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City gets advice on Grantwood Golf Course
(by Sue Reid - November 03, 2010)
City gets advice on Grantwood Golf Course
By SUE REID
After six months of research and deliberation, volunteer members of the Grantwood advisory board gave their key recommendations Monday to Solon City Council.
Residents Thomas Littman, Robert Flacks and Robert Fein were asked in April by Mayor Susan A. Drucker to evaluate options for the city-owned golf course.
"Grantwood is a great asset in the city," Mr. Littman said in his opening remarks. He said the advisory board was impressed with the personnel at the course and their dedication.
"The city should consider Grantwood as it does any other significant asset in the city," Mr. Littman said.
The advisory board felt that Grantwood should establish a "competitive identity," he said, citing amenities at the course, including the driving range.
"The future of Grantwood in our mind is finding ways to drive revenue," Mr. Littman said. The course's future success "will be driven by whether we increase revenue," he said. The first way to do that is market the course, he said, "having an identity and a regular stream of people."
Mr. Littman said the board concluded that the course should be managed by the city's director of recreation. "He has the time and skills," he said.
Recreation Director Donald W. Holub was appointed director of the course following the retirement of Grantwood Superintendent Gary Mazzeo.
Because Grantwood is a significant operation, Mr. Littman said, the city and the course need to make capital improvements each year.
"Based on where it is today, Grantwood can handle through its own revenue year-to-year capital expenditures," Mr. Littman said.
Another suggestion by the board is that the head golf professional should be a full-time employee, rather then a contracted employee. There is a conversation each year of whether that position should be retained, Mr. Littman said, and it is during that time that the golf professional should be out marketing the course, looking for businesses and leagues and outings.
Mr. Littman said the pro shop at the course should be owned by the city, rather than the head of golf. "We think that some portion of the revenue from lessons and clinics should go to the city, rather than the head professional and other professionals," he said. "It aligns everyone's interest so what is good for Grantwood will be good for the golf pros."
Mr. Flacks said he wanted to re-emphasize in terms of an identity for the course that the overriding issue is that Grantwood should be a good teaching facility and provide a resource for young people to learn the game of golf.
The board commended Councilman William D. Mooney, who served as its liaison, as well as Mr. Holub for their involvement in the process.
Mayor Susan A. Drucker thanked the members for volunteering their time and expertise to come up with the recommendations.
"When I took office, we all knew Grantwood was an issue, and we didn't know where it would go," Mrs. Drucker said. The purpose of the board was to identify what the struggles were associated with the course and how to address them and move forward.
"You all took this to heart and took it seriously," Mrs. Drucker told the board members. "You have given us great recommendations and great guidance. We will take these recommendations under advisement.
"Grantwood is an asset and your recommendations will start us off on the right foot of what we need to change there," she said. "We needed people with an unbiased approach to Grantwood."
Mr. Mooney also thanked the board. "It was a huge process," he said. "It will give a great head start to get a bunch of things implemented."
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