Guilford Lakes Golf Course Isn’t Making Money; Will it Stay Open?

GUILFORD, CT - The fact that Guilford’s town-run public golf course isn’t making money has officials wondering whether it makes sense to keep pumping taxpayer money into it.

The issue was resurrected at the most recent Board of Selectmen meeting, when it came up that the clubhouse at Guilford Lakes Golf Course needed $10,150 worth of upgrade work.

Golf Course Commission Chair Brittany Mirles explained that the Fire Department has requested they perform some fire rating work in the clubhouse basement. It would be fire rating the walls, ceiling, installing two fire rated doors and replacing patches of missing insulation to make it 90-minute fire rated.

Selectman Charles Havrda said during the last budget cycle the board discussed the need to address the financial issues at the golf course and there are still no answers or a clear path forward a year later. He added that he does not support additional money being spent until there is some type of resolution on the total operation.

Mirles said that they have a financing subcommittee for the golf course to come up with possible solutions. They have been working on cutting costs with staffing and generating more revenue with tournaments. She added that the recent tournament fundraiser made $5,000 and they are planning two more for next year.

Selectwoman Sandra Ruoff said they did establish this committee to come up with solutions and closing the course is the last possible option.

Over the past few years several things have been tried to pump up revenue, including hiring a golf pro, increasing the course’s social media presence, junior programs, tournaments, etc.

The Guilford course also is in the tough position of competing against better known private golf courses in nearby Madison, Clinton and Branford.

First Selectman Matt Hoey noted that when this golf course was built, it was falsely stated that the course would make money. Similar to other recreational opportunities in the Town, the revenues do not outweigh the costs to provide them. They may to get a point where the commission can cut as much as they can and that is all they can do, Hoey added.

After a back and forth debate on the golf course’s finances, the board voted unanimously to table action on the Fire Rating Basement work at the golf course until more definitive plan for the future use of the golf course is received from the committee.

Havrda told the committee one thing that would help the deliberations would be statistics on how many Guilford residents and out of towners use the course.