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Legislature Considering Exempting Private Golf Courses from Sales Tax
A bill that would exempt privately owned golf courses from charging sales tax for rounds of golf played at those golf courses has been introduced in the Utah State Senate and has already passed third reading on a 23-4 vote.
The bill is sponsored by Senator Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City.
He explained that the goal of the bill is to level the playing field between privately owned courses and publicly owned courses. The current law requires all golfers to pay sales tax on a round of golf at both private and public courses, but the publicly owned golf courses are perceived to have a competitive advantage because the privately owned courses pay property taxes, and the publicly owned courses don’t.
Golfers who are interested in the issue can read more details about the bill on the Utah State Legislature web page. The bill is number SB96.
How does it affect Utah golfers?
(1) It will effectively reduce the total price of a green fee at a privately owned golf course unless the owners decide to use the funds to cover operating expenses. It will be a savings to either the golfer or the golf course owner, or a combination of the two.
(2) It will reduce the sales tax revenue for the state in whatever amount is involved.
(3) It may shift some rounds played at municipal courses to rounds played at privately owned courses if the privately owned courses choose to lower their rates.
Privately owned courses that are accessible to the public that would be financially benefitted by this bill include: Bear Lake, Bear Lake West, Ben Lomond, Cascade, Central Valley, Coral Canyon, Fore Lakes, Glen Eagle, Glenmoor, Golf in the Round, Homestead, Kokopelli, Mulligan’s in Ogden, Overlake, Paradise, Red Ledges, Remuda, Round Valley, Sand Hollow, Schneiter’s Bluff, Schneiter’s Riverside, Schneiter’s Pebblebrook, Sherwood Hills, Skyline Mountain, Sleepy Ridge, Stansbury, Sun Hills, Sun River, Swan Lakes, Talons Cove, Thanksgiving Point, The Barn, The Ranches, Valderra at the ledges, Victory Ranch, Wolf Creek.
Country clubs will be minimally affected. Most country club members pay a monthly membership fee that is not subject to sales tax.
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Salt Lake City Reminds Golfers of Deadline to Purchase Frequent Player Passes
Salt Lake City Golf Department has announced that there is only one week left to renew or purchase a Frequent Player Discount Card for 2012.
“We want to alert all golfers of this opportunity before the deadline so that there will be fewer disappointments when people try to buy the cards too late,” said Dave Terry, Director of Golf in Salt Lake City.
“We anticipate another great year of golf in 2012. Changes to our green fees and customer loyalty programs will enable us to further enhance the exceptional golf experience you expect at Salt Lake City golf courses.,” he added/
Green fees at all SLC courses increased on January 1, and the new fee structure is available for viewing at slc-golf.com. A significant portion of the fee increase will fund needed course improvement projects. In fact, starting January 1, $1.00 (pre-sales tax) of every 9-hole green fee will be allocated to the newly formed Dedicated Golf Capital Improvement Project Fund. The proposed improvement projects are posted at slc-golf.com and will be available this spring in our pro shops for your review. The Frequent Player Discount Card will be phased out in 2012-13. Each Frequent Player Discount Card will be honored through its expiration, then customers are invited to transition to SLC’s new LoyalTee Discount Card program.
“As an expression of gratitude to our loyal cardholders, through January 31, 2012, current card holders can extend their Frequent Player Discount Card for an additional year from the current expiration date for $75 plus tax for adults/seniors and $45 for juniors. Sales and renewals of the Frequent Player Discount Card will not be offered after January 31, 2012. The new fee schedule can be seen at slk-golf.com. Renewals and purchases can be made at any SLC course. If courses are closed due to weather conditions, visit the Wingpointe or Forest Dale.
