Eagle Valley Golf Course reflects on record-breaking 2021

Carson City enjoyed 65,000 rounds of golf at Eagle Valley Golf Course last year. On Thursday, Duncan Golf Management Group presented that number to the Board of Supervisors to see if they were on par with the city’s expectations.

“(In 2021) we had an amazing financial year, but the operations were a struggle,” said Scott Wackowski, director of operations with DGM.

Revenue was at its highest since DGM took over in 2017, reaching over $2 million, but staffing hit its lowest. Due to drought and bad weather, Eagle Valley suffered significant turf loss.

“Complete transparency – we didn’t meet our expectations for our customers,” Wackowski said.

The course frequently had to close its kitchen and bar, and some months it limited operations to five days a week rather than seven.
Ironically, Wackowski said that food and beverage sales were still the highlight of the year for Eagle Valley. They were up nearly 50 percent compared to 2020, and 33 percent compared to 2019. Customers were also happy with the return of Thirsty Thursdays.
“It brought a lot of people together in the late afternoons,” Wackowski said.

He even had some good news with the start of the 2022 season. DGM is investing $95,000 in bunker renovations and $400,000 in equipment that will be owned by the city.

The bunker renovations will be a multi-year project, starting with 11 bunkers on the West Course.

Wackowski said that the goal is to renovate the bunkers back to a “normal standard of maintenance.”

On the city’s end, Parks and Recreation will begin cart path renovations on the West Course.

DGM is optimistic that with full staffing and lots of course improvement projects, this will be another big year for Eagle Valley.

