Golf revenues plummeted right alongside temperatures in the Yukon this summer.

A subpar season prompted a letter to members from the Mountain View Golf Club board last month, requesting a renewal of interest in the club’s fund-raising efforts.

“We had a shortfall this year,” board president Tony Hill said in an interview this week.

“We’re going to survive. We will weather this storm, but it’s going to be tough and we’ll have to maybe cut back a little here and there to make up the shortfall.

“It’s unusual for the last several seasons,” Hill explained. “We’ve always been able to maintain a pretty steady income and budget. This year we budgeted for the same as we’ve experienced over the past four or five years. The difference was the revenue was just less. That’s largely to do with the weather.”

Cool temperatures and cloudy skies meant fewer golfers hit the links this summer, ultimately resulting in the club’s lowest revenue total in years.

Hill declined to provide specific numbers to the Star.

Renewed support in the club’s raffle draw was requested via a letter from the board. Tickets are $20 or three for $50 for the grand prize of a $10,000 travel voucher on any airline.

Advanced purchase of club memberships for next season was also stressed, with added incentives coming to anyone who registers before Dec. 25.

Golfers purchasing memberships for the 18-hole course before Christmas will be entered into a draw for a full rebate on their season dues.

Hill’s letter to members was dated Sept. 3. He said response since then has been good, although the bad run of weather has continued.

“Since I’ve sent that note out, raffle sales have improved and people have been buying their memberships early,” he said. “But we were hoping to be open for at least another week, but that doesn’t look too likely right now.”

Hill said the hope is to sell all 2,000 raffle tickets in time for the draw Dec. 12. Until then, volunteers are expected to be selling tickets at a variety of local venues around town.

“This is part of our fund-raising efforts that we have to do to meet requirements of Lotteries Yukon and any other funding agency, so it’s really important,” Hill added.

If the club fails to meet its obligations, the government funding may become unavailable, putting an “exclamation mark” on the club’s off year, Hill’s letter states.

This year, the club is aiming to use the funds to purchase a new rough mower as part of its equipment replacement program.

According to Hill, the rough has been cited as the top priority from a survey of club patrons conducted this summer.

The new mower is expected to reduce the height of the rough for a metre and a half on either side of the fairway, and provide a lower first-cut rough around the greens.

The off year was somewhat of a surprise, as club memberships were up several percentage points this season, said Hill.

“What was down was the daily fee – people coming to the course, and of course that impacted sales of food and beverages, golf cart rentals, driving range – it’s just a big trickle-down effect.

“If you don’t have the people coming to play golf, then you don’t get the revenue you expect,” Hill stated.

“We’re looking forward to a better year next year and hopefully people will buy their memberships early.”

Graham Frey, assistant pro at the Mountain View club, said this year’s roster of members totalled 310.

The club’s closing date will be weather dependent, he added. The snowfall earlier this week has left the course blanketed in white flakes.

Meanwhile, at Meadow Lakes Golf and Country Club, manager Johnny Enns said the season started out well for the nine-hole course but could end prematurely thanks to the onset of winter this week.

Meadow Lakes is temporarily closed, and barring a thaw, could remain that way.

“Obviously, this is probably the earliest that we have temporarily closed,” Enns said today. “We will open up again if the snow does go away.”

Mother Nature played a major role in overall numbers this year, with this week’s snow potentially shaving an entire month off the typical Yukon golf season.

The next five days will determine if the golf season continues, Enns said.

“Overall, we’re fairly close to last year, but we barely got five months,” he said.

“Last year was one of our latest. We closed down Oct. 20.”