(April 13, 2017) Addressing continued financial losses at the Winter Quarters Golf Course drew a large contingency of fairway lovers to the Pocomoke City Council meeting on Monday.
Will Stevenson provided historical background on the course, along with its continuing financial struggles. The current Pocomoke budget anticipates the course will lose approximately $143,000, while it experienced actual loses of more than $114,000 during fiscal year 2016.
“I’ve been asked by a number of folks to give a factual analysis of the value of the course to Pocomoke,” he said. “My family has lived in Pocomoke for over 200 years and promised to give the land for the golf course to the town in 1937.”
As part of the arrangement, Stevenson said the city was limited to using the 45-acre parcel as either a municipal golf course or park facility for a period of 30 years.
“It also specified that it could not be used for any commercial purposes after the 30 years for another 100 years,” he said. “It cannot be used for any commercial purpose until 2079.”
From his perspective, Stevenson said the course has always been a distinct asset to the town.
“So far as I know Pocomoke is the only town of this size in Maryland – and definitely on the Eastern Shore – to offer this amenity to the residents,” he said.
Although the fiscal data may appear troubling, Stevenson said there are other financial considerations to consider.
“I’m told some folks want to close the course because it’s losing money,” he said. “In reality if there was no golf course there would have been no Winter Quarters addition.”
Staring in the 1940’s, parcels of land surrounding the golf course were sold for housing development, Stevenson said.
“My family never could make a living farming it and the rest of it was swampy,” he said. “I’m sure nothing would have been developed if it had not been for the golf course. And today there are 40 homes.”
With a total assessed property value of more than $1.3 million, Stevenson said the homes in Winters Quarters paid more than $66,000 in local real estate taxes in 2016.
“If there was no golf course those homes would lose approximately 20 to 30 percent of their value,” he said.
Stevenson said if the real estate taxes are factored in, the golf course losses drop to the $70,000 range. He also noted in the towns’ most recent audit the water and sewer fund lost nearly $400,000, while sanitation and waste lost more than $120,000.
“I think we are not aware of the gold mine that we’ve got there in the golf course,” he said. “I don’t know much about golf, but I do know a little bit about reading the financial section.”
Stevenson also noted the course lost two tournament bookings last year because of shoddy conditions.
“The course was in such terrible condition you could have putted on the pier better than you could have putted on the green,” he said. “I asked a lot of people lately and the course is in much better condition. I can assure you one of the tournaments you lost you will get this year if you keep the course in the shape its in now.”
Pocomoke City Manager/City Attorney Ernie Crofoot countered Stevenson’s assertions with a different perspective on financial losses from the golf course.
“We lost $150,000 last year in total,” he said. “For every dollar of revenue there’s $3 or $4 of expenses.”
While Crofoot concurred that the city takes a financial loss for other services, he also noted the impact on residents.
“Trash collection and water and sewer is something that gets used by each and every property owner and resident of the city,” he said. “Go to the golf course on any given morning and see how many Virginia vehicles are there. I don’t see Accomack County coming up here and offering us money to support their citizens playing golf in Pocomoke.”
While acknowledging the limitations on commercial development, Crofoot noted that a municipal park, which is an allowable use for the property, would be a revenue neutral venture.
“Out of a $150,000 loss each and every year just give me, one time, $25,000 of that money and we can make a very enjoyable passive park,” he said.
Crofoot said Pocomoke would likely lose half a million dollars in next year’s budget.
“Which includes $150,000 loss, so a very small number of people can play golf,” he said. “Many more numbers of people could use a passive park and certainly we all use essential services.”
Stevenson argued that attracting golfers from out of town is financially beneficial, while Crofoot disagreed.
“We want to attract people, but somebody that drives up across the border, plays golf and goes back to Onley, or some of the other towns, doesn’t do anything for us,” Crofoot said. “The Discovery Center brings in thousands of people a month. It’s a hobby that’s too expensive for us to afford.”
Amy Strong, who owns a home by the golf course, expressed her concerns about potential future changes.
“When we bought our property we thought it was going to remain a golf course,” she said. “If it’s going to change to something else I’d like the opportunity to meet with the city council, or with Mr. Crofoot, and decide what the options are and find out more about it.”
Mayor Bruce Morrison assured Strong there are no immediate changes on the horizon.
“We will be having public hearings and meetings before it’s ever decided on anything,” he said.
Will Stevenson provided historical background on the course, along with its continuing financial struggles. The current Pocomoke budget anticipates the course will lose approximately $143,000, while it experienced actual loses of more than $114,000 during fiscal year 2016.
“I’ve been asked by a number of folks to give a factual analysis of the value of the course to Pocomoke,” he said. “My family has lived in Pocomoke for over 200 years and promised to give the land for the golf course to the town in 1937.”
As part of the arrangement, Stevenson said the city was limited to using the 45-acre parcel as either a municipal golf course or park facility for a period of 30 years.
“It also specified that it could not be used for any commercial purposes after the 30 years for another 100 years,” he said. “It cannot be used for any commercial purpose until 2079.”
From his perspective, Stevenson said the course has always been a distinct asset to the town.
“So far as I know Pocomoke is the only town of this size in Maryland – and definitely on the Eastern Shore – to offer this amenity to the residents,” he said.
Although the fiscal data may appear troubling, Stevenson said there are other financial considerations to consider.
“I’m told some folks want to close the course because it’s losing money,” he said. “In reality if there was no golf course there would have been no Winter Quarters addition.”
Staring in the 1940’s, parcels of land surrounding the golf course were sold for housing development, Stevenson said.
“My family never could make a living farming it and the rest of it was swampy,” he said. “I’m sure nothing would have been developed if it had not been for the golf course. And today there are 40 homes.”
With a total assessed property value of more than $1.3 million, Stevenson said the homes in Winters Quarters paid more than $66,000 in local real estate taxes in 2016.
“If there was no golf course those homes would lose approximately 20 to 30 percent of their value,” he said.
Stevenson said if the real estate taxes are factored in, the golf course losses drop to the $70,000 range. He also noted in the towns’ most recent audit the water and sewer fund lost nearly $400,000, while sanitation and waste lost more than $120,000.
“I think we are not aware of the gold mine that we’ve got there in the golf course,” he said. “I don’t know much about golf, but I do know a little bit about reading the financial section.”
Stevenson also noted the course lost two tournament bookings last year because of shoddy conditions.
“The course was in such terrible condition you could have putted on the pier better than you could have putted on the green,” he said. “I asked a lot of people lately and the course is in much better condition. I can assure you one of the tournaments you lost you will get this year if you keep the course in the shape its in now.”
Pocomoke City Manager/City Attorney Ernie Crofoot countered Stevenson’s assertions with a different perspective on financial losses from the golf course.
“We lost $150,000 last year in total,” he said. “For every dollar of revenue there’s $3 or $4 of expenses.”
While Crofoot concurred that the city takes a financial loss for other services, he also noted the impact on residents.
“Trash collection and water and sewer is something that gets used by each and every property owner and resident of the city,” he said. “Go to the golf course on any given morning and see how many Virginia vehicles are there. I don’t see Accomack County coming up here and offering us money to support their citizens playing golf in Pocomoke.”
While acknowledging the limitations on commercial development, Crofoot noted that a municipal park, which is an allowable use for the property, would be a revenue neutral venture.
“Out of a $150,000 loss each and every year just give me, one time, $25,000 of that money and we can make a very enjoyable passive park,” he said.
Crofoot said Pocomoke would likely lose half a million dollars in next year’s budget.
“Which includes $150,000 loss, so a very small number of people can play golf,” he said. “Many more numbers of people could use a passive park and certainly we all use essential services.”
Stevenson argued that attracting golfers from out of town is financially beneficial, while Crofoot disagreed.
“We want to attract people, but somebody that drives up across the border, plays golf and goes back to Onley, or some of the other towns, doesn’t do anything for us,” Crofoot said. “The Discovery Center brings in thousands of people a month. It’s a hobby that’s too expensive for us to afford.”
Amy Strong, who owns a home by the golf course, expressed her concerns about potential future changes.
“When we bought our property we thought it was going to remain a golf course,” she said. “If it’s going to change to something else I’d like the opportunity to meet with the city council, or with Mr. Crofoot, and decide what the options are and find out more about it.”
Mayor Bruce Morrison assured Strong there are no immediate changes on the horizon.
“We will be having public hearings and meetings before it’s ever decided on anything,” he said.