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Lake County Forest District waits to open golf courses

Forest district wants to be sure it can cover costs before opening courses

Given the dismal conditions Wednesday, few were seeking a golf fix. But even die-hards would have been out of luck at any of the three courses operated by the Lake County Forest Preserve District.

While many courses have been open for weeks, the forest district is holding fast for more reliable weather.

The delay is another example of how it tries to ensure the public courses can be self-sustaining.

"I got several calls about golf - `Why aren't you open yet?'" Executive Director Ty Kovach said in a recent report to forest commissioners. "If we don't get enough revenue to cover our expenses, we push that back."

Having golf pay its way has been a long-standing district priority, though it has become increasingly difficult given the competition among the 32 courses in Lake County and ongoing slump in participation as some consider golf too time-consuming or expensive.

During the past several years, the district has replaced full-time positions with a seasonal staff and cut other expenses. Given soft course conditions, it is too soon to call back employees, said Jim Ballowe, the district's director of facilities.

"We need three or four good days of work to get the courses open and ready," he said. The target for opening day is Saturday, April 16.

"With all the pressure on all the golf courses to make a buck, it just makes more sense" to wait, he added. "We're still in the 20s at night. It's not really golf weather."

The district operates four 18-hole layouts: two at Countryside near Mundelein, Brae Loch in Grayslake, and ThunderHawk in Beach Park.

Countryside traditionally opens first - last year, that was April 15 after a second consecutive brutal winter.

That isn't the case less than a mile away at the Mundelein Park and Recreation District's Steeple Chase course.

"We've been open about 3½ weeks. Usually the last Friday in March is what we shoot for," said Bill Brolley, the head pro. "If we can open earlier, we do."

He said the course was busy on a recent Sunday with about 125 players.

The park district's executive director, Margaret Resnick, said the expectation is revenues cover all expenses with enough surplus to pay for capital purchases.

Last year, the golf course surplus was about $167,000. Budgeted capital purchases this year are $147,000, Resnick said.

The forest district has eliminated season passes, tightened budgets, raised food prices and consolidated services to keep its courses self-sustaining.

According to the district, about $10 million in construction loans and interest has been repaid in the past 15 years, the courses are debt-free, and there is a surplus of about $1.6 million.

"It's been of great concern to the (forest board's) finance committee," said Commissioner S. Michael Rummel, who chairs the panel.

"We've done a lot over the past three years to bring the costs under control."

The courses broke even last year, he added.

He noted the golf courses are enterprise funds, meaning they are supposed to pay for themselves rather than being subsidized by general

district funds.

Ballowe described the 74,000 rounds played on district courses in 2015 as a fair showing. He said the intent is for the district to continue operating the courses, not farm out management or close them.

"We see it as an important part of the programming we provide," Kovach said.

@dhmickzawislak

  Golf carts at Countryside Golf Club are ready for the season ahead. Mick Zawislak/mzawislak@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein Park & Recreation District's Steeple Chase Golf Club has been open for about three weeks. Mick Zawislak/mzawislak@dailyherald.com
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