SLC’s discount and rewards program, the LoyalTee Discount Card, becomes available February 1, 2012. For an annual investment of $45 for adults/seniors and $30 for juniors, cardholders will enjoy significant discounts at all SLC courses. The LoyalTee Discount Card is valid for one year from date of purchase and can be bought at any SLC course. Click here to see the 2012 LoyalTee Discount Card fees. Cardholders will enjoy the following benefits:
· Standard discount: 20% off green fees weekdays all day and after 12 p.m. weekends and holidays
· Primetime discount: 10% off green fees weekends before 12 p.m.
· Off-Peak discount: 30% or more off when you book select off-peak times using the online reservation system at slc-golf.com
· One extra day booking window when making tee times online at slc-golf.com
· Reward points for each round played, which can be redeemed for free range balls, cart rentals and pro shop discounts
· 30% off range balls
Golf Passports
Prices have increased on all Golf Passports. Click here to see the 2012 Golf Passport prices. We’ve added a new Golf Passport option that provides unrestricted and unlimited play at both Wingpointe and Rose Park. The Par and Eagle Golf Passports will be phased out in 2012-13. Each Par and Eagle Golf Passport will be honored through its expiration. Through January 31, 2012, current Par and Eagle Golf Passport holders can extend for an additional year from the current expiration date. Junior Golf Passport options and prices have also changed for 2012. Click here to see the 2012 Golf Passport prices. Thank you for your continued support of SLC Golf courses. May 2012 bring you long drives and low scores.
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Summerhays Will Play at Torrey Pines Event This Week
Good news for Daniel Summerhays! His entry into the Farmers Insurance Open this week at Torrey Pines has been accepted and he will tee off Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. on the South Course.
Summerhays earned his 2012 PGA Tour Card at the PGA Tour Qualifying School, but the card does not give him automatic entry into every tournament. In the first tournament of the year he made the cut, but still was highest enough on the pecking order to get into the second tournament this past weekend.
In this week’s tournament he is paired with Mark Anderson and Jay Hwang. Hwang is the only amateur in the field.
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Scott Brandt Elected to National PGA Board of Directors
ORLANDO, Fla. – Three new members of The PGA of America’s Board of Directors were sworn in Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Association’s 95th Annual Meeting at the Hilton Orlando in Orlando, Fla. The new PGA District Directors are Jim Antkiewicz of Aliquippa, Pa.; Scott Brandt of St. George, Utah; and Chris Thomson of Lincoln, Neb., who each will serve three-year terms.
“It’s an honor to be elected to the PGA Board. It’s a big overwhelming, but the electoral system allows for advance preparation and I’ve been sort of shadowing my responsibilities this past year,” Brandt said by phone from Orlando. Previous Utah professionals who have had the honor of serving on the national board of directors are Scott Whittaker and Doug Vilven.
The PGA Board of Directors is composed of the Association’s President, Vice President, Secretary, Honorary President and 17 Directors. The Directors include representatives from each of The PGA’s 14 Districts, two Independent Directors and a member of the PGA Tour. New District Directors are elected by their local PGA Sections.
A closer look at the newest members of The PGA of America Board of Directors:
Jim Antkiewicz succeeds Michael Doctor of Camillus, N.Y., and returns for a second term as District 4 Director, serving the Central New York, Tri-State and Western New York Sections. Antkiewicz, 54, previously served on the PGA Board from 2002 through 2005. Antkiewicz is the PGA director of golf at the Club at Nevillewood in Presto, Pa., where he has served since 1995. He was the 2008 PGA Golf Professional of the Year and in 2011, inducted into the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame. Antkiewicz is a 1980 graduate in business administration from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, and was elected to PGA membership in 1982. One of the most active members of the Tri-State PGA Section in professional education, Antkiewicz served as Tri-State PGA president from 2002 to 2006, and was the 1995 and 2007 Section Golf Professional of the Year; the 1998, ’99 and 2000 Bill Strausbaugh Award recipient and the 1994, ’95 and ’96 Horton Smith Award recipient for contributions to Section education. Antkiewicz serves on the board of directors of the First Tee Foundation of Western Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Youth Golf Foundation, and is an executive committee member of the Mario Lemieux Foundation and the Andy Russell Celebrity Golf Tournament for Children’s Hospital.
