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Kenosha County golf division says courses have been self-sustaining since 2011; weather remains a risk
Summary
Golf Division Director Jim Wallace told supervisors the county’s courses have funded operations and capital in recent years, recording surpluses and more than 120,000 rounds, but that weather and staffing retirements remain operational risks.
Jim Wallace, golf-division director, gave a history of municipal golf and described the county’s local operations as largely self-sustaining for more than a decade. Wallace said the division crossed the line to self-funding around 2011 and has since generally supported its operating and capital needs, noting a post-pandemic trend of funding capital from operations.
The county’s golf assets include Petrifying Springs (built 1936) and Bridle (built 1972, later expanded). Wallace said the division hosted over 70 events, surpassed 120,000 rounds and recorded more than $5 million in revenue for a second consecutive year. He emphasized the division’s focus on reserves to weather poor seasons, explaining that a run of bad weather — for example, many rain-outs — can materially reduce revenue in a year and that reserves provide resilience.
Wallace also discussed staffing trends, saying roughly 70 percent of maintenance staff are retirees and that retirements increased after COVID, creating hiring challenges. Supervisors were told the division will prioritize affordable pricing and high course quality to retain and attract players while being prepared to delay capital projects if reserves decline.
No formal board action was taken; the presentation was informational and intended to inform budget discussions about enterprise funds and capital planning.
