By Brian Duthu
Pro Shops
Revenue for April was slightly ahead of year, with total revenue finishing just over $2700 ahead or 1%. Green Fee/Cart Fee revenue was slightly behind, falling $1466 short of prior year. As with previous months merchandise and driving range revenue were ahead of last year. Merchandise revenue exceeded prior year by just over $5,000 and Driving Range revenue exceeded prior year by just over $2,500. Total revenue for the month missed budget by $3,992.
Year to date revenue is $66,000 ahead of budget and nearly $98,000 ahead of prior year. Public play YTD is $15,000 behind prior year; however this deficit has been offset by big gains in cardholder and guest play. Utility cost for the year is nearly $19,000 (after accounting adjustment) more than last year; the bulk of this increase is due to increased well water pumping.
On May 8 we had our yearly visit by an USGA agronomist. Brian Whitlark visited Willowcreek/Willowbrook, Riverview, Lakes West/Lakes East and Quail Run as well as held a meeting with the RCSC Board of Directors. His overall impression of our courses remains positive and his full report will be posted on the RCSC website when available.
Snack Shops
Snack shop revenue for April finished $2,120 ahead of budget. Snack Shops year to date are nearly $19,000 ahead of budget and prior year. Snack Shops have begun closing at 3pm on a regular basis and beginning in June will close at 1pm. Adjustments to the schedule may be made depending on business.
Courses
The first round of green aerification is complete using a ½ inch hollow tine followed by a fertilizer application. The fertilizer application consists of 1 pound of nitrogen and potassium, .14 pounds of phosphorous. An application of calcium was also used to flush salts from the root zone.
Four RCSC golf courses (Riverview, South, Lakes East and Willowbrook) will chemically remove the winter rye grass using a herbicide. Golfers should expect to see the overseeded areas turn brown and die during this time. Overseeded areas will be thin and some areas may be void of turf. Although this process is inconvenient for golfers it is showing a reduction in the time it takes to go through transition. We estimate that time spent in transition was reduced by 8 days in 2011.
Fairway aerification begins June 4 at Willowcreek. Each course will be closed during the aerification process. Please check the RCSC website for the full listing of course closures.
The lack of rain in 2012 continues to have an adverse affect on our courses. The light rainfall in April allowed us to save 22 acre feet in water to budget. Year to date the golf courses are over our water budget 31 acre feet or 10 million gallons of water.