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Steady rains drench Grantwood golf revenue
(by Sue Reid - May 25, 2011)
Steady rains drench Grantwood golf revenue
By SUE REID
Steady rains in April and into May resulted in frustration for area golfers, as well as decreased revenue at Grantwood Golf Course in Solon, Recreation Director Donald Holub said.
Revenues for April, which is when the course opened, were $57,000, compared to $110,000 the same time last year, Mr. Holub said.
The good news is that, although revenues are down, so are expenses, Mr. Holub said.
"We were $14,000 down in expenses in April," he said. Expenses were kept down last month in a number of ways. First was not staffing the pro shop, which opened May 1. Also, people who would normally work outdoors did not start, and the snack bar was only open six days that month.
"Besides, our salary staff people working outdoors did not start," Mr. Holub said. "You do with the employees you have here. They are all hard workers, so it was easy to do."
Mr. Holub said the course was in the "same boat" in May as it was in April due to the rain. "Later in May is when it really starts to pick up," he said. "It's almost the equivalent of summer months.
"The next two weeks are really critical from that standpoint," he said, "but we will survive either way. We have enough carry over from last year that we will be OK and hopefully the weather will get better."
Mr. Holub said golfers are frustrated with the weather.
"People are chomping at the bit to play golf," he said. "What we are seeing is that any good day we get, or even close to being a good day, they're out in droves."
He said that following a recent thunderstorm, leagues delayed tee times, but went out and played right after.
"Anytime anyone can play, they are going out," Mr. Holub said.
The greens drain well at the course, he said, which is a testament to David Peck, the course superintendent.
"The problem is, it's very wet every other place," Mr. Holub said. "Solon is built on a lot of clay. It's clay-based and swampland and unfortunately it just holds the water.
"That's what we are dealing with," he said. "The course overall does not drain really well, but the greens do, and that saves us."
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