Golf course set to close out its year with a loss

Eleven months into its fiscal year, the publicly-funded Atchafalaya Golf Course at Idlewild near Patterson is posting a $180,148 loss.
According to information presented during the Atchafalaya Golf Course Commission Monday, the golf course has brought in just over $1 million in income to date but spent $1.1 million.
Annual fees, the Golf Pro shop, golf greens fees, and food and beverage income all were below budget expectations, with the biggest difference in greens fees. The course was expected to take in $681,199 by the end of August, according to its budget. Actual collections were $503,426.
Meanwhile, the course did lower its spending on the golf, grounds and greens, carts and G&A (office costs) line items. The bulk of the cost reduction was in grounds and greens.
Ed Selser, Atchafalaya director of golf, said this morning there is no income attributed to the greens account. It has lost $611,630, which is less than the budgeted loss of $673,970.
Also Monday, the board:
—Expanded its agenda Monday to hire Guy Pitts of Pitts and Matte CPAs to conduct the district’s annual audit.
—Learned both mowers are being repaired and a loaner has been obtained from Ladd’s.
—Received the origin of play report for August indicating 32 percent of players for the month came from St. Mary Parish, while 15 percent each came from the Houma and Lafayette areas and 14 percent each came from the New Orleans area and all other destinations in-state. Out-of-state players accounted for six percent, while four percent of players were from the Baton Rouge area.