SARASOTA, Fla — It's been a part of the Sarasota community for more than 90 years, but the Bobby Jones Golf Club is losing money. The Sarasota course brought in about $500,000 less in 2018 than in 2015. Jupiter-based NGF Consulting is offering a plan that could potentially turn things around, but there could be a deficit in the beginning.
The city is going to spend around $16 million to renovate the 45-hole course with modern amenities including new greens and multiple tee boxes. There's going to be an expanded driving range and a new clubhouse. The head of the gulf club says adding some features that they don't have right now increases the potential for the course to make some green.
“The business plan only covers the golf portion of the golf course. It does not include the restaurant revenue, the golf shop revenue, the revenue for the new development center that we’re putting in across the street at the Gillespie which we don’t even have any figures on that because we haven’t had that feature before. And the larger driving range-- just having that larger driving range will bring in a substantial increase in revenue,“ manager Sue Martin told 10 News.
The cost to play is relatively low right now -- just $24 for golfers who walk instead of renting a cart. There’s a $5 discount for locals. But after the renovations, they're planning to offer a tiered pricing system for locals, Floridians and out of state golfers and raise the prices a few dollars, in addition to charging premium fees during certain parts of the year.
According to the consultant’s analysis: “The result of this and the expected City of Sarasota bifurcated market positioning strategy, the ideal peak winter season 18-hole green + cart fee of $59 for City residents and $74 for non-residents, and summer walking weekend AM fees of $22.50 for residents ($34 with cart) and $30.00 for non-residents ($44 with cart). This pricing would position the new BJGC well below premium courses like Legacy GC, Stoneybrook, and University Park, but higher than the Preserve, Tatum Ridge and the Meadows CC.”
Martin tells 10 News the goal is to close in April 2020 -- for 18 months -- to complete the renovations.
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