Gray skies, fading sunlight and wind don’t make ideal conditions for golf on a Monday evening.
Still, Byron Comstock sat in the clubhouse of Blue Cypress, the nine-hole municipal course tucked away inside the heart of old Arlington along the northernmost portion of University Boulevard.
For more than a decade, the municipally owned course and surrounding park have been a focal point within the community. It’s provided affordable recreation in a sport that’s often expensive. It’s been struggling, though, enough to the point where City Hall is trying to lend a hand.
Blue Cypress isn’t the prettiest course in town, although the sundown views of the St. Johns River might be hard to beat. It isn’t the most challenging, but many a golfer has likely cursed their luck or skill at a hook or a slice.
It isn’t the most sought after course, either, though Comstock knows its value to the area.
“Our clientele comes from all kinds of backgrounds,” said Comstock, the course manager. “A lot of seniors. A lot of families … sons, daughters, little kids. For a lot of those seniors, this is a home away from home.”
It’s also a value to golfers who can’t pay big bucks to hit the links. Those willing to walk can play a round for $12 on weekdays and $13 on weekends. It bumps to $18 for both if you use a cart.
Like many golf courses, public or private, it’s struggling. The game hasn’t rebounded as quickly as other pastimes since the recession.
The city owns the course, in addition to the acreage around it that includes soccer and tennis facilities and a boardwalk that offers those river views. Comstock manages the facility, paying $556 a month to the city in rent. That money is placed into a fund that goes back into the course’s capital improvement, but Comstock also is in charge of maintenance.
A few years after opening in 2003, he was supposed to give the city 1 percent of gross revenue. The next year, 2 percent. In fiscal 2013-14, 3 percent. The next year 4 percent. And, finally, 5 percent was due this year.
Times were too tough, though, and City Council abated the 1-3 percent payments. The latest two additional payments will be pushed back with pending legislation.
“I think golf courses are struggling,” said John Crescimbeni, an at-large member and Arlington resident who once represented the district. “He (Comstock) has a bit of a challenge.”
So, for now, Crescimbeni and other council members have an idea on how the city can receive some kind of return. Part of the latest payment deferral would have Blue Cypress providing Player’s Cards to city employees who want to play. Valued at $120, the cards reduce greens and golf cart fees.
Comstock is on board with the idea. Maybe it’ll bring in customers who didn’t realize the course was there — a form of marketing where there isn’t money to properly do so. He’s had to let people go from the pro shop and spend more time himself behind the counter. In what’s essentially a barebones operation, he pays himself about $29,000 a year.
It’s not much, but enough to keep the dream intact until what he hopes is an eventual turnaround. “I have faith in the economy,” he said.
Council member Joyce Morgan, the Arlington council representative, said during a recent committee meeting she’d met with Comstock and admired his dedication and care for the facility. She’s working to help improve outreach to the immediate neighborhoods, school and organizations.
As for the idea about city employees using the discounts, she’s in agreement.
“I think they’ll go,” she said.
In addition to Blue Cypress, the city owns two others — Bent Creek, on 103rd Street and managed by JaxGolf Management, and Fiddlers Green at Cecil Field, managed by Cecil Field Golf Course.
A third, Brentwood, is owned by the Duval County School Board and leased to the city. It’s managed by the First Tee of North Florida nonprofit.
A presentation in July from the Florida Association of Counties said to expect between 130-160 golf courses to close each year. Since 2006, 643 have shuttered.
When that happens, property values decline and maintenance can be a burden.
It’s what council members for now are trying to avoid by pushing back the revenue percentage Blue Cypress owes. If the land were to revert back to park land, it’s estimated to cost the city at least $75,000 annually for mowing, tree-trimming, trash pick-ups and the like.
“If that’s not there, what’s there,” asked Doyle Carter during the council’s Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee he chairs.
Fiddler’s Green is in his district and he sees similar community value. A half-dozen high school teams play and practice there.
Council member Danny Becton suggested although it’s not a heavy revenue-generator, the city courses receive “pretty fairly good play.” A mindset change might be needed, he suggested. The city funds recreational facilities like basketball and tennis courts — maybe golf should be considered with that group.
Still, the question of whether they should stay open or closed and repurposed was broached by council member Aaron Bowman. It appears the answer will be delayed a year, after two committees passed the Blue Cypress revenue deferral by unanimous votes.
Comstock is happy it appears that way. And by then, maybe business will pick up.
In those waning daylight hours Monday, a couple walked in.
“I didn’t even know there was a golf course here,” the man said.
After a little chitchat and some informational material, they were on their way.
Interest — and hopefully the resulting influx — from potential players would be nice.
It’d be a way for Comstock to continue his dream and not worry about the course’s future.
And for golfers and community as a whole, an affordable — albeit frustrating — recreation.
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