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Grantwood Golf Course to cut full-time work force
(by Sue Reid - January 07, 2010)
Grantwood Golf Course to cut full-time work force
By SUE REID
Cutting expenses in the new year is an immediate goal at Solon's Grantwood Golf Course, Director Gary Mazzeo said last week.
He said the course will reduce the number of full-time personnel, which currently is six.
"We didn't have a good year at the course, and the economy had a big part in that," Mr. Mazzeo said.
In 2009, the course was down in anticipated revenue, he said. The total estimated revenue was $1.39 million. Mr. Mazzeo said greens fees, which are part of that revenue, had been estimated at $586,000, but the course only took in $515,000.
Expenses also were down, he said. "In correlation to lack of income, we reduced expenses equally as much."
Mr. Mazzeo said he has every department at the course making as many cuts as possible in the budget. They are being directed to look at cutting out everything that can be put off for another year to reduce expenses and make it through 2010, he said.
Mr. Mazzeo stressed that it was the economy which resulted in a bad year, not the course condition, which was "excellent." He said, "We received a number of letters from people who played the course and were very happy with its condition."
In the new year, he said, the course will explore any new avenues it can to generate business. "We'll be looking at whatever it takes to drive more business through the course this year," he said, that includes looking at new avenues of marketing.
"We will also contact all of the leagues and outings to generate business for the new year," Mr. Mazzeo said.
"One big thing we'll do is reduce some key green fees on weekends for residents-nonresidents," he said. "We will make adjustments to bring them down so they are more in line with other courses to encourage more people to come to Grantwood than somewhere else."
Currently, although there is not a lot of traffic in the winter at the course, workers are tending to equipment, he said, and the cross-country ski trails are open and being utilized by the public. A few people are shopping at the pro shop, he said, and there are still a few who take advantage of the driving range.
The Grantwood Party Center is open and hosting functions, Mr. Mazzeo said. That includes weddings and a variety of parties, he said.
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