LYNNWOOD (AP) — A Washington audit says a Lynnwood golf course broke the law when it took millions of dollars in loans from the city’s utility fund.
The state auditor said the series of loans since 2008 were not allowed because the golf course can’t afford to pay them back.
The audit released Monday also pointed out management problems at the 21-year-old golf course. City leaders say they will decide in the next three months whether to keep the struggling golf course open.
Lynnwood’s 18-hole city course is supposed to be financially self-sufficient, but it started falling behind in 2008 and had to take out a loan from the city utility fund.
In response, the golf course drafted a business plan to get back on track by raising greens fees and selling beer. The plan didn’t work, and the golf course continued to lose money and borrow from the city.
Lynnwood Municipal Golf Course was allowed to borrow $130,000 from the city utility fund in 2008, $550,000 in 2009, $1.4 million in 2010, and nearly $1.3 million in 2011.
In addition, the golf course has owed $137,485 to the city general fund since “at least 1996,” auditors wrote. The course has not paid interest on the loan.
In 2002, nearly 60,000 rounds were played. In 2012, it was more like 41,000, said Jeff Clay, a golf pro who works at the course.
“That’s about on par, kind of average for the way the industry’s been going,” he said. “People are spending less money, so they have less money for things like golf.”
The 2007 business plan described the small course’s strengths: “The Golf Course is aesthetically pleasing, beautifully landscaped and challenging in its own way. The fact the course is not a par 72 championship course provides an advantage … given the fact it only takes 3-4 hours to play 18 holes.”
Use of the course has fallen almost every year that it’s been open. Auditors pointed out management problems possibly contributing to the financial distress — mainly, that the city has provided cash but not oversight.
“The City does not adequately oversee Golf Course operations,” auditors wrote. “The Parks and Recreation Department staff make policy and procedure decisions inconsistent with City systems designed to safeguard resources and provide accountability for public funds.”
Auditors said the course violated state law banning the gifting of public funds when it gave a discount to the Lynnwood Parks and Recreation Foundation, a private nonprofit, for its annual golf tournament. It also allowed Professional Golfers Association and Golf Course Superintendents of America members to play for free; advertised private lessons on the city website; and donated gift certificates.
