$35 for a round of golf? Boynton Beach wants to get the word out

Colin Groff can't give enough compliments to The Links, Boynton Beach's public golf course.

"It's a beautiful course. It has a lot of amenities. It's a great place to go play. It's very inexpensive."

The problem?

"A lot of people don't know it's there," said Groff, an assistant city manager.

The city and the course's head golf professional, Ron Tapper, have a plan.

New programs, new greens, attention to children's activities, family fun, and maybe even an expansion are all being talked about for the future of the course on Jog Road south of Hypoluxo Road. The course is outside city limits but owned by Boynton.

For years the course, which runs on its own budget, thrived. But during the recession, golf wasn't as important to players, and the number of rounds played annually fell. To battle the loss, in 2014, prices increased for the first time since at least 2008. Last year, the city agreed to give the course about $240,000 at its request.

This budget year, the course proposed about an $880,000 budget for administration, which is about a 12.4 percent decrease from last year, and about $864,000 for maintenance, a nearly 15 percent decrease from last year. But with that came the conversion of five full-time positions to part time and replacing seven part-time employees with volunteers.

Still, Groff says, the course is in a better position financially.

The Links, which includes an 18-hole, par-71 course and a 9-hole "family" course,is up to about 61,000 rounds per year. An 18-hole daily fee in the summer is $35 at the most, and in season $51 at the most. The course has had upgrades such as new Yamaha carts and GPS tablets.

Groff has a wish-list of improvements to be made, but first the course needs to make more money. At its peak, the course had 80,000 to 85,000 rounds per year. If it gets to about 70,000 per year, the improvements, such as modernizing the clubhouse and adding pads to the carts for comfort, can happen.

One big change is already planned. Earlier this month, city commissioners agreed to loan the course about $300,000 for new greens, to be installed next summer. The current greens are from the 1960s, Groff said. New grass is tougher and more springy so the golf balls roll truer, he said.

Commissioner Joe Casello, who plays at the course, said the greens will make a difference, and it's necessary.

"I think that it's a commitment by the city first and foremost, which is good," said Casello. "It's an amenity I don't think we can afford to lose."

The course will repay the city once the money is available.

Golf programs and lessons for children and families will be a big focus.

"If you don't let them get out there and you don't teach them you're never going to find the next Tiger Woods and that's what we're always looking for," Groff said.

The Links' 9-hole family course is a designated Audubon Sanctuary. And if someone doesn't play golf, there will still be an interest to visit the course, Groff said. Food truck wars, alcohol and concerts on the green are all in the works.

Boynton's plan includes one more major part — possibly — and it involves garbage. The city owns about 15 acres adjacent to the course and years ago used it as a landfill. It's been closed for about 22 years. It takes up to 25 years for officials to deem it safe to build over.

"It'd be a great place to expand the course," Groff said.

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Source: $35 for a round of golf? Boynton Beach wants to get the word out