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Kenosha County golf operation posts surplus, officials stress reserve-building and weather risk
Summary
The county's golf division reported a multi‑year trend of self‑sufficiency and a 2024 surplus exceeding $1 million, while officials cautioned that weather variability can materially affect revenue and emphasized the need to preserve reserves for capital projects.
Jim Wallace, Golf Division Director, presented a brief history of municipal golf and a summary of Kenosha County golf operations, highlighting recent financial performance and capital priorities.
Why it matters: the golf division is a county business unit that has shifted from requiring subsidy to funding its own operations and capital; its performance affects county enterprise fund balances and capital planning.
Key points
- Financial performance: Wallace said the golf division ended 2024 with “more than a million dollar surplus,” continuing a trend of profitability and self‑sufficiency since about 2011. Golf revenue exceeded $5,000,000 and rounds started measured about 120,000 for the year; the division reported hosting more than 70 events.
- Capital and reserves: Wallace said the division will prioritize reserve levels to provide resilience against poor weather years and to continue investing in course quality. He noted that the division sometimes delays capital projects to maintain healthy reserves.
- Operations and workforce: staff are often local retirees and the division faces recruitment/retention influences similar to other county operations.
What officials said
Supervisors asked how rounds are counted; Wallace said the system counts “starts” (a start can be a nine‑ or 18‑hole round). Supervisors and staff discussed reserving funds to withstand weather impacts.
Ending
The golf director recommended continuing reserve management and careful capital timing to maintain course quality and affordability for users.
