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Rec center, golf course and shooting range report: memberships down, course revenues up, range improvements planned
Summary
Advisory boards reported mixed results: Rochelle Ranch showed improved rounds and pro-shop sales and is pursuing a simulator project; the rec center's membership revenue has fallen since last year's price increases; the shooting range reported renovations and a master-plan update and increased community use.
Several city advisory boards presented updates to council on Jan. 21. The Rochelle Ranch Golf Course Advisory Board reported year-over-year revenue increases for green fees and pro-shop sales, improvements in course condition and new gas carts intended to reduce winter maintenance costs. The board said junior-golf participation increased and that Rawlins will host state junior golf events in 2025. The board also reiterated interest in a year-round simulator to attract additional users.
The Rawlins Recreation Center continues to show reduced membership revenue after a roughly 20% rate increase last year. City staff said membership revenue declined from a high of about $27,000 in 2020 to $63,000 in 2024 (membership and program revenues combined), and that program staffing changes had reduced programming costs even as staffing unfilled positions suppressed some programming revenue. Staff reported the rec center still requires a subsidy from the general fund and asked council to consider goals for acceptable subsidy levels moving forward.
The Rawlins Shooting Range Advisory Board described indoor-range renovations completed in 2024 (new counters, shooting stations and flooring) and improvements to the outdoor range (entrance road, thousand-yard range road, clubhouse repairs). The board reported high volunteer hours (roughly 1,000 volunteer hours contributed by board members in 2024), increasing membership and several upcoming projects: outdoor-range master-plan updates, ricochet management, pistol-wall repairs and hosting new tournaments, including NRA events and a women's shooting league.
Why it matters: Advisory boards said their activities affect tourism and local recreation budgets. The golf course's out-of-town rounds, junior events and tournaments bring visitors and hotel/restaurant spending; the rec center and shooting range require ongoing council consideration regarding subsidy, membership pricing and capital investment.
Next steps: Advisory boards will deliver further details on budgets and proposed capital projects. The golf board asked council to consider simulator funding; the shooting range board plans to finalize a master plan to support grant applications and broaden the range of activities available year-round.
