Municipal Golf Course (Review & Recommendations)
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Operational Review and Recommendations For Municipal Golf Operations In City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department Houston, Texas Prepared For: City of Houston, Texas Prepared By: 1150 South U.S. Highway One, Suite 401 Jupiter, Florida 33477 (561) 744-6006 July 2005 Operational Review and Recommendations For the City of Houston Municipal Golf Operation Table Of Contents INTRODUCTION _______________________________________________________1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY_________________________________________________2 Overall Operations Summary Findings and Recommendations ______________________4 Individual Facility Recommendations __________________________________________8 MARKET AREA OVERVIEW ____________________________________________13 Demographic Overview____________________________________________________13 Snapshot___________________________________________________________________ 13 Demographics Summary ______________________________________________________ 14 Economic Overview ______________________________________________________15 Facts & Figures______________________________________________________________ 15 Demographic Trends _________________________________________________________ 16 Urban Residential Revitalization _________________________________________________ 18 Main Street Revitalization Project ________________________________________________ 19 Employment ________________________________________________________________ 20 Housing/Real Estate __________________________________________________________ 21 Tourism____________________________________________________________________ 22 Transportation_______________________________________________________________ 23 Cost of Living _______________________________________________________________ 24 Climate ____________________________________________________________________ 25 Economic Overview Summary ______________________________________________25 GOLF MARKET OVERVIEW ____________________________________________27 National Trends__________________________________________________________27 Estimated Houston Area Resident Golf Demand 2004-2009 _______________________28 Predicted Golf Demand________________________________________________________ 29 Houston Area Basic Supply Indicators ________________________________________29 Household/Supply Ratios ______________________________________________________ 30 Recent Construction Activity____________________________________________________ 31 Golf Market Summary _____________________________________________________31 COMPETITIVE GOLF MARKET __________________________________________32 Public Access Golf Market _________________________________________________32 Municipal Golf Facilities _______________________________________________________ 35 Daily Fee Golf Facilities _______________________________________________________ 37 Driving Range Basket Prices ___________________________________________________ 41 Proposed New Golf Courses ___________________________________________________ 42 Competitive Facilities Summary _________________________________________________ 42 CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL GOLF OPERATIONS OVERVIEW ____________44 City of Houston Municipal Golf Courses _______________________________________44 City of Houston Municipal Golf Course Locations____________________________________ 45 Administrative Overview ___________________________________________________45 Fund 206/Fund 465___________________________________________________________ 46 Golf Operations Contracts _____________________________________________________ 46 Summary of Rents Collected (2001 – 2004)________________________________________ 49 Capital Investment Requirements________________________________________________ 50 Systemwide Support by City of Houston___________________________________________ 52 Historical Performance ____________________________________________________52 Capacity Utilization ___________________________________________________________ 52 Rounds History – Houston Golf Courses __________________________________________ 53 Recent System Economic Performance ___________________________________________ 53 Operational Norms _______________________________________________________55 Issue of Implementing Non-Resident Rate Class at City Courses ___________________58 Issue of Introducing Seasonal/Annual Passes __________________________________60 Management Alternatives __________________________________________________60 Management Contract ________________________________________________________ 61 Operating Lease _____________________________________________________________ 62 Concession Agreement________________________________________________________ 63 Self-Operation_______________________________________________________________ 64 Overall Operations Summary Findings and Recommendations _____________________67 CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL GOLF – INDIVIDUAL FACILITY OPERATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ____________________________________________71 Brock Park Golf Course ___________________________________________________71 Golf Course_________________________________________________________________ 71 Brock Park Local Golf Market ___________________________________________________ 72 Brock Park Operational Issues and Data __________________________________________ 74 Brock Park Consumer Feedback ________________________________________________ 79 Brock Park Summary Findings and Recommendations _______________________________ 80 Gus Wortham Park Golf Course _____________________________________________81 Golf Course_________________________________________________________________ 81 Gus Wortham Park Local Golf Market ____________________________________________ 82 Gus Wortham Park Operational Issues and Data____________________________________ 84 Gus Wortham Park Consumer Feedback __________________________________________ 87 Gus Wortham Park Summary Findings and Recommendations_________________________ 89 Memorial Park Golf Course_________________________________________________90 Golf Course_________________________________________________________________ 90 Memorial Park Local Golf Market ________________________________________________ 91 Memorial Park Operational Issues and Data _______________________________________ 93 Memorial Park Consumer Feedback _____________________________________________ 97 Memorial Park Summary Findings and Recommendations ____________________________ 99 Sharpstown Park Golf Course _____________________________________________100 Golf Course________________________________________________________________ 100 Sharpstown Park Local Golf Market _____________________________________________ 101 Sharpstown Park Operational Issues and Data ____________________________________ 103 Sharpstown Park Consumer Feedback __________________________________________ 107 Sharpstown Park Summary Findings and Recommendations _________________________ 109 Glenbrook Park Golf Course_______________________________________________110 Golf Course________________________________________________________________ 110 Glenbrook Park Local Golf Market ______________________________________________ 111 Glenbrook Park Operational Issues and Data _____________________________________ 113 Glenbrook Park Consumer Feedback____________________________________________ 115 Glenbrook Park Summary Findings and Recommendations __________________________ 117 Hermann Park Golf Course________________________________________________117 Golf Course________________________________________________________________ 118 Hermann Park Local Golf Market _______________________________________________ 119 Hermann Park Operational Issues and Data ______________________________________ 121 Hermann Park Consumer Feedback ____________________________________________ 125 Hermann Park Summary Findings and Recommendations ___________________________ 126 Melrose Park Golf Course_________________________________________________127 Melrose Park Local Golf Market ________________________________________________ 127 Melrose Park Operational Issues and Data _______________________________________ 129 Melrose Park Summary Findings and Recommendations ____________________________ 131 First Tee Facility at F.M. Law Park __________________________________________132 PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT OF CITY OF HOUSTON GOLF COURSES__________134 Brock Park ____________________________________________________________134 Gus Wortham Park ______________________________________________________136 Memorial Park__________________________________________________________139 Sharpstown Park________________________________________________________141 Glenbrook Park_________________________________________________________143 Hermann Park__________________________________________________________145 Melrose Park___________________________________________________________147 F.M. Law Park__________________________________________________________148 City-wide Recommendations ______________________________________________149 Overall Summary _______________________________________________________149 SUMMARY STATEMENT ______________________________________________151 APPENDICES ARE IN SEPARATE VOLUME Introduction NGF Consulting, a subsidiary of the National Golf Foundation, was retained by the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department to assist in evaluating the operations, management, and physical condition of the City’s eight golf courses. The goal of the study is to provide the City with