Courses aim to put affordable golf back in the game

Golf courses throughout the area saw a rise in rounds played in the first quarter as mild weather in January and February allowed more golfers to tee up at their favorite courses, but it remains to be seen if golfers will continue to play during the upcoming peak season. And many courses have slashed their green fees to entice golfers to come out.

Statewide, rounds played rose 4.1 percent in February and a whopping 31.6 percent in January, says a study by PerformanceTrak News, a publication of the Professional Golf Association. But the 6,059 rounds played in Nevada for March were off 4.8 percent compared to 2008.

Kim Reich, marketing manager for LakeRidge Golf Course, says the public course had its best first quarter ever due to the mild winter weather.

To keep momentum going into the busy summer months, LakeRidge initiated a 40-year anniversary special foursome rate of $50 per person Monday through Thursday, and $60 Friday through Sunday after 11 a.m. Normal rates were $85 and $98. Another 40-year anniversary special running throughout the summer is

$40 off a twosome at the prime rate.

"Hopefully our 40-year anniversary helps us get more business," Reich says.

Play at Wolf Run Golf Club in South Reno was up about 25 percent from 2008, mainly due to more playable days through the first four months of the year, owner Tom Duncan says. Prebookings for group and fundraising events also have risen, he says.

Wolf Run consolidated its green fee rates to $55 on weekdays and $65 on weekends.

"We are fair market value here," Duncan says. "I think we are positioned well in the market, and it's our job to make sure people enjoy themselves when they are here. All we can hope for is the opportunity to earn their business."

Duncan remains optimistic that Wolf Run will have a successful peak season. "It remains to be seen how many people still will be playing," he says. "We all share in these difficult times. We have to do the best job

we can to be ready and prepared for the customers that do come."

At Washoe Golf Course, Reno's oldest golf course it's been a public course since 1936 Director of Golf Barney Bell says the course saw a 5 percent rise in business from the first quarter of 2008 because of the mild weather of January and February.

Bell hopes the course can maintain growth through the peak season, but noted that it's too early to tell how the summer months will shape up. Green fees have stayed steady at Washoe, but the course offers two-for-one Tuesdays and family days.

Jim Kepler, general manager and director of golf at Eagle Valley Golf Course in Carson City, says all Carson City courses experienced a rise in play this spring. Eagle Valley has installed lighting at its putting, chipping and driving facilities, and the course also cut its green fees and initiated a 50-mile club for locals to play at discounted rates.

"We are trying to put affordable golf back in the game," Kepler says.

Evre Veress, head golf professional at the Resort at Red Hawk in Sparks, says rounds played at the course are down about 10 to 15 percent from 2008 numbers as consumers and corporate clients alike reined in discretionary spending.

As it heads into peak season June through October the Resort at Red Hawk has tried to spur new business by lowering all of its rates, dropping its prime weekend rate from $125 to $85. The semi-private 36-hole facility also has made adjustments in staffing and has aggressively priced its Talon Club locals program, which draws a great deal of open play and fills the tee sheet, Veress says.

"Our owners have been pretty hip to anticipating a lull in the industry over the past few years," Veress adds. "We anticipate that disposable income might not to be going to the golf sector as in years past, and cutbacks in corporate spending have been noticeable as well."

At Lake Tahoe, the Championship and Mountain links at the Golf Courses at Incline Village opened last week. Angie Rodriguez, head PGA professional, expects the lower-priced Mountain course will see more rounds played as golfers conserve their cash.

Golfers still are spending on instruction and retail too. Jay Jilot, owner of the Golf Tec instruction center in South Reno, says business rose 12 percent in March and April from 2008 numbers. The store sells custom-fitted clubs and golf balls, but 85 percent of its business comes from instruction.

"My clientele are not going to give the game up at all," Jilot says. "We have lost some clients who have a budget, but for the most part my clients have disposable income, even with the economy the way it is, to come in and improve their game."

Golf Tec, a national brand Jilot also owns a store in Rocklin, Calif. promotes itself through radio and television advertising but relies heavily on customer referrals.

"We have got a very significant success rate, which helps clients improve their game and enjoy the game

more," Jilot says.