonds, soccer pitches, playgrounds, etc.),” explained Darcy McLeod, Director Community Development, Parks & Recreation.

“As a result, Administration has tried to attain a 90 per cent cost recovery for the operation of the Deer Park Golf Course.

“In 2017, 80 per cent of the operating costs were recovered through fees and charges and other revenue generation.

“It is important to balance the cost of participation with the community’s ability to pay. Recognizing this balance along with the need to stay competitive with similar courses is key to the success of Deer Park. Maintaining fees in the mid-range of similar courses will ensure a balance between the community’s ability to pay and remaining competitive in the golf industry. This will also assist with attracting new golfers to the course, as cost is a significant determining factor on where people choose to spend their time and money,” detailed the report.
“The pricing for golf at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course is aimed to be in the mid-range of other similar golf courses in the Province. If the prices are set too high, people will not participate at that course and choose another less expensive course in the area. This is especially true for the casual or social golfer. If fees are set too low, the golf course may be considered undervalued and create suspicion as to why it is so inexpensive. This is true if you are an avid golfer looking for challenges and quality. In both cases, the result could be a poor reputation for the golf course, which negatively impacts rounds played and (revenue),” explained McLeod.

“When making recommendations on fees, Administration looks at various factors, including rates at other golf courses in Saskatchewan. We also recognize that markets are different throughout the province as are course standards and level of service. Council direction was to ensure that golfing at Deer Park was available to the residents of Yorkton as a feasible recreation opportunity, especially for our community’s youth. The intent is to create a strong future for the golf course by encouraging youth to learn the game and continue playing into their adult years. Administration is trying to cultivate avid, loyal golfers who will be regulars while at the same time encourage the casual or social golfer to participate.”

In terms of how fees are set the adult green fee is the foundation for all fees at Deer Park. Other fees and season passes are then compared to the adult fees and a discount applied to establish the specific fee.

“Increasing revenue to offset operating costs is the overall goal for administration at the golf course. One method for increasing revenue is to increase rates. This is also an effective method to maintain a rate balance with other similar courses, ensuring we do not fall too far behind the market; however, this does not necessarily guarantee an increase in overall revenue. Administration’s preferred method is to increase rounds played with the idea that the more people that golf, the more revenue that will be collected. Increasing the rounds played to 24,000 would also allow administration to consider operation of the rental carts as another revenue generator,” said McLeod.

Therefore, in an effort to increase revenue by increasing rounds played, administration is recommending that the Deer Park rates be frozen at the 2017 level, with a few exceptions:

*That the New Adult rate be reduced from $1,095.00 to $800.00 in an effort to attract new golfers to the course. In order to qualify, a person must not have held a season pass at Deer Park in 2017.
*That the Young Adult rate be reduced from $640.00 to $500.00 in order to attract young golfers. A Young Adult is defined as turning 25 or under in 2018.
*Reducing the Twilight fee to $27.50 from $33.00 to increase rounds played during a traditionally slow time at the golf course. Further that the Twilight fee be in effect after 4:00 p.m. each day with a time shift to occur in September.
*That the trail fees and cart storage rates be increased by five per cent and rounded as shown in the fees and charges attached to this report.
Deer Park fees were increased in 2016 and 2017 after being frozen in 2015 at the 2014 rates.