The $68 Million Golf Course Needs More Work

Richard Riehl of the North County Times is skeptical that Greg Nash's The Crossings at Carlsbad is worthy of more investment to increase play--so says a city consultant--after $68 million was spent to build the first iteration!

The Crossings has failed to meet its budgeted number of rounds each year since it opened, plunging from 52,000 in 2008 to 42,000 in 2010. Despite a 3 percent loss in green fee revenue last year, a 3 percent increase was budgeted last November for 2011.

A consultant, who was paid $16,000 by the city to explain why golfers weren't flocking to Carlsbad, explained the course is too difficult and the players need a lounge to build camaraderie.

A third-party golf course architect recommended modifications to 10 of the 18 holes. The Crossings website boasts the course was designed by Greg Nash, "whose name is synonymous with beautiful, playable courses." Maybe he should be given the opportunity to rebut the claim that more than half his creation needs a do-over.

Ouch.

After city staff identified the three holes that most need fixing, the council agreed to the one with the lowest cost, $80,000 for the 18th green. Estimated costs to modify the 10th green and the 15th fairway were $179,000 and $264,000, respectively. If the average cost of these three is applied to the remaining seven needing work, the course will be acceptably playable after the city kicks in another $1.2 million.

How sad.

And the frustration boils over...

City staff suggests the Boardroom be converted into a players' lounge. That assumes the sweaty survivors of frustrating hours on an unplayable course will march happily up a couple of flights of stairs to relax with a cool one in a small, windowless room, surrounded by kitchen sounds, hall chatter by diners headed for the restaurant, and the drone of TV sports commentators.

If revenue doesn't increase this year as expected, will the city pin its hopes for next year on a friendlier 18th green and a comfy golfers' lounge?