Goose Creek at the tee for Crowfield club's success

The City of Goose Creek hopes to attract new interest this summer to the city's Crowfield Country Club as the project turns a corner toward measurable success.

As the city was preparing for a "dive-in" movie this weekend at the club's pool, organizers offered advance tickets to pool members. Mayor Michael Heitzler described it as an effort to attract more pool members.

A free, six-week concert summer series at the club is also expected to attract new interest for the city's premiere recreational opportunity.

"People don't know they own a country club," the mayor said. "They don't know about the opportunity for recreation in that part of town."

Since Goose Creek purchased the site in 2003, the city has been underfunding the cost of maitenance. Last year, the golf course brought in $1.26 million in revenue, but it cost $1.93 million to operate.

But, this April, the golf course slipped into the black as it brought in more money than it spent on golfers.

"This year, the key word has been 'sustainability,'" said Heitzler. "The word for 2012 will be profitability."

And it looks like golfers are on track to easily eclipse the number of rounds played in 2010. The lack of rain hasn't been good for the grass, but it has been good for business, said Troy Sanders, the director of golf operations.

The growing success is not only welcome news, Heitzler said. Its imperative. "We're trying to have a robust country club to keep that thing open," he said.

The potential for a profit is also coming at the same time that debt on the golf course will be paid off.

"There's a real possibility that we can make the Crowfield Club an enterprise fund," said Heitzler.

That excess revenue could be returned to taxpayers or invested in clubhouse improvements or for recreational opporortunites in other areas of the city.