Carson City nonprofit golf course breaks with the past

Carson City's nonprofit golf course has done something unusual.

It turned a profit.

For the first time in about 10 years, since Eagle Valley Golf Course came under the management of a board of directors appointed by Carson City, it did everything right in a year when nothing could go wrong.

Board of Directors' President Mike Williams said 2004 was a stellar year. The weather was great. Programs succeeded. And the staff was enthusiastic.

Williams, an accountant with Strong McPherson, said the unaudited profit is about $188,000. Audited figures should be in soon.

"Sales were up, revenue was up and cash was up," he said Monday.

And so is the outlook of the seven-member board.

"We're really excited," Williams said.

The 36-hole course has a championship course on its west side and a municipal course on the east. The city opened the course in 1975, and then appointed a board to oversee its management in the late '90s when competing courses moved into the area.

"We got a new general manager who started a year ago, and he implemented plans that worked," Williams said.

Tom Evart, general manager and director of golf, said last year's profit wasn't that difficult to realize.

"I inherited an outstanding staff," he said. "The people I work with are outstanding, and that includes the board of directors, who've been so supportive with what I want to do to make this golf course No. 1 in terms of service and dollar value."

A round at Eagle Valley, 3999 Centennial Park Drive, costs $30 on the east course and $35 on the west course. Fees decrease by $5 after 2 p.m.

According to Williams, the golf course's 2004 budget anticipated $1.67 million in revenue and earned $1.73 million. Operating expenses were $1.23 million, which left $400,000 profit in operating income. The city charges about $200,000 in rent.

Evart, 62, said at peak season he employs about 50. Last year, golfers played about 65,000 rounds at Eagle Valley.

Any extra revenue will be turned back into operation, such as buying new equipment to maintain the greens and giving a raise to employees.

n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.