The Hirsch Creek Golf and Winter Club is seeking a $60,000 advance on a financial support application they’ve submitted to the District to keep them going through their year-end.
The money would go towards reducing their overdraft fees and to provide a boost to their operations through to the end of the calendar year.
The request was not debated or voted on by councillors at the August 17 public meeting.
Golf club President Robin Lapointe says the club at the moment is $277,000 in the hole, including $196,000 of long-term debt.
The entirety of the club’s financial request to the town is $162,000.
The club has had a better year than perhaps even the club board would have thought. Operationally they had better revenues, which Lapointe says was partly due to the good weather and an early start to the season.
Even that good fortune was tempered with capital expenses which had surfaced over the past year.
The immense snow dump in February crushed their driving range cover and they’ll need to replace that. A technician’s report on the curling rink’s condenser revealed it would have to be raised, which is estimated to cost $30,000.
Another $30,000 is estimated to replace the dehumidifier in the curling rink as well. While the condenser will just provide better efficiency, the dehumidifier itself will require replacement before they can begin making ice again.
The cost for the driving range cover is estimated at $40,000, but that is a temporary budget, and may be reduced once the board finds out how much industrial donation will fit in to it.
He said the steel has already been donated, but costs such as equipment are so far unknown.
The club’s golf pro Steve Haggard said the revenues from curling last year was approximately $50,000.
Mayor Phil Germuth said the community does need its golf course, but the council has not yet debated the financial request from the club directly. (It is scheduled for the August 24 Committee of the Whole meeting.)
“There’s no doubt they’re getting everything in order there. The new manager, the new executive are doing a great job,” said Germuth.“They’re definitely in a much better position than they were, management wise and accountability wise.”
