Waterlefe seeks green players

In an effort to attract new members, the Waterlefe Community Development District approved new categories at its Nov. 16 meeting.

The newest category, called the “young professional,” is aimed at players between 25 and 34. At $1,500 annually, it’s the most affordable membership at Waterlefe.

That is in comparison to $2,245 for a junior executive (ages 35-44) or $4,000 yearly for those 45 and up (a special senior discount takes effect at age 75).

“We want to invite the young golfer into the club environment,” said Janice Reed, Waterlefe’s director of membership and marketing.

The course’s membership currently sits at 124, and the course needs more play, said CDD Chairman Ken Bumgarner.

During a joint meeting with the golf course committee, Bumgarner and the board discussed the $8 million debt the district had inherited from community developer, WCI Communities, after it filed for bankruptcy in 2009. The developer took out revenue bonds to pay for the construction of the golf course. It overestimated on how many people would join the club and the golf course has never generated enough revenue to make payments on the debt.

Bumgarner said golf club memberships are dying across the country, not just at Waterlefe. While he is skeptical whether the golf course will ever reach WCI’s 350-player goal, he said attracting new players to the course is healthy.

“There are too many courses down here that are inexpensive to play,” he said.

In addition to the young professionals membership, the golf course added two trial programs for 60 and 90 days.

For a fee, interested players can buy either a single or family trial, during which they receive almost all of the same benefits as a member such as free range balls, a pro shop discount and reserved tee times.

The trial allows people who might only be staying for a few months to test out the course and the community without committing to a year.

The trial can only be taken once, but the idea is to give interested players a taste of the course and its benefits and entice them to join year-round.

For the first time in eight years, the course increased its annual fees by about 2.5% to 3%, depending on the category. Reed said the downturn of the economy forced the course to keep a steady rate to stay competitive and to retain members.

The club used to charge a $10,000 initiation fee, but after the economy faltered, the course eliminated the fee.