Letter to the editor: Golf course pours money down 18 holes

The “white elephant” is eating up more than peanuts, that’s the Parish’s golf course in Patterson.
A current audit, according to the Daily Review, showed a huge loss of over $184,000 for last year, which the Parish covered with $250,000. And a net deficit of $1.2 million, growing yearly. Not shown is the millions of dollars spent to build it. Every year since it opened, has been the same story.
I don’t fault the Course Commission, but somebody needs to stop the bleeding.
A few months ago, two of the Parish Council members, asked the Commission to get proposals from private operators, to take over the operation. Unless I missed it, I’ve not seen any proposals returned to the council. The whole golf course scenario seems to be, “out of sight, out of mind.” It looks like the council and commission hope that when the two reports come out during the year, they can tread lightly and quietly, hoping nobody notices.
There has been multiple of reasons given for the parish continuing to footthe bill, with taxpayer money. Such as: unprovable guess-timates as to the revenue created through use of motels-hotels, fuel purchases, food purchases,etc., numbers apparently pulled from the air. Schools using it for their teams. Tax revenue to the parish, which is far exceeded by the loss. Business deals being made. Which I’m sure, many were made at the Berwick course, prior to this money pit. And just recreational use by residents.
This is a single-use facility, except for the restaurant. If parish residents don’t play golf, it’s of no use to them. Unlike a parish boat ramp, whereskiing, boat riding, fishing, hunting, etc. can be useful to a multitude oflocal people.
How can such a drain on taxpayers money, be of such insignificant importance to the council?
It’s 18 holes in the ground, that the council is pouring money down.

Terry D. Guarisco
Morgan City