Out of the rough: The business of golf

Golfing is a business that provides a way to relax, but it's still a business.

A manager of a country club or a golf course worries about satisfying customers, making a profit, keeping things fresh and offering enough to keep customers coming back.

Throughout Southeast Missouri, golf courses and country clubs all provide basically the same product, but each one is unique in its offering and outlook.

The Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau is a semi-private golf course, but unlike other golf courses its members do not have equity in the club, said general manager Andy Deiro.

Other golf clubs give members voting rights. Dalhousie is like a health club where members pay to use the facilities, but have no direct input into how the place is run.

Dalhousie sells memberships in seven different classifications to golfers from across the world. The challenge and attractiveness of the course is what brings players to Dalhousie, according to its managers.

"The golf club is its own best sales tool," said Deiro. "We have been able to attract members from Sikeston, Anna, Carbondale, St. Louis, Palm Springs and Dover, England."

Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson is a family-owned public golf course. Golfers can either buy a season pass and play year round for only one fee, said manager Mike Litz. Or they can pay a daily fee whenever they feel like a golf game, he said.

Another way to play, Litz said, is to buy a discounted preferred card available to local golfers. Every time they play, they earn punches on the card that will entitle them to a free game.

Most of Bent Creek's revenue comes from people who walk in wanting to play golf as opposed to yearly memberships. Litz said that Bent Creek also hosts tournaments which incorporates the use of the banquet hall. There is also a snack bar where hungry golfers can grab a burger or a sandwich and sodas and beer.

Managing a golf course has two major differences over any other business, said Litz, a former banker.

"We are open every day, including holidays," he said. "We have to make sure we are all ready to go each and every day, providing the weather permits. The nice thing about the golf business is we do have a season and in the off season, even though we're open, we can catch our breath and do a little planning for the next season."

The biggest difference, he said is that 99 percent of the customers come there to have a good time. That also includes having a little fun himself on the course.

"We need to be out there occasionally," he said. "We're our own worst critics and we should be."

Ozark Ridge Golf Course in Poplar Bluff is part of the Parks and Recreation Department and is completely public. Manager Bobby Godwin said that the golf course is busy constantly, but added that there are only 50 members.

"It's not a country club," Godwin said. "Today we had 120 players and 80 walked in off the street."

Barry Billings, who became manager of the Perryville Country Club after he retired, says that club has about 200 members, but is open to non-members.

"The advantage to being a member is you have a place to store your cart on the premises and only have to pay greens fees annually," he said. "Membership gives you unlimited golf."

The major difference he sees between a country club and any other business is that he has more people to answer to: the membership.

The Sikeston Country Club is somewhat more diversified, said Saralyn Boyer, executive secretary to the board of directors. Anyone can come in and play golf, but one of the benefits of membership in the country club is its independently-owned, members-only restaurant with a sports bar and lounge.

"We depend on members to come here and eat so that we can make money," Boyer said.

Members are charged a $30 monthly restaurant fee as part of their dues with the board of directors' hope that once the customers have used up that fee, they'll continue to come back and bring guests because it's an enjoyable dining experience.

Other revenue comes from greens fees, proceeds from the pro shop, and tournaments, she said.