Revenues, traffic up at Stone Creek course

Stone Creek Miniature Golf Course in Geneva shot a really good round in September.

Both usage and revenue were substantially higher than they were last year, the Geneva park board learned Monday night.

"I'm very, very excited about this report," said recreation superintendent Sheavoun Lambillotte, whose department oversees the course at Wheeler Park on Route 31.

Overall, 602 more visitors putted through the 18-hole course in September, a 53 percent increase. Resident adult players nearly doubled, from 176 to 317, as did resident senior citizens, from 12 to 26.

Part of that may be due to the course being rented out for birthday parties. Last year, there were none. This September? Twenty-six.

Lambillotte said that course managers developed a mailing list to advertise the course to families, including notifying children that they could get a free round of golf during their birthday month. For those who have a birthday when the course is closed October through March, they get to play during their "half-birthday" month.

The golf course recently added a shelter near its concession stand, which she anticipates will attract more people to have birthday parties there.

They also amped the fun factor at the course this year by adding the "Dynamite Shack" on the 18th hole. If you shoot a hole in one there, it "blows up," and you win a free round of golf.

Revenues increased as the park district sold advertising space on the scorecards golfers used. Non-advertising revenue for September was $9,400, compared to $5,776 last year.