Pacific Grove losing money !!!

[Mike Benham]

With Adam not likely on the RSS feed or Twitterfeed of the Monterey County Weekly and Mr. Huntley enjoying the beautiful Autumn of New York, this story has snuck by the fans of Pacific Grove but the news is hardly a surprise.

"The 2010-11 fiscal year didn’t turn out that bad for the city of Pacific Grove, but Mayor Carmelita Garcia wasn’t expecting the news that dropped with a Sept. 21 City Council update on the city’s golf course.


P.G. Municipal Golf Links lost more than $413,000 last fiscal year, including a $70,000 loss from golf clubhouse eatery Point Pinos Grill, drawing the Golf Fund reserves down to $143,000. In the long term, the $3 million golf budget is looking at a $300,000 annual gap based on the current market.
"

[Tim Nugent]

Any more information as to what attributed to the $415k shortfall beyond the restraunt (which I look at as a seperate business ventue occuying the same premise, ie. they are mutually exclusive.)?

[RJ_Daley]

Didn't the perennial profit making operation at Pacific Grove take on something like a 14 million dollar reno to clubhouse and facilities and jack their fees?  If so, one would have to think that the debt service and driving away regulars who were satisfied and supported the more simple and golf centric operation was the ball and chain on the budget.  I'm sure Adam will be along shortly to give us an observation or two.   

[Andy Stamm]

Didn't the perennial profit making operation at Pacific Grove take on something like a 14 million dollar reno to clubhouse and facilities and jack their fees?  If so, one would have to think that the debt service and driving away regulars who were satisfied and supported the more simple and golf centric operation was the ball and chain on the budget.  I'm sure Adam will be along shortly to give us an observation or two.   

I'd love to know the specifics of any substantial fee increase, if anyone knows.

[Adam Clayman]

While I haven't spoken to anyone recently, the fee increase was substantial, going from a green fee of $23.75 in 95', but still a value, $50, which is what I paid last time I was there. The local card was tweaked, and I don't know the current situation, but the last I heard was that they were keeping the rate the same, (approx. $500) but only allowing it's use for 6 months.

I do know that the 8 O'clock game that was played there for over 50 years, on Weekends and Holidays, is no longer played there. It wasn't unusual to have 40 guys lining up at 730 am to be picked, like in the old school yard days. At least half of those ate, drank, and were merry, each and every time.

My last time there I met Mr. Huntley for lunch. We had trouble finding a chair that didn't look soiled. Whoever spec'd the fabric on the chairs, failed to account for people who would wipe their french fried greasy hands on the cushion. It gave each seat a dirty look. I was really shocked at how poorly the design concept, of separating the dining from the pro shop, failed to segregate the first tee from all the activity around the parking lot and restaurant entrance.

When I speak with my sources I will post the info.

[Mike Benham]

Any more information as to what attributed to the $415k shortfall beyond the restraunt

Thanks for the tidbit Adam ... and as some say the secret is in the dirt, with financials, a single number (the shortfall) doesn't begin to tell the story.  Comparing revenue and costs trends over the periods is critical as is the periods prior to the renovation / price changes. 

It also would be fun to look back at the projections when the project master plan was presented to the City, not that the City / Consultant would ever take blame for a faulty high-risk plan.

[Don_Mahaffey]

The fine art of screwing up a good thing...all to common in our game.

[Adam Clayman]

Yes Don, but it was a great thing. The golf culture alone made it top notch. It has truly spoiled me to the point where I cant golf with some people. Their etiquette and behavior is too disconcerting and a real downer of an experience for me. And these are friends.

My sense, from having been back last year, was that the make-up and general vibe of the peninsula residents has dramatically changed. Most of the so called "normal" people were smart and sold their homes at the ridiculously inflated prices that created the top of the market. One gentleman, a young Portuguese fisherman, that also worked on the grounds crew, sold his house for 3/4 of a mil and went and bought a nicer house, up Seattle Washington way, for about a quarter of that, and banked the rest. Most of the service people were crowded out, which explains why the quality of service is nowhere near what it use to be at Pebble Beach. The commute from Salinas is no fun. but thats what most had to do. So, the 8 oclock game now moves around between Rancho Canada, Salinas Fairways and even over in Hollister.