THE BOOK -- Keegan's fee for this consulting service is $19,500 for a business plan review and recommendations.

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COUNTY GOLF COURSE? Financial Viability of Municipal Layout Studied

"Don't Hire Consultant, Read the Book," Says County Executive Tom Hickner

November 18, 2012
By: Dave Rogers

Is is worth putting money from the Bay County General Fund into the Bay County Golf Course?

Or is there another way to boost play and put the course back into the black as it once was?

Those are the question county commissioners considered asking of James J. Keegan, golf business consultant who recently has done business plans for the Currie Golf Course in Midland and the City of Ann Arbor's courses.

The county finance officer has advised administration that the only way to maintain operations in the near term "will require an infusion of cash from the General Fund."

But commissioners nixed the idea of hiring Keegan as a consultant in their meeting last Tuesday.

Mr. Keegan's fee for this consulting service is $19,500 for a business plan review and recommendations. The study would have included a local market analysis, weather playable days, technology review, financial bench marking model and yield management as well as an extensive survey of golfers.

Since Keegan has written a book entitled "The Business of Golf," County Executive Thomas L. Hickner had some advice: "Read the book," he said.

In fact golf course and recreation division staff have prepared a preliminary plan based on guidance offered by Keegan in his book.

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