I sat in the then-Flagstix Restaurant, munching on a chicken quesedilla, served up by then-proprietors Troy and Tammy Getchell.

 

There was no action on the first tee for a short time, so then-Manager George Shortridge took a dozen balls and a short iron and strolled a hundred or so yards down the side of the fairway. One by one, he deposited them within a 20-foot radius on that first tee box. He was practicing for an upcoming mens senior golf tournament at Bunker Hills.

 

 Just to his right, the parking lot was jammed with cars, courtesy of a flourishing Mens Club and walk-ins.

 

Everything seemed right at Pebble, given the look of things. 

 

 But the bottom line wasn’t what it was supposed to be. The course, despite its 50,000-plus rounds of golf that year, was losing money.

 

Shortridge went because he was just a golf pro - hired specifically to fill up the parking lot.

 

Thereafter followed more course managers, and has been reported recently, the course has had few profitable years.

 

The move this week to invigorate the review process took a major step forward, with the proposed inclusion of community members to a five-year golf planning board.

 

Their goal: To find a way to get Pebble Creek into the black in a five-year plan.

 

 Good. Or, the place might be sold, as I advocated in this space about five years ago.

 

The will of the Becker people to retain Pebble Creek has major merit. It is a wonderful identity for the community and can attract people.

 

 But to fill the fairways and parking lot like 20 years ago, given the economy and greens fees that might be befitting a championship course will be difficult. It’s hardly competitive, cost-wise, for the 90% of golfers who want the experience - but at 50% of the local expense as other courses are charging.

 

The golf course committee, I feel, needs to establish one comparison.

 

The Becker Community Center since its inception has received $400,000 in tax proceeds to keep its programs afloat. How many Becker area people benefit by using that Community Center?

 

The community will be looking at shortfalls in revenues at the course. The second question: How many Becker area people are using the course and what what is the tax investment per local player?

 

When those two comparisons can be made: Costs for the Community Center and Pebble Creek against the numbers of local people using the facilities, can the planning committee justify their continuing commitment with tax dollars.

 

I hope that things can be turned around at Pebble Creek and it will be made profitable. But much of the crowd is getting pushed away by $50 rates and the scenario, I feel, isn’t good for the years to come.

 

And the restaurant up top suffers from the shortage of diners from the golf course. That scenario is one we have repeated in our council coverage at least a half dozen times since the Getchells left.

 

I hope I am wrong about the golf course future.

 

We wish the planning board well.