Moon Golf Club Struggles in Rainy Season

An unusually rainy spring has left the Moon Golf Club nearly $100,000 behind in revenue this year, according to a club official.

The wet spring weather has forced club organizers to shutter the 18-hole course more than a dozen times this year, leaving the club scrambling to cover operating costs amid a $98,000 revenue shortfall this spring.

"Every time we have a rainy weekend, we are losing $20,000 to $25,000," said Ralph Canterbury, a member of the , which leases the course from the township.

"[Memorial Day weekend] was a positive weekend for us and that helped, but we're not really gaining [money]," he said.

Canterbury said the shortfall likely will prevent the recreational authority from making its $60,000 lease payment this month to the township.

Moon purchased the former Bon Air Golf Course on McCormick Road in 2005 and leased it to the township recreational authority under a 50-year agreement. The authority makes three $60,000 payments annually to the township under the terms of the lease.

Canterbury last week asked the to delay the June lease payment,  saying that the authority would make its June and July lease payments in the fall. He said the authority "does not want to be delinquent on a payment."

"We're down about 30 percent in our revenue," Canterbury said. "We do not want to miss a payment; we're very proud of the fact that we don't use tax dollars. We're just asking for a restructured payment."

Canterbury said dismal weather has made 2011 the most unprofitable year for the course since the township purchased it. He said if township officials do not restructure the club's payment, the authority might have to lay off employees, forgo maintenance or close the club's doors early this season.

"The thing is, once it starts snowing the bills keep coming in and we have zero revenue," Canterbury said. "We have to have cash in hand when winter comes.

"We are definitely in the hole, and we have limited ability to make it up," he said.

Township officials have not made a decision on restructuring of the golf club's  lease payments. The issue will be discussed at an upcoming board of supervisors meeting.