OCR Text |
Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, August 10-12, 2005 The Park Record B-11 Public golf coursesfinancialblack holes PROVO, Utah, (AP) Once upon a time, Utah didn't have enough public golf courses to satisfy the demand. Weekend tee times often required getting reservations weeks in advance. So beginning in the 1960s, just about every city and county in the state built course. And although expensive to build - and in a desert, expensive to keep green - but experts said over time the publicly funded fairways would pay for themselves. What wasn't said was that sometimes it look courses built ir\ the late 1960s until 1992 to turn a profit. Today, Utah has 60 public courses, most of which are losing money. Some private courses are also only scraping by. "They've built so many courses it's tough," says Ernie Schnieter, the owner of two Ogden-area courses. "They don't have to pay taxes, like we do, so they can offer green fees at a discount. We have to match that. Then they offer twofor-ones, and we can't compete with that." Some blame a sagging economy; others believe it's the decline in the number of golfers nationally. But most say Utah's supply simply outweighs the demand and claim city and county governments are to blame. Salt Lake County lost $1.8 million on golf last >car. Provo's Reserve at East Bay lost $736,000. ITie state-run Soldier Hollow course lost some $800;000. The numbers arc similar across the Wasatch Front. And that's bad news for taxpayers. "The losers in all of this are people who don't play golf," says Mike Jerman, vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association. "The government has no business running a golf course." Local governments subsidize the stale's links in a variety of ways. Since 1994, North Sail Lake has taken more than $3.8 million from its general fund, money that could go to fix roads and pay for employees, including police officers. Salt Lake County takes money from tourism and recreation funds. And in Utah County, Spanish Fork city leaders siphon money from the city electrical fund, keeping rates for customers perhaps higher than they have to be. Once a private courses, the now publicly owned Cedars Hills Golf Course lost $223,000 last year and is on track for close to $300,000 in losses this year. When it was private, the course was earning a profit. As a private course, Cedar Hills might be generating close to $100,000 a year in property tax money that would go to the cashstrapped Alpine School District, which ranks dead last in the country for per-pupil expenditures. A consulting firm told city officials the course could turn them a profit of $150,000 a year on the course in its first 10 years and after that, even more. The losses and the lack of other services has raised the hackles of some residents and prompted at least one lawsuit. But without municipal courses, many Utahns couldn't afford the sporl. And as the state continues to grow, courses become increasingly important as a buffer of green between wall-to-wall concrete and asphalt. Golf ranks as the No. 2 revenue generator for State Parks and Recreation, ahead of camping and just behind day entrance Ices. 'Hie state doesn't expect ils courses to make money, says Deputy Parks Director Steve Roberts. Stale, city and county governments also spend heavily on other recreational facilities, like tennis courts, swimming pools, museums and parks, most of which break even at best. "Golf for some reason has been held to a different standard than other recreational activities." Scott WhiMaker, executive director of the Professional Qolf Association of Utah says. "For some reason it's OK to spend millions on recreational complexes, but golf courses were brought online with the idea that they have to make money." jjtjountain CLEANING SERVICES RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL • Repairs/Maintenance Services • High Ceiling Dusting • Serving Summit and Wasatch Counties a O4? l3IU Bonded * Licensed • Insured Call Today for a Free Estimate/ Utah off-road Mecca: Moab is for everyone MOAB, Utah (AP) It was the Safari, a week of organized trail voice of the little girl in the back rides and other off-road activities. seat, looking for anything to grab "I went to Moab and was comonto as the Jeep teetered at an pletely, instantly, hooked," said unnerving angle, that caused me Charles A. Wells, author and pubpause. lisher of a scries of guide books for "May I get out, please?" asked four-wheel-drive buffs like himself. 8-year-old Danielle White, her "It's hard to describe the place eyes big and worried, her hand unless you've been there. ... It has spectacular scenery and beautiful already on the door handle. In five solid days of "jeeping" drives you can take the family on. over the sandstone formations, But it also has challenging stuff for narrow cliff roads, river bottoms the hard-core crowd." and sand dunes around the selfOn this trip, we did a little of proclaimed "Jeep capital of the both. world," it would be the only time My companions included Zac my young co-pilot asked to watch White of Denver, now 28. Twenty from the sidelines. years ago, lie was my "little brothWho could blame her, really. We er" in the Big Brothers and Sisters were easing our way through the program. Today, he's a husband to final major obstacle on a trail his high school sweetheart, Kelly; called "Hell's Revenge," a chal- and father to Danielle and 7-year lenging 8 1/2-mile Jeep path just old Rachel, all of whom share outside of Moab. Rated as "diffi- White's passion for jceping. cult," it is a winding series of the although they sometimes choose incredibly steep grades, big boul- to enjoy it from outside the cab. ders, rock ledges and this last White spent hundreds of hours major obstacle - "Rubble turning his used, 1976 Jeep CJ7 Trouble" - a narrow canyon with into a capable off-road vehicle, sandstone walls on each side and and did the vast majority of the rocks the size of garbage cans work over the past two years to where vehicles are supposed to make my 1997 Jeep Cherokee drive. Even at a snail's pace, climb- trail-ready for this trip, too. ing over the rocks one wheel at a But neither rig has been moditime put my Jeep