posted by Joe Polk at 12:10 AM /
Commissioners in Mt. Lebanon found themselves in a dilemma March 9, when nearly a dozen residents came to a public hearing voicing opposition to serving liquor at Mt. Lebanon Golf Course.
The problem? When officials approved the 2009 budget in late 2008, they balanced it with some $30,000 in projected revenues from serving alcohol and snacks at the municipal golf course. Commissioner Joe DeIuliis said construction proposals from companies which might convert a section of the clubhouse into a eatery, bar and swag shop are due on March 23.
Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/03-11-ML-liquor-B
The problem? When officials approved the 2009 budget in late 2008, they balanced it with some $30,000 in projected revenues from serving alcohol and snacks at the municipal golf course. Commissioner Joe DeIuliis said construction proposals from companies which might convert a section of the clubhouse into a eatery, bar and swag shop are due on March 23.
Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/03-11-ML-liquor-B
Labels: commission, golf course
3 Comments:
Expanding the offerings at the golf course is long overdue. First, you have to start from the premise that we want our golf course to be somewhat self-sustaining. In order for it to be self-sustaining, it needs play. To get the play, it needs to be competitive with the golf courses surrounding it. We are already at a slight disadvantage in this regard with just 9 holes, so we have to be concerned with keeping ourselves relevant. You can't forget that unlike swimming, tennis, playgrounds, etc people from Lebo will drive (in groups of four) to Burgettstown, Hickory, Cranberry, Elizabeth, Freeport and other glamorous locations EVERY weekend to play golf.
You also can't forget that seniors and juniors alone will not make the golf course profitable. I sat on the Commission's ad hoc committee a few years back that was tasked with studying the profitability, long range planning options and a host of other issues facing the golf course. Two consistent themes arose during our discussions and analysis: (1) the folks who use the golf course the most pay the least (juniors and seniors with reduced rates or season passes) and (2) we need to find ways to generate revenue over and above collecting greens fees.
Unlike the parks or the pool, there's only so much capacity to a golf course on any given day. And while the golf course is often short of capacity on weekdays during the Spring and Fall months, it is at or exceeding capacity in the Summer months and nearly every weekend during golf season. If the limited number of slots are increasingly being gobbled up by juniors (a trend that I absolutely applaud) and seniors (both of whom are paying lower rates), it becomes increasingly difficult to generate revenue, let alone remain self-sustaining.
The ad hoc committee determined that our 9 hole course cannot raise greens fees significantly and remain competitive with the well-priced 18 hole courses around us. Further, it was noted that any significant increase in the greens fees would only hurt the course's core customer - the resident senior golfer. For those unaware, senior golfers make up a large percentage of the paying customers at the golf course Monday through Friday between about 7AM and 2PM. Reducing their participation by increasing fees would put a further strain on the golf courses finances.
The ad hoc committee believed that one of the best ways to increase ancillary revenue was to add a small restaurant and bar. After all, our competitor golf courses offer these amenities and the current facility has significant unused space. This added amenity would keep dollars at the golf course that are currently being spent at Wendy's, McDonalds and other locations. I whole-heartedly believe that if done properly groups of senior golfers would make a habit out having lunch at the clubhouse. The Ladies' Golf Association would host parties, and the course would be able to host larger, more profitable events that it currently turns away because of a lack of any additional facilities.
The comments of certain Lebo residents and the Myrtle Elementary parents are a bit reactionary and, in my opinion, unreasonably negative. As for the school zone argument, the children are making their way to and from the elementary school before 8:30AM and before 4PM on weekdays only. During that morning shift, there is no increased risk, as the number of golfers travelling TO the golf course at those hours will remain unchanged and none of them will have purchased beer at the golf course. As for the afternoon shift, I would offer that the number of beer drinking golfers leaving the premises on a weekday at or before 4PM would be de minimus at best. And perhaps most important to this argument is the fact that the majority of the course's beer sales will be on weekends and in the Summer when there is NO school in session.
It should also be noted that many of the same arguments were raised by concerned parents when Bado's applied for a liquor license in close proximity to Lincoln School. To my knowledge there have been no issues there and Bado's remains a great place for kids and families, as well as a good neighbor to the elementary school.
As for the concerns of Lebo residents over beer sales at what has become a popular youth facility, I would offer that beer is served at nearly every golf course in W. Pa. and it is done so safely and responsibly. The golf courses that serve beer do so in a separate area of the clubhouse that usually restrict junior access. They use mature and responsible employees, and in my many years of playing golf I have not seen any incidents of underage drinking involving golf course supplied alcohol. Similarly, I don't have too many memories of drunk and unruly golfers gone wild after one too many at the turn. Are there some? Sure. But that's the case with everything in our society. The potential for a few bad actors should not serve as a legitimate reason to oppose what is otherwise a worthwhile initiative that will improve the long term viability of the golf course. If the world was truly as dangerous as some in Lebo believe it to be, we wouldn't drive our cars, walk on sidewalks or venture anywhere near Washington Rd or the intersection of Cedar and Cochran. There's no way our kids would walk to school, and we certainly wouldn't swim, hunt or let our kids play sports that require helmets. And don't even think about fireworks on the 4th of July or beer at the block party. Of course, those are all crazy ideas, but the same logic applies. Are there risks - sure. Do the risks outweigh the benefits - no way.
Serving food and beer at the golf course can work. And it can make money - something sorely needed in Lebo as we are constantly looking for ways to fund and maintain those amenities that make our community special. Like anything else, however, it needs to be done responsibly, with trained ADULTS and with all of the other necessary safeguards in place.
As usual, well said Esq. Franklin. I also think we should fund the construction of the new pub from the sale of the thousands of balls (many of them mine) that MUST have been found adjacent to the fourth hole on the now abandoned and treeless 20 acres on Castle Shannon Blvd.
Dave-
You're absolutely on target. Keeping the golfers on site might prompt more to play an additional 9!
Crazy thought, I was wondering if the snack bar goes through, might additional revenue be generated from the course in off season by having it open in the winter.
Old #1 fairway gets a substantial crowd for sledding and it would be nice to have hot chocolate, snacks etc., available. Another idea might be to investigate if say Willi's would find it profitable to offer cross country ski rentals.
Biggest draw back is the uncertain weather of course.
Just a thought!
D. Spahr
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