Fairways fares OK in 2015 despite heat, smoke

The problem sometimes with running a business that is weather dependent is that the knife cuts both ways.

The Fairways Golf Course near Four Lakes is a prime example.

Blessed with a warmer and drier than usual winter which allowed them to remain open much of the year, the course will experience some growth this season.

General manager and head professional, Kris Kallem said the course would finish the season with a slight uptick in business. "(We'll be) up a couple percent in revenue and rounds close to the same as last year."

But Kallem is not complaining, considering Mother Nature tossed in a hook - an exceedingly hot June - and a slice - acrid smoke from the region's forest fires. "It was not a bad year considering," he said.

"If you look at the whole season we started early, Jan. 24," Kallem said. February was a real good month and so was March. "We were real strong with extra rounds and revenue through May, (but) the heat in June really hurt us."

By June, golfers had their diversions for the rest of the summer. "We were way down in June in both revenue and rounds played," Kallem said. It was what he called a "momentum killer," and changed people's habits. The casual golfers turned to other past times such as the lakes and outdoors.

"I'm getting the boat out, I'm going swimming, I'm going camping I'm doing all those type of things," Kallem said referring to the different reasons for not golfing. "I think it affected the rest of the summer."

Even into our warm and dry fall. "Our numbers are down for October, despite the warm weather," Kallem said.

But amidst what would appear to have been a somewhat gloomy summer Kallem said The Fairways had a number of bright spots.

The Lilac Invitational Tournament in July cast a glow of success.

"Lilac was a great success, we grew our numbers there which is surprising," Kallem said as tournament play is down across the industry.

He said they accomplished the three goals that were set well in advance. They had a good purse for the professionals and attracted a good field. They wanted to make a nice donation to the Shriners Hospital and to throw a heck of a party, Kallem said.

There were two other notable wins for the course.

"The PGA of America developed this junior golf program nationwide," Kallem said. "It's designed for kids who are beginning to novice golfers." The goal was to make the game attractive to young players who have not played.

Nine area courses fielded teams and each played six matches, home and away.

"Our kids got to experience other courses like Spokane Country Club, Indian Canyon and play away from their home course," Kallem said. Team members wore jerseys with numbers on the back, just like other youth sports.

At the conclusion of the season the league selected an All-Star team that played against other regional teams and they made it to the national semifinals. "Every team, every course had one player, ours was Nate Koohns, a Cheney-area resident who got to play a variety of courses across the region.

The course will likely have two teams in 2016, Kallem said.

Another popular activity was a women's par-3 league that began in August. Each Tuesday, crews would set up a different course within the course with alternative tees and holes ranging from 40 to 140 yards.

The nice thing, Kallem said, was it was a scramble format that catered to beginning golfers. "They had a partner that would go with them and there was less pressure to perform."

The other positive was it took just over an hour to play nine holes.

"It was affordably priced, it overcame the degree of difficulty hurdle and it overcame the time hurdle, so we're excited about that," Kallem said.

The foot golf program, which just completed year two, grew and Kallem said there was potential for that as the course looks for new ways to attract customers.

With a strong El Nino predicted for this winter - which will likely deliver a warmer, but wetter season - Kallem said the course will remain open as long as weather permits.

"We've had golfers on the course four out of the last five Januarys," he said.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.