Scott Brandt succeeds Ron Dunham of Jackson, Wyo., and Port St. Lucie, Fla., as District 9 Director for the Colorado, Rocky Mountain, and Utah PGA Sections. Elected to membership in 1985, Brandt, 52, is the PGA head professional at Bloomington Country Club in St. George, Utah, where he has served since 1992. He is a past president (2001-02) of the Utah PGA Section and was the 2003 Utah PGA Golf Professional of the Year; the 2011 Section Horton Smith Award recipient; the 1999 Section Bill Strausbaugh Award recipient and the 1995 Section Private Facilities Merchandiser of the Year.
Brandt is a 1982 graduate of the University of Utah, and was a 1981 all-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) selection. He is one of the Utah PGA Section’s top performers, having won the 1982 Section Match Play Championship, and competed in four PGA Professional National Championships and the 2009 Senior PGA Professional National Championship.
Chris Thomson succeeds Jeff Smith of Oskaloosa, Iowa, as District 8 Director for the Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska Sections, and was elected to membership in 1991. Thomson, 46, is the PGA head professional at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln, Neb., and served from 2007 to 2009 as president of the Nebraska PGA Section. He is a member of the PGA National Publicity Committee, executive sponsor for the Golf 2.0 Committee; and a member of the President’s Council for growing the game. One of the most decorated members of the Nebraska PGA Section, Thomson was recipient of the 2011 Nebraska PGA Junior Golf Leader Award; the 2006 and 2008 Section PGA Golf Professional of the Year; the 2000 and 2009 Section Merchandiser of the Year; and the 2002 and 2003 Section Horton Smith Award. Thomson is a 1989 graduate in business marketing and professional golf management from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., where he was president of the Professional Golf Management Student Association.
About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.
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Great Day for Utah Golf Hall of Fame! Forsman Wins! Blake Second!
Sunday at the Hualalai Golf Course in Hawaii was a great day for the Utah Golf Hall of Fame!!
Dan Forsman (Hall of Fame Class of 2011) won the PGA Champions Tour Mitsubishi Championship and Jay Don Blake (also Hall of Fame Class of 2011) finished in second place two shots back. Forsman had rounds of 67-65-69-201 and Blake shot 69-67-67-203. Mike Reid, also in the Utah Golf Hall of Fame (Class of 2007), played in the event but finished down the leaderboard.
In an emotional interview on the final green Forsman said, “This is unbelievable. To win this event, on this venue, competing against players I’ve admired all my life is humbling.”
He hugged his wife Trudy and expressed gratitude for her and their family and for all his supporters. His son, Tommy, is his regular caddy and packed the bag all three days.
Forsman started the final round with a two shot lead and led the entire way. His lead was never threatened. Blake was the only challenger to move up the board but was never closer than two shots. Forsman managed the course and the lead comfortably by hitting 16 greens and made four birdies against only one bogey. His only bogey of the day came on the 12th hole, but he birdied the 14th.
During the tournament he hit more greens in regulation than any player in the field. He hit all 18 greens the first day. The second day he hit only ten greens, but remarkably took only 21 putts and shot his best round of the tournament, a seven under par 65.
He pocketed the first place prize money of just over $300,000 and since it was the first tournament of the year he takes the initial lead in the Charles Schwab Cup standings—-with Jay Don Blake in second place.
Last year Forsman had a difficult year on the tour because of back or hip pain. He has adjusted his swing to accommodate what may be an ongoing problem. He said in an interview after the second round that he is focused on staying on his right foot longer through the swing but that he doesn’t always succeed at it.
The next Champions Tour event is the Alliance Championship, February 10-12 in Boca Raton, Florida.
