Pharr golf director reports near‑break‑even revenues, new pump and ongoing maintenance work

Pharr — Golf Director Will Barossi told the Pharr advisory board on a regular meeting that for August 2025 the golf operation recorded $69,510.80 in revenues and $70,006.54 in expenditures, leaving a year‑to‑date deficit and ongoing maintenance needs.

Barossi opened the operational report by giving the month and year figures: “For the month of August, we had revenues of $69,510.80. Expenditures, $70,006.54 with 21¢, leaving us with a loss of $1,143.41 on the year, negative $147,860.85.” He credited staff and cross‑department support for improved receipts compared with prior years.

The report included line‑item performance and event summaries. Barossi said green‑fee receipts rose (he cited a $1,225 increase) and range‑ball and cart‑rental revenues also improved; club rentals increased to $1,269 and rental clubs went out 65 times in August versus 34 times in August 2024. The course hosted a 160‑player tournament in August, and Sundowners events drew 61 players this August compared with eight the prior year. Barossi also named Little Caesar’s (1304 E. Business 83) and Silver Recycling as recent sponsors and described use of signage and photos at cart staging areas to display sponsors.

Barossi described equipment and infrastructure work under way. A new irrigation pump arrived the week before the meeting; staff cut a roof opening for installation and saw the first strong flows of water after the unit began running. He said public utilities and the homeowners association at Plantation granted electricity access for a fountain at a mailbox station and that a second fountain will be installed once additional wiring is run. He reported the old grease trap cover had failed, public utilities vacuumed the area, the seal was replaced and protective posts were installed to prevent vehicle damage.

On course maintenance, Barossi said staff will aerify greens in mid‑ to late October using thin tines and that winter rye seed had already been applied to fairways to recover bare spots. He noted one groundskeeper is on FMLA and that irrigation improvements and a recently purchased sprinkler‑monitoring system should improve watering coverage. He also said some holes (notably Nos. 16 and 17) will need continued attention and that roping may be reintroduced in some areas to aid recovery.

Food and pro‑shop operations changes were described: Barossi said the pro shop/kitchen added menu items (a double‑meat option, popcorn, nachos, two sizes of fries and a salad), and requested an additional part‑time seasonal kitchen worker after cuts to a prior program (AARP) affected staffing levels. He said green fees for the new fiscal year would remain unchanged; an 18‑hole round with a cart before twilight remains $41.

Barossi summarized outreach and events: a multi‑department Trucker Appreciation event prepared and distributed more than 500 burgers (Public Utilities cooked patties), and a recent tournament used overflow parking at Paradise Park and volunteer staff from multiple departments. He also encouraged use of the golf loyalty app and membership programs, saying the app can lower the average cost of play (Barossi described the twilight average with cart at about $23 and an average of $32 for regular play when using package deals).

Board comments focused on enforcement of cart rules and peer‑to‑peer reminders for golfers who use private carts and drive onto fringes near greens. Barossi said he first reminds players and described potential enforcement options (requiring those players to park private carts and use course carts), and he agreed to consider a log system of incidents and to use marshals when available.

The board moved to approve meeting minutes and the series of status reports (motions carried by voice vote). No formal vote tallies or recorded roll‑call votes were provided in the transcript.

Why it matters: the golf operation is both a city amenity and an earned‑revenue activity whose near‑break‑even monthly results, infrastructure upgrades and event activity can affect budget discussions, maintenance plans and community use of city resources. The pump installation and irrigation monitoring tools are tangible steps that staff said should improve course conditions heading into the cooler months.

Looking ahead, Barossi said staff will continue to take bids for sprinkler repairs and a second‑floor renovation at the clubhouse, pursue wiring needed for a second fountain, and follow up on a staffing request for the kitchen as the board and departments coordinate support.