Page 8 - BusinessWest April 3, 2023

“In many cases, people only have time for nine holes. That’s roughly two and a half hours on a full course, and that’s all the time many people have.”
play before work or after work. That is definitely a positive.” Dave Twohig, the head pro at Amherst Golf Club for more
than 40 years, agreed. “In many cases, people only have time for nine holes,” he said. “That’s roughly two and a half hours on a full course, and that’s all the time many people have.”
Amherst actually has two “loops,” as he called them, holes 1-5 and 6-9 — both wind up back at the clubhouse — that people can play if they have just an hour or so and want to get a little play in, and many do just that.
Round Numbers
Looking ahead, or at what’s right in front of them, in the case of East Mountain and other courses that have been open for play in Q1, those we spoke with said the outlook for 2023 is colored by optimism.
And the head start many courses were able to get will certainly help, said Menachem.
Indeed, he said that, for tracks like East Mountain and many oth- ers, especially in Eastern Mass. and on the Cape (maybe 20% of the state’s courses), the robust first quarter provides needed cash flow, as Perez noted, when there are few, if any, offsetting expenses.
“It’s like found money,” said Menachem. “You’re running on a thin operation, and you’re allowing access to the golf course in the condi- tion that it’s in without much preparation on the maintenance front; it’s not too much of a heavy lift, and the revenue you’re able to derive should completely outweigh the expenses.”
Also, the early, solid start provides a buffer against possible head- winds, such as heavy rain and excessive heat, later in the year, he went on.
Meanwhile, almost all courses should be able to open earlier than what would be considered normal, said Menachem, who, as he spoke with BusinessWest a few weeks back, said 60 to 70 were already open.
Despite all the optimism that prevails within the industry, there are still challenges to be overcome.
Indeed, the ongoing workforce crisis is still making it more diffi- cult to attract and retain help than it has been historically.
“Labor is still a huge issue, especially on the maintenance and operations side of the game,” Menachem said. “It’s not always been attractive to get up early and set up a golf course, and we want to make sure we can support the next generation of staff and make sure wages are competitive with other industries. Meanwhile, being a seasonal sport also has its challenges.”
Elkins agreed, noting that Amherst Golf Club has increased pay rates to remain competitive and hire and retain not only young peo- ple, but also some retirees looking to work and stay active.
Meanwhile, the higher cost of ... well, just about everything poses stern challenges for clubs, most of which are operating on rather thin margins and without huge reserves to fall back on. In a word, clubs need to be careful, said Elkins, adding that this certainly the case at AGC.
“Making sure that we manage our cash is really important,” he noted. “Like a lot of courses, we’re in good shape, but we’re not going to spend a ton of money on something that’s not core to the course, because it’s risky. We want to make sure we have a good capital reserve and that we spend our money wisely.”
Perez agreed, noting that, despite his great start to 2023, he knows things can change quickly, and he’s learned to reserve judg- ment until he’s added up all the numbers in December.
“I don’t get too caught up in all the numbers until the end of the year,” he said. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and I know better than to get too excited in March. But it is good to have a non-winter like this one; it beats the alternative.”
Staying on a Roll
With the non-winter of 2023 now in the rear view, the region’s golf industry looks forward to the next three seasons.
They do with a spring in their step — figuratively but also quite literally, and optimism that the recent surge the game has enjoyed will continue.
Time will tell if they are right, but all signs indicate that area operators will be able to stay the course — in all kinds of ways. BW
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