at unnatural fied to the extent of many of the angles, often with only two tires on four-wheel-drives that come to the ground at any give time. Moab each year. Many owners With Danielle on the sidelines often have spent thousands of doland her father, Zac White, guiding lars customizing their rigs with me via walkie-talkie with comfort- massive suspensions, huge tires, ing phrases like "it's all good." I beefed-up engines and every offemerged, wheels-side down, road gadget imaginable. By comthrough Rubble Trouble without a parison, our rigs are conservative. scratch. Danielle rejoined me, - but still more than capable of shrugging off her absence with a handling difficult trails. smile. "I like all four wheels on the Armed with emergency proviground," she said. sions, GPS units, copies of Wells' The small southeastern Utah guidebook and walkie-talkies, we town of Moab has become a Mecca spent five days jeeping Moab, for off-road enthusiasts - from camping each night at one of the families looking for nice desert many area campgrounds in and drives to the hard-core types want- around Moab. We hit three trails ing to test the capabilities of their rated "difficult" by Wells, one rigs. Within a short drive of the raled as "moderate" and one easy desert town, there are more than "family fun run." 50 designated off-road trails that 'Hie trails, while usually only a crisscross mostly Bureau of Land dozen miles long or less, often Management land. Each spring, took most of a day to traverse thousands of off-road enthusiasts because of the slow speeds flock to Moab for the Easter Jeep required to get over the terrain - and because of frequent stops to photograph and soak in the unique scenery. On "Hell's Revenge," for instance, the trail winds up a scries of steep sandstone domes, leading to a turnoul overlooking the Colorado River several hundred feet below, with breathtaking views of the distant La Sal Mountains. On "Fins and Things." another trail rated as "difficult," but which we traversed with ease, the trail winds along a series of sandstone "fins," - long narrow rock formations that snake across the sand - with more views of the La Sal Mountains and natural sandstone arches. It is the unusual terrain and scenery that attracted Wells, of Colorado Springs, Colo., to Moab. But it was his concern that off-road users were going where they shouldn't that turned him to writing guide books for those who shared his pastime. Irresponsible drivers who cut their own paths can cause serious environmental damage and, if left unchecked, can lead to entire areas being closed to vehicles. "Even well-meaning folks can get off the track, because when you're in the backcountry, it can. get very confusing," said Wells, who has also written guide books for popular four-wheeling areas in Colorado, Arizona and California. "I feel I'm doing more to help the environment by helping keep people on legitimate routes. I've seen the damage when that doesn't happen and it upsets me, too." His "Guide to Moab, Utah _ Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails," includes exacting descriptions of trails, including backroads through nearby Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. It also includes detailed maps, GPS coordinates, photos and warnings about obstacles that might be too tough for some vehicles. Probably one-third of the jeep trails in Wells' book are suitable for "stock" or unmodified fourwheel-drive trucks and SUVs, and some easier trails arc even suitable for two-wheel-drive vehicles. But you don't even have to have your own rig to enjoy the back trails around Moab. A number of companies, including Highpoint Hummer. Moab Adventure Center and the Moab Tour Co., offer trail tours in specialized Humvees with expert drivers and guides. Prices slart at about $60 per adull for a two-hour tour and about $100 for a fourhour lour. In recent years, a number of companies also have sprung up to rent Jeeps so visitors can lake off on their own. Mosl rentals start at under $200 per day. Brad Knight, who operates Cliff-hanger Jeep Rentals, said such rentals have become increasingly popular, especially among novices. His company rents Jeeps that have been modified for difficult terrain, although the company, like others in Moab, does sel guidelines on which trails customers should use. "Most people who are renting a Jeep probably aren't going to be qualified to run some of the tougher trails, anyway." he said. "But this is another alternative to see Moab. ... People have heard about the jeeping and want to experience it for themselves." Open 2fer 1 with ceupen M o n - I : n 7:im LO 10pm " S;u Sam - 1 0 p m Closc-d Sundays Quarry Village at Jeremy Ranch Exit ncxi to Albcrtsons • Park Ciry (•435) 658-S835 • wwwboosu:rjuice.com .\.vi)!K,' What's Out Your Back Door? fTTi ATTENTION TO DETAIL DOMINATES THROUGHOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL 4 BEDROOM, 4 . 5 BATH HOME. FEATURES INCLUDE UNIQUE HAND PAINTED MURALS, FORMAL DINING ROOM, GREAT ROOM WITH FIREPLACE, GOURMET KITCHEN, . I.OWF.R LEVEL FAMILY ROOM, OVERSIZED WORKSHOP, 3 CAR GARAGE, & FULLY FENCED YARD. ENJOY BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN VIEWS FROM YOUR PRIVATE DECK. AT $699,000 - MLS 9956557 Mark & Robin Sletten invite you to consider extending your Park City vacation ... permanently! Let our 30+ years of real estate experience assist you in finding the perfect vacation home or mountain residence. As leaders in luxury real estate, we specialize in Deer Valley, the Aerie, Park Meadows, Thaynes Canyon, Old Town, the Resort Center, Prospector and the golf course properties of Tuhaye, Glenwild & Promontory. Mark Sletten, REALTOR* Mobile: 435.640.0930 Robin Sletten, REALTOR* Mobile: 435.640.0218 KATHIE M A R R I O T T MANANGAN Office: 435.940.0040 Fax: -135.655.7745 www. s Ictteri rcalestate.com (435) 647-7143 MOBILE Our alike is located on the lower level of ihe Park City Mm. Resort Center, Park City, UT 84060 (435) 647-4316 OFFICE COLDIU6LL KATHIE@PARKCITYPROPERTY.COM RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE Prudential WWW.PARKC1TYPROPERTY.COM Utah Real Ettat* SLETTEN 'BECAUSE ALL REALTORS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL." |