Davis County golf courses report strong revenues, seek capital funds for carts, parking and irrigation

Valley View and Davis Park managers told the Davis County Budget Committee on Oct. 2 that both courses outperformed expectations in 2023 and are on pace to post larger gains in 2024 thanks to earlier openings, prepaid reservations and robust association and tournament activity.

Dustin Volk, identified in the transcript as Director of Golf, summarized Valley View’s results as a strong 2023 and said the course “put a decent amount of money out of the fund” (presentation figures showed roughly $570,000 after depreciation). He told the committee that Valley View’s profit was approximately $540,000 as of August 2024 and that prepaid reservations and first‑ and second‑quarter demand helped drive gains this year.

Zach Johnson, representing Davis Park, reported that Davis Park recorded about 90,313 rounds in 2023 and that the newly reopened driving range (opened in June) had generated roughly $55,000–$70,000 in revenue through mid‑September. Davis Park’s first quarter in 2024 was up substantially on revenue vs. 2023, staff said, and membership rolls and tournament entries have pushed pro‑shop sales higher.

Why it matters: The two courses operate from a common fund that the staff described as healthy. Finance staff presented a 2024 fund snapshot that started at roughly $8.7 million and, under current projections, would grow by more than $500,000 before planned capital spending. Committee members and staff framed the capital requests against that backdrop.

Key capital and operating items discussed

- Fleet replacement: Staff said the two courses are planning to replace a combined fleet of about 70 golf carts (fleet age ~4 years) and estimated the replacement at roughly $400,000. Staff discussed battery technology shifts from lead‑acid to lithium‑ion and said most charger infrastructure in their barns would accommodate new chargers with minimal change.

- Parking and range remodel: Valley View is considering a parking‑lot replacement and a possible tie‑in with a driving‑range remodel in 2025. Staff cautioned that asphalt and parking work are costly and may require staggered construction to keep facilities open during peak events.

- Irrigation: Staff described an aging irrigation system and proposed increasing an irrigation maintenance budget by about $15,000 per year for targeted repairs (heads, controller adjustments, nozzle work) to extend system life and postpone an expensive full replacement planned in future capital cycles.

Operational notes and revenue drivers

Managers credited prepaid reservation systems, tighter inventory control and strong association and tournament participation for much of their recent revenue growth. Both courses reported crowding and pace‑of‑play pressures on some days; staff said prepaid systems helped manage those constraints.

Safety and neighborhood impacts

Presenters described some safety incidents from errant golf balls (including a broken residential window) and vehicle dings in parking areas adjacent to practice and chipping zones. Options discussed included redesigning short‑game areas, adding localized netting, and better signage and parking guidance.

Next steps and budget implications

Staff said they will pursue bids for curb/gutter and asphalt work, develop concept plans for any range remodel tied to parking work, and refine capital requests for inclusion in the 2025 budget cycle. Finance staff warned that recognizing trade‑in proceeds and depreciation entries will affect how some purchases are recorded, but they characterized the fund as able to support the proposed spending if current revenue trends continue.

The committee did not take formal votes on capital items during the meeting; staff were asked to return with bids, revised estimates and timing for construction and equipment replacement.