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Forsman Leads Mitsubishi By Two Going Into Final Round
Dan Forsman shot 30 on the backside and used only 21 putts to card a second round 65 to grab a two shot lead going into the final round of the Mitsubishi Championship at Hualalai Golf Course in Hawaii.
Forsman birdied the last two holes to break out of a leader board logjam. Forsman’s strong finish left Tom Watson, Brad Bryant, and Jeff Sluman two shots back. Michael Allen and Jay Haas are three shots back and Jay Don Blake, John Cook , and Dennis Watson are four back.
The tournament is being televised on the Golf Channel with the final round beginning Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time. It is the first tournament of 2012 on the Champions Tour and first place purse is $300,000.
Forsman birdied the first four holes in the first round and finished with a 67. In the second round he had seven birdies and no bogeys for a 65. For the tournament he has 13 birdies and only one bogey.
Jay Don Blake shot 69-67 and trails Forsman by four shots.
Mike Reid is at even par for the tournament with seven birdies and seven bogeys and rounds of 73-71-144.
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Forsman Birdies First Four Holes of 2012 Season, Is Two Shots Off the Lead in Hawaii
Dan Forsman got his 2012 Champions Tour off to a hot start by sinking birdies on his first four holes Friday at the Hualalai Golf Course in Hawaii, but the lustre came off the start when he birdied only two of the remaining 14 holes and threw in a bogey along the way and posted a five under par 67. He is only two shots out of the lead at the Mitsubishi Championship. Forsman hit all 18 greens in regulation and ranked fifth in driving distance at 301 yards per drive. His putter let him down after the first four holes.
Bruce Vaughan and Tom Lehman are the leaders at seven under par 65. Jay Don Blake shot three under par 69 and Mike Reid shot one under par 71.
There are 41 players in the field and the high score of the day was 79 by Hale Irwin. All other scores were 74 and below. Blake’s 69 was in the middle of the field.
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Glen Eagle’s Jared Barnes Featured in Golf Business Magazine
(The following article featuring Utah’s Jared Barnes was published in Golf Business Magazine.)
By David Gould
The going may be tough, but Jared Barnes is playing the hand he’s been dealt
In the words of the late senator Daniel P. Moynihan, “The single most exciting thing you encounter in government is competence because it’s so rare.” For Jared Barnes and the for-profit golf facility he manages in Syracuse, Utah, that quote doesn’t exactly ring true.
Glen Eagle Golf Course, where Barnes serves as general manager and director of golf, competes in a market known for its sleekly designed and studiously maintained municipal courses. “They don’t pay property tax, and they don’t have a profit motive,” Barnes observes. “They don’t just stand at the counter and sell daily play, either—their merchandising and tournament programs are impressive.”
And, they do it all with a fixed-cost edge. “My estimate is that we start every year with about a $100,000 disadvantage,” he adds. Barnes is a natural teacher and promoter of the game, able to use his energy as a drawing card for new golfers and low-handicappers alike. The target for rounds at Glen Eagle is 30,000 annually, a volume of business the course has been close to in recent years, despite a series of cold, wet, dismal spring seasons. The graceful and linksy par-72 he’s marketing looks better than its $41 (cart included) weekend rate, but the municipal competition has Glen Eagle boxed in. “If I raised my rates above theirs, I’d lose business,” says Barnes, winner of the 2010 Utah PGA Golf Professional of the Year award.
Not being connected to municipal government doesn’t stop Glen Eagle from making itself the home base for the local high school golf team. With enthusiastic support from Barnes and his staff, the Davis High School Darts—both the boys’ and girls’ teams—have been dominant for years in statewide competition. “A lot of courses where high school teams practice and play matches, their presence is more or less tolerated,” Barnes notes. “At our golf course, they’re encouraged and supported. They know we want them around, and I think that’s contributed to the program’s great success.”
Meanwhile, the halo effect of this treatment is continued loyalty after graduation, on the players’ part as well as noticeable response from parents and friends. “They tend to bring their social golf and their business golf to our course, knowing we’ve supported their kids’ development,” Barnes says.That kind of support is important, particularly given the tough weather conditions of recent vintage. One lousy spring is to be expected—three straight is a backbreaker.
