By Tim Pallesen
The thrill in having a public golf course on the ocean isn’t measured by just dollars and cents. But the deficit to operate the Red Reef Golf Course in Boca Raton has been increasing in recent years.
So much so, in fact, that the city of Boca Raton’s early estimate that the Boca Raton Beach and Park District might have to pay a $297,200 deficit this year sparked concern that the nine-hole oceanfront golf course might close.
The projected amount was a 64 percent increase over the deficit that district taxpayers were forced to pay five years ago.
The Beach and Park District was ready early August to pay for a study into how to reduce the red ink in Red Reef’s operating budget. The city owns the golf course but the district pays for its operation.
Now city officials are scrambling to reduce costs and increase revenue. The Beach and Park District will postpone its study until Boca Raton can determine the exact amount of this year’s deficit, district chairman Earl Starkoff said.
“The pressure on needing a study is off the table until we hear what the city’s plans are,” Starkoff said.
Starkoff denied a news report that members of the district commission might consider closing the golf course because of the increasing deficit.
“I’m not thrilled about deficits,” he said. “But we provide the golf course as a place for the community to gather just like parks. None of us is interested in closing the golf course.”
Starkoff said an annual deficit of $150,000 to $180,000 might receive the commission’s support.
Assistant City Manager Mike Woika said that amount might be possible.
“It will be a couple of months until we know exactly what the numbers are going to be,” Woika said on Aug. 21. “But it looks now that we will have a $167,500 deficit.”
“We have been doing some cost cutting at all our golf courses and we expect a little more revenue,” he said.
Savings in personnel might mean the grass isn’t cut as often. The city is exploring whether a private company could maintain the golf course for less money than city employees, Woika said.
Stackoff said Beach and Park District commissioners also want to hear the city’s marketing plans to increase the use of Red Reef Golf Course to generate more revenue.
“We market all our golf courses,” Woika responded. “Because Red Reef is an executive course, you don’t get as many rounds of golf as on a regular-distance
course.”
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