Photo Credit: Douglas Kelly
Former President Jimmy Carter once said, “Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries.” Working for municipal golf courses for more than 27 years, I have found this statement to be true. But in Ann Arbor, Mich., in order to resonate with area golfers, courses have had to provide much more than a “love of nature.”
Tough Times
In 2006, the city—like many around the country—was facing tough economic times. With budget cuts and a loss of tax dollars, officials and residents questioned the city’s role in services outside of health, safety, and public administration. Unfortunately, parks and recreation seems to be one of the first divisions to be thoroughly analyzed; at that time, golf was the main specimen. Hundreds of questions were asked surrounding the golf courses’ role within the city. Since 2000, the dreaded “death spiral” has occurred where an overabundance of courses in the area led to the decline of golfers. That decline led to the slashing of rates to try to attract more golfers. Lower revenues meant budget cuts, which led to fewer staff members, inferior maintenance practices, and aging equipment. To bring the spiral full circle, fewer staff members and unkempt courses resulted in an even greater decline in retuning customers. And down they went. However, after a year of public meetings, cost analyses, and consultants, the city’s two municipal golf courses were given a reprieve.
Finding Value
In 2007, the city began to recognize the potential of courses as community assets—not only from a business point of view, but more importantly from an environmental point of view. Since these parks encompass more than 280 acres of sensitive green space and watershed outlets, a new mindset took hold that, if the city intended to be in the golf business, the city was going to do it right. A new attitude regarding the courses emerged. The “microscopes” revealed a lack of budgeted investments in the assets. The position of director of golf was created and filled. Scott Spooner, a member of Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, took over on grounds, and the city invested more than $620,000 for new turf equipment that gave staff members the necessary tools to begin its mission.