Cloudy / 57° F
Course loan was necessary [UPDATED]
Published 10:07am Monday, November 26, 2012 Updated 12:08pm Monday, November 26, 2012There some who may question the Fergus Falls City Council’s decision to extend a line of credit and defer a loan to Pebble Lake Golf Course, which has essentially lost money in recent years.
However, considering it is not only city owned, but a valuable quality-of-life asset to many Fergus Falls, the council made the right choice.
The hope is that the course’s plan — through expense cuts, increased revenues from the restaurant by having the board manage it rather than lease it to a tenant, and slightly increased rates — will help put the course in the black. The fact that the economy is bound to improve, meaning more residents have the money and time for golf, also is a hopeful sign.
We would hope the PLGC board and its staff take expense cuts seriously. While everyone would like to have Augusta or Pebble Beach in their backyard, the fact is, the economics of Fergus Falls will only allow a certain revenue level, and expenses need to stay within it.
That said, the golf course — like our parks, schools, streets, retail businesses and lakes — is a vital part of our community. It helps retain local residents and is a key chip in bringing new residents to town.
The council was right in providing it the resources to continue.
