By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
HOWARD – Director of Administrative Services Chris Haltom informed the village board at its meeting, Monday, Aug. 26, the Village Green Golf Course has reported its best financial results ever since the Village of Howard has owned the course.
“It’s the highest operating income we’ve had since we’ve owned the golf course, which is quite a pleasant surprise,” Haltom said. “We’ll see how it continues for the next few months, but right now it’s looking very, very good.”
Through July 31, the course reported an operating income of $100,354, compared to $48,531 at that time a year earlier.
The course’s total revenue for the first seven months of 2019 came to $339,079 with $238,725 in total expenses.
Haltom attributed the course being six figures in the black for the year to an increase in income and decrease in expenses.
“Expenses are down quite a bit from the previous year,” he said. “That’s where we’re really seeing the savings.”
Haltom said restaurant expenses were down more than $26,000 through July, $76,163 this year compared to $103,972 in 2018.
Previously food and beverages had to be thrown out because they weren’t used when the restaurant was closed.
“We didn’t have that this year, because we went to frozen-type food that you can keep a lot longer,” Haltom said.
Restaurant revenues were up for the first seven months by around $1,500 from the previous year at $95,791, compared to $94,220.
Golf course expenses were down by more than $11,000 for that time period, $129,164 compared to $140,517, with course revenues up by about $6,000, $243,288 compared to $237,022.
Haltom credited the course’s manager, Jim Boockmeier, who is in his second year there, for the financial results turnaround.
“He’s cut back staff dramatically, and he’s done a lot of work himself,” Haltom said. “So, he could be cooking in the restaurant, he could be serving drinks, he could be on the pro shop side. He’s done everything. Many days, he’s the only one there, and he does it all.”
The expense savings this year on the golf side, Haltom said, include not having to spend extra money re-seeding grass like when around $20,000 had been spent last year after a die-off, along with having less labor costs.