City golf posts biggest loss in eight years

The city's golf division is once again in the red.

Despite an increase in the number of rounds played in 2010, the division is set to post its largest losses in eight years. Revenues were still at a four year high, but some unanticipated expenses are being blamed for impacting the bottom line.

Director of golf Tom Forsythe said the season started off great but the bottom fell out in July and August.

Since the inception of the enterprise model in 2003, the three city owned golf courses have posted losses ranging from $14,000 to roughly $228,000. For 2010, those losses are projected to be nearly $405,000. 

Forsythe said course conditions were great, but he still isn't happy with the way the year ended.

A number of factors hit the division at the same time last year that led to a major drop in the number of rounds played late in July and August.

The 2010 Annual Review of Golf Courses will come before city council on Monday night. So too will the 2010 Tourism Review where modest gains are being reported including a six per cent increase in the number of visits to the Terry Fox Lookout.

However, the report also notes a 10 per cent drop in U.S. traffic at the Pigeon River border crossing.