Sunday, October 19, 2008

Come Clean With The Golf Numbers....

Message to Miss Golf Minister, the 4 Provincial courses are now closed and it should only take a few minutes to figure out the numbers and I'm betting they are really, really bad.... Ask your people what the green fee revenue was in 2007 and have them take a couple of hours and they should be able to give you the 2008 green fee figures and then you'll know it's time to live up to your Premiers commitment and sell, sell, sell... the truth is these courses are costing taxpayers millions of dollars every year and getting worst... I'm going to make a prediction that the Golf Links folks and your Staff are going to fudge around the numbers by taking the debt expense (over $10,000,000.00 that your Government wrote off) off last year’s operating expenses and try to tell us naive taxpayers that the courses did better this year. How many free rounds did you give away... What I don't understand is where are those roving reporters who listened to the Premier when he was in Opposition pounding the desk... "sell, sell, sell.." and now when nothing is happening they're hiding behind the desk... Where are the left over Binn's Crowd (our Opposition) who forked over about $12,000,000.00 of taxpayers’ money to buy "Dumb-darave"... are they keeping quiet because they know "Dumb-darave" wouldn't fetch a quarter of what they paid for it... I smell a Minister losing their Car and a Public Inquiry coming... sell, sell, sell before it's too late...

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Think About it:

1) The Golf courses are properly managed and help promomte PEI's struggling (but important) tourism sector.

2) Why sell the courses when the price is in the toilet? Wait until another term of Governent has passed before putting up the For Sale sign when prices have increased.

3) I'd hate to see another Island course (business) become a goat ranch or a footnote to Polar Foods.

4) Tax payers interests are not met by second rate reporters. Rather, PEI taxpayers are represented by the great minds advising this current administration, the deputies, the smart folk walking around 5th Shaw and some who even donate funds.

Anonymous said...

I would have taken a free round. It is cheaper for me to play in MA, than on PEI. They do overcharge and discourage new golfers, families and those with limited funds both on and off the island from playing. Green Gables opened just in time for the scarecrow festival, what a loss there (although also overpriced).

First, lower the rates and they'll get volume, which will drive other purchases and encourage repeat play.

I agree that the real estate market is bad for a clean sell, but why not lease to a private interest or the old lease to buy arrangement (say 3 years)? Just make sure it is a fair deal all around.

I would like to look forward for trying some of the better island courses, but will probably be able to afford French River or Serenity Valley......