City and Facility beat goal of breaking even in 3rd year of Operation
Ridge Creek Dinuba Golf Club opened to the public in 2008 and business continues to grow, year after year. From 2010 to 2011, Ridge Creek overall revenue grew by almost $5,000 in a down economy and a shrinking base of golfers. The 2009 Industry Reports find that for our area, a 45-minute radius of the course, over 20,000 golfers were lost. This was a major hit to the golf industry in the central valley; however Ridge Creek rounds were short only 66 rounds from the previous year. Ridge Creek also grew membership fees by 92%, or $36,000.
In addition to growing golf memberships, Ridge Creek hosted over 100 golf tournaments in fiscal year 2010 – 2011. Over 20 of those events were fundraisers to benefit local schools like Dinuba and Reedley High School Athletic Foundation, Mt Whitney High School Dugout Club, Immanuel Schools, and St La Salle Schools, and local organizations like the Dinuba Chamber of Commerce, Dinuba Sunrise Rotary, Dinuba Lions Club, Corcoran Kiwanis and the Dinuba Firefighters Association to name a few. Golf clubs from Bakersfield to the Bay Area produced over 40 golf tournaments. Ridge Creek’s central location and close access to highway 99 has contributed to our growth. From fiscal year 2009-10 to 2010-11, golf tournament revenue grew by over $50,000, not including any food or beverage purchases.
Three Finger Jack’s and private catered events also grew incredibly in 2010-11. Revenue for the food and beverage department grew by over $73,000, a 14% increase from previous year. In the fiscal year, Ridge Creek hosted 20 wedding receptions, 8 class reunions and over 40 miscellaneous events ranging from baby showers, birthdays and funeral services. Three Finger Jack’s also provides food and beverage services to our growing list of golf tournaments.
In this down economy, Kemper Sports management had to plan to be efficient to post growth and meet our goal of being self sufficient for the City of Dinuba. The facility cut overall expenses by 14% and saw amazing growth in golf, membership sales, golf tournaments and food and beverage service to bring over $8,000 in net profit income.
Besides the recreational benefit to the city and the central valley region, Ridge Creek has also helped the City manage their disposal of treated wastewater. As quoted in the Dinuba Sentinel when comparing the cost of constructing the many acres of lined ponding basins needed for evaporation of the treated wastewater to the cost of constructing the golf course, Blanca Beltran, Dinuba public works supervisor states, “the cost would have been far greater than what was spent to build Ridge Creek.” This project wins on three fronts: it helps recycle wastewater, conserve open space and provide recreation opportunities to the area.
