Gannonfield Golf Course marks 50th year as staff cite new equipment, ranger program and rising revenues

Gannonfield School Golf Course staff told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board this month the course is marking its 50th year, has expanded staffing and equipment, and has seen revenue gains even as rounds played are slightly down. Director Zach (last name not specified) and Joe, the golf course superintendent, outlined equipment purchases, a new paid ranger program and recent vandalism incidents that prompted added security cameras. The course replaced several pieces of equipment and enlarged its cart fleet, Joe said. “We purchased 10 new golf carts. So we have a fleet of 30 total. So now we will now have over 30… So we now have 36 golf carts,” he said. Staff also acquired a new rough-area mower and a greens mower, purchased through the city fleet-replacement process after evaluating hours and maintenance costs, Zach said. The board heard that a ranger program, previously volunteer-run, was converted to a seasonal paid position this year to improve accountability and on-course coverage. Zach described the change as part of a broader department reorganization that also included reclassifying some staff positions: “Chris’s position was … moved to a recreation supervisor this year as well,” he said. Course events to mark the anniversary were already underway. Joe said the course restored its Chili Bowl event and planned other outings, and described a popular novelty event: “Greenskeeper Revenge is when my staff and myself bring over a whole lot of stuff … people love it,” he said. The course also runs SNAG golf and “Sips and Tips” instructional programs aimed at families and beginner women golfers, which Joe described as “really, really successful.” Operational metrics presented to the board show the course has generated more revenue this year despite fewer rounds. Joe said the course recorded 12,799 rounds this season versus 13,627 the previous year, but net revenue per day rose after modest price increases and changes to cart-splitting fees and resident/nonresident pricing. Staff installed solar-powered cameras around the course this year, Zach said, to monitor vandalism and after-hours trespass. That work followed significant damage around July 4 that staff believe may have been caused by people using motorized e-bikes or electric scooters; Zach said officers were working with police to identify suspect times but that the people responsible had not been identified. “We were not able to capture them,” he said of the earlier damage. The board also heard about rental-related damage from graduation-season events; staff said deposits and additional charges are used to cover repairs when renters cause damage. The board did not take a formal vote on course operations; staff presented the report and answered questions. The report included several operational and maintenance details and forward-looking notes about fleet replacement and a new tee box on Hole No. 5. The course team said it expects to continue phased equipment purchases over the next two years to replace the full fleet. The board moved next to a separate donation request from the parks foundation.