“The golf interest is there,” Barnes says. “When good weather finally comes, we hit our per-month targets pretty well. But at year’s end, these wiped-out Aprils and Mays are very evident in the numbers.” Woes in the real estate market have put a strain on the residential development Glen Eagle is connected to, although the course’s profit-and-loss is separate from it. Homeowners who play golf are discretionary customers of the course—golf memberships aren’t packaged into the real estate purchase. “We have to hustle to attract and retain any customer,” Barnes says. Though Mother Nature and the government have been working against him, Barnes plans to keep hustling and see where it brings him.
David Gould is a Connecticut-based freelance writer and frequent contributor to Golf Business.
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Blake, Forsman, and Reid Tee Off 2012 Champions Tour in Hawaii
The PGA Champions Tour starts its 2012 season this week in Hawaii at the Mitsubishi Open with Jay Don Blake hoping to pick up where he left off at the end of last season. Blake won the last event of 2011, the Charles Schwab Championship, and a few weeks earlier won the Korean Open.
The other Utahns on the Champions Tour are Dan Forsman and Mike Reid and they are both entered in the Hawaiian event. There are only 41 players entered in the opening tournament being played at Hualalai Golf Course in Ka’upulehu-Kona.
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Ho-Hum! Blair Wins Again! This Time By Five at St. George Am, Complete Results Now Here
It’s getting so you can write the headline ‘Blair Wins’ for almost every Utah tournament he enters. Only the details need to be determined.
This time Blair won the St. George Amateur with rounds of 64-66-130, which was good for a five shot win over runnerup Christian Jensen who finished at 135.
Blair has now won the first two tournaments on the 2012 Utah golf calendar. Next up is the Sky Mountain Amateur on Saturday, January 21st.
Entire Field Results
130- Zac Blair, 64-66
135- Christian Jensen, 67-68
138- Jon Oettli, 72-66
141- Nic Booth, 70-71; Justin Keiley, 70-71
142- Jeff Evans, 71-71
143- John Busby, 69-74
144- Steve Archibald, 74-70; Michael Membrila, 67-77
145- Karl Avant, 70-75; Greg Gust, 70-75
146- Kyle Chappell, 71-75; Sammy Cole, 69-77; Patrick Fishburn, 71-75; Jason Labrum, 73-73; Afa Vasi, 72-74; McCoy Willey, 74-72
147- Kirk Siddens, 78-69; Craig Woodward, 72-75
148- Dalton Stanger, 73-75; Greg Wotjkun, 72-76
149- Andrew Cottle, 77-72; Randy Danjanovich, 77-72; Josh Jensen, 71-78; Scott Lee, 73-76; T.J. Nichols, 76-73; Cam Young, 70-79
150- Charlie Cline, 78-72; John McArthur, 73-77; Jon Morgan, 75-75; Darrin Overson, 73-77; Michael Sweet, 76-74; Brett Wagner, 76-74; Tyler Winona, 76-74
151- Rob Bachman, 77-74; Jon Bridges, 75-76; Jordan Hammer, 77-74; Greg Kerber, 75-76; Gary Knight, 81-70; Jed Milne, 79-72; Paul Norman, 76-75
152- Zac Bachman, 78-74; Matt Bushman, 75-77; Tanner Kopan, 74-78; Collin Wilkinson, 76-76
153- Todd Barker, 78-75; Bubba Hall, 78-75; Judd Larsen, 78-73; Gary Stewart, 73-80
154- Arman Ben-Jacob, 78-76; Brett Garner, 76-78; Rod Gust, 73-81; Jacob Holt, 79-75; Greg Hunt, 79-75; Brad Millard, 80-74; Justin Miller, 75-79; Jose Valle, 77-77
155- Troy Creer, 77-78; Gary Simmons, 78-77
156- Adam Harris, 78-78; Clark Jones, 74-82; Jordan Orth, 75-81
157- Bruce Bailey, 81-76; Brady Boman, 80-77; Shane Carlsen, 80-77; Jamie Childs, 70-78l Craig Hammer, 80-77; Ryan Job, 79-78; Brian Peterson, 76-81; Eldon Richter, 81-74; Clint Schreck, 82-75
158- Rob Evans, 78-80; Steve Kirk, 81-77; Rich Tripp, 75-83
159- Mike Branca, 83-76; Jeff Dewaal, 80-79; Bill Hansen, 77-82; Justin Labrum, 74-85; Jay Sheridan, 85-74
160- Chris Hale, 78-82; Lester Perry, 77-83; Cade Rees, 75-85; Dan Telford, 80-80; Troy Worthington, 79-81
161- Guy Childs, 84-77
162- Corey Ford, 81-81; Brian Hedderman, 82-80; A.J. Orchard, 75-87
163- Scott Dickerson, 82-81; Tom Nicholls, 82-81; Michael Orchard, 84-79; T.J. Telford, 84-79
164- Lee Garner, 79-85; Jack Rupe, 83-81
165- Ross Glauser, 82-83; Brett Kimball, 83-82; Bret Leichty, 80-85; Rawlee Perkins, 84-81; Scott Tye, 81-84
166- Scott Drake, 83-83; Al Krahenbuhl, 79-87; Kraig Lund, 79-87
167- Val Cohoon, 83-84’ Ruben Escobedo, 80-87; Shawn Glover, 77-90; Harold Wallace, 83-84
168- Russ Newby, 84-84
169- Thomas Baty, 82-87; Richard Church, 76-93; Craig Cooper, 84-85; Bob 86-83; Wayne Montgomery, 87-82; Greg Thornton, 87-82; Jeff Young, 84-85
170- Russ Christensen, 85-85; Lloyd Vaughn, 86-84; Craig Tye, 83-87
171- Josh Cahoon, 83-88; Brent Griffin, 83-88; Roger Kemp, 87-84; Paul Mora, 86-85; John Pappas, 86-85; David Smith, 86-86
174- Rex Bachman, 84-90; Ron Perkins, 88-86; Chris Smith 81-93
175- Jim Baty, 90-85; Dan Walker, 86-89; Greg Weichers, 86-89; Craig Young, 88-87
177- A.J. Garner, 86-91; Adam Milne, 86-91; Brent Nickerson, 87-90; Scott Porter, 88-89
178- Mike Brown, 91-87; Roger Brunette, 88-90; Dan Crookston, 89-89; Tyler Hunt, 90-88; Detlef Schwurack, 91-87
179- Ryan Childs, 91-88; Blake Nelson, 89-90
180- John Elder, 90-90; J.R. Turner, 90-90
182- Kade Smith, 89-83
183- Johnny Wilson, 85-98; Rick Wright, 89-94
185- George DeWolfe, 102-83; Jay Neiheisel, 93-92; Brian Peterson, 97-88
189- Royal Kennard, 102-87
190- Doug Higgins, 98-92
199- Maury Miller, 101-98
202- Jeff Simmons, 112-92
203- Sanabria Guillermo, 101-102
Second Flight
Gross
149- Randy Danjanovich, T.J. Nichols
153- Judd Larsen
154- Jose Valle
157- Bruce Bailey, Shane Carlsen, Ryan Job, Clint Schreck
Net
134- O.J. Orchard
140- Brett Wagner
146- Justin Miller, Craig Tye
Senior Flight
Gross
145- Karl Avant, Greg Gust
147- Craig Woodward
151- Rob Bachman
153- Todd Barker, Gary Stewart
155- Eldon Richter
157- Brian Peterson, Craig Hammer
Net
139- Craig Cooper
141- Scott Porter
142- Mike Brown, John McArthur