By Jordan Bateman. Are things trending downward again at Abbotsford’s municipally-owned Ledgeview Golf Course? After a blip of a comeback last year, an Abbotsford city councillor tweeted this out yesterday:
@LedgeviewGolf Tee time is utilized at only the 30% level. Great course; excellent fees! Come; try it! #golf #Vancouver #Surreybc #FVRD
Back in 2012, Abbotsford bailed out the non-profit society that operates the course for them with a $115,000 grant. The society, faced with bankruptcy, sliced staff, raised member fees and brought in a host of volunteers. This resulted in the Ledgeview society touting a $75,000 “profit” last year – although one wonders how you can say you turned a profit when you relied on a $115,000 subsidy from taxpayers. Even if it’s not counted in the 2013 profit numbers, it still cut the Ledgeview debt payments.
But is it sustainable? How many more years until Ledgeview can actually generate a profit for taxpayers? And why should taxpayers own a golf course anyway?