Friday, January 9, 2004
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Friday, January 9, 2004 |
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More perks for tennis members offered to draw wayward back By J. FRANK LYNCH The membership rolls at the Peachtree City Tennis Center had leveled off before the controversy surrounding the facility’s finances became front page news last fall, and were showing a slight decline, managers of the facility say. But changes in the fee structure and court policies proposed by the Peachtree City Tourism Association are intended to win back players who’ve fallen by the wayside. Head Pro Sean Ferriera, who has managed the Tennis Center since Oct. 31, told members of the City Council and others Monday night that there were just three cancelations of memberships in December, and all of those were junior memberships. The public/private athletic club maintains around 600 members regularly. Last week, the Tourism Association board agreed to a number of changes effective Jan. 19, when the PCTA takes over operations from the city. For example, a ”walk-on” rental rate at half the full rate will be offered on the indoor courts when they are going unused. Also, eight to 10 courts will be made available for reservations beyond lessons on a regular basis, as opposed to four now, and at least that many will be reserved for member use when tournaments and league play are going on. Also, the fee for non-members who play in an ALTA League will be lowered, and the one-time application fee of $300 for any prior member whose membership has not been renewed will be waived. Tourism Association Chairman and Councilman Steve Rapson said the board wanted to send the message that the tennis center is open to everyone, members and non-members alike. “We’re trying to apply some real tangible benefits to being a member, not just to keep the existing members but to get some of those former members back, too,” said Rapson. City Manager Bernard McMullen, who also sits on the tourism board and is largely responsible for steering the PCTA to this point, said he was surprised the response has been so positive. “During this period of time when the city has been running the venue, we’ve been surprised at the number of renewed memberships we’ve been getting,” McMullen told the council. Maintaining a healthy membership roster is important to the bottom line because the $113,814 in membership fees represents the largest line item of revenue in the tennis center’s 2004 budget of $636,015. Based on “conservative” estimates and “worst case” financial scenarios, Peachtree City Finance Director Paul Salvatore said the tennis center can end the year with $13,837 in the bank, on $622,178 in expenses. Income from lessons, including fees from USTA and ALTA teams, together account for $383,038 in projected revenue through September, while court fees will bring in another $53,214, according to Salvatore’s estimation. Income from hosting tournaments is projected at $65,949. And that doesn’t consider tournament sponsorships, which have yet to be factored, or rent from the operation of the center’s pro shop. Requests for proposals to run the pro shop were to be opened and considered this week, with a February opening planned. At that time, another $2,500 in monthly rental income will start flowing into the tennis center’s coffers each month. Previously, Tennis Center Executive Director Virgil Christian held the lease to the shop rent-free. Christian resigned effective Oct. 31, and the Pro Shop has sat vacant since. Just to be safe, the city will make available to the PCTA a $100,000 line of credit to be used only in emergencies. “I feel confident that with the budget we have in place, we may not even need that $100,000,” Rapson said.
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