Big Bend Golf Course continued to solidify its newfound position as the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation Commission's top revenue producer, posting a net income of $34,215 from July through October of 2016 - 160 percent higher than the same period last year.
Income from green fees, cart rentals, food and drink sales and pro shop sales totaled $230,957 from July 1 to Oct. 31 at Big Bend this year, 47.7 percent more than was recorded during the same period in 2015, while expenses were cut by $15,537, or about 8 percent, during the same period.
Big Bend's strong showing was reflected in a finance committee report released during Wednesday's regular monthly meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission.
"Thank goodness for Big Bend," said David Pope, the commission's golf committee chairman. "It's the only income-producing entity we have."
Pope credited initiatives by Travis Counts, who took over as superintendent of the Tornado- area golf course in March, and improved golfing weather in 2016, compared with 2015, with Big Bend's improved financial status. Last year, Big Bend recorded the biggest operating loss of all units in the county park system.
County Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Hutchinson reported that the West Virginia National Guard had completed work on a new storage building to replace a cluster of small sheds needing to be repaired near the new entrance to Coonskin Park at no cost to the county parks system.
"We will be able to start moving our stuff in early next year," he said.
So far, more than 9,000 vehicles have driven through the "Lights of Coonskin" Christmas display, which opened on Nov. 25 and will remain open through Dec. 31 at Coonskin Park. The display is open from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
Reach Rick Steelhammer at rsteelhammer@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5169, or follow @rsteelhammer on Twitter.