JBER leadership announces Eagleglen closure

Release Number: 020414

4/28/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska  -- Following a thorough review of historical trends, and dialog with the greater Anchorage golfing community and representatives from the Alaska Congressional delegation, the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and 673d Air Base Wing commander announced the Eagleglen Golf Course will not open during the calendar year 2014 season.

This study began more than a year ago when JBER officials assessed the installation's program may have excess capacity. It revealed a 37 percent decrease in patronage over the last decade, and losses exceeding $1.9 million over the past three years and more than $2.2 million over the past five years.

JBER hosts three of the four 18-hole golf courses in the greater Anchorage area. The installation's three courses have a combined 54 holes and are open to the military community and the public. The courses are a popular attraction to the local community, which represented approximately 66 percent of the players over the last three years.

JBER hosted informational public meetings March 5 and 6. Members of the community provided inputs, which were reviewed and considered. However, based on declining golf participation and the associated loss in revenue, the commander determined that the closure of the Eagleglen Course was necessary and the most feasible manner in which to reduce the installation's excess golf capacity while keeping in mind the long term health of the installation's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) fund and the golf program.

Community suggestions for improvements included consolidating managerial staff, selling old equipment, hiring seasonal local employees, reviewing pricing strategies, and improving tee time reservation systems. Many of these suggestions have been long-standing practices at JBER's courses and recognized as strengths during annual financial audits. Improvements to tee time reservation systems at the remaining base courses are planned for the fall of 2014 through a new, online point-of-sale system. Additionally, pricing strategies to bring in additional golfers during slower periods are under consideration, but such initiatives must be balanced with Air Force directives governing civilian use of MWR activities. These directives require, in part, that written agreements be in place from the owners or operators of local civilian golf facilities (within 10 miles or 30 commuting minutes) stating they don't object.

"We studied a variety of options which forecasted a reasonably optimistic growth in play this season, as compared to 2013, while continuing a hard scrub of operating and recapitalization costs," said Air Force Col. Brian Duffy, JBER and 673 ABW commander. "Unfortunately, the only courses of action which resulted in us generating sufficient business to cover all costs and contribute positively to our MWR fund involved significantly increasing greens fees for our civilian patrons or closing portions of our golf program."

JBER's greens fees for civilian golfers are comparable to those seen at other Anchorage-area courses.

"We are convinced the impact of a significant price increase, to the level required to generate positive cash flow, would result in substantial reductions in patronage, especially when compared with prices at other venues in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley," Duffy said.

Alternatives of closing only one of the Moose Run courses and keeping Eagleglen open resulted in similar adverse effects to the JBER MWR fund, while closure of both Moose Run courses would eliminate 36 holes from the overall inventory in the Anchorage area, likely overtaxing Eagleglen to a point where patronage would dip further. Duffy went on to state, "Closing only one of our three courses allows opportunity for the most flexibility to handle larger events while still leaving room for our individual players. Continuing the status quo simply places all risk on programs designed to support our men and women in uniform, their families, and our civilians assigned to JBER."

The JBER team is committed to continuing a productive golf program at Moose Run, as expressed by the majority of patrons who have offered a 96 percent satisfaction rate. Planned improvements at Moose Run include widening tee boxes, filling in unnecessary bunkers, and addressing repairs to the bridge on the Creek Course. This large investment, a must to restore a proper route and pace of play, was determined not financially possible with the usage rate decline over the last decade. Also, Moose Run's sizeable parking area and larger clubhouse space will continue to provide adequate room for regular patrons and larger functions.

The decision for Eagleglen not to open this year is not unique to JBER. Air Force wide, 19 Category C (self-sustaining operations) MWR facilities closed in 2013, including the golf course at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. In recent years, courses have closed at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.

JBER officials stated Eagleglen will remain open during the winter season for cross country skiing as part of the installation's "Fit to Fight" program. The base will continue to review options for re-purposing the golf course for other uses during the summer to positively impact the morale and fitness of JBER personnel.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson leaders will be available to discuss this decision at 10:30 a.m., April 29, at the Eagleglen Golf Course club house. Media interested in interviewing JBER leadership on this topic should confirm attendance by e-mailing jber.pa.mediaops@us.af.mil, or by calling the JBER Media Operations office at (907) 552-8986/8941. Media should arrive at the Eagleglen Course no later than 10:15 a.m., for the 10:30 a.m. press conference.