Thursday, February 6, 2025

Golf course comeback

Cross Timbers Golf Course presents annual review

Posted

AZLE — No mulligan was needed after a rough year turned to aces for Cross Timbers Golf Course.

On Jan. 21, Cross Timbers Golf Course Manager Matt Sommerfield presented an annual report to the Azle City Council. While fewer total rounds were played in the last fiscal year, Sommerfield and Azle City Manager Tom Muir were relieved when considering the year’s hurdles. Parts of the course were shut down and fees were reduced from May to September after winter weather and dry conditions killed off greens in 2024. The total rounds of golf played were 40,971 which was only 8.7% away from being on par with the prior year. A total revenue of $2,045,023 with expenses totaling $2,094,679 meant the course only had a net loss of about $50,000, despite the major handicap.

“That’s not nearly as bad as we thought it would be,” Muir said.

Sommerfield added that if the course had made similar amounts of money during its down months, Cross Timbers would have made an additional $300,000 last fiscal year.

“On either end of those down months, we had record months,” Sommerfield said. “So, it made up for that $300,000 loss.”

Among its costs, Sommerfield said Cross Timbers re-sprigged or re-sodded an area of about seven acres.

The course also received a new fairway mower, renovated nine bunkers and the clubhouse. In October, the course added 70 new gas-powered golf carts, a range picker and a beverage cart to its fleet in an agreement the city predicted would save it $28,318 annually.

To prevent future damage caused by winter kills, the golf course has begun to close its greens and covering them with tarps during severe weather. With recent snowfall and below freezing temperatures, Cross Timbers has closed down as a precaution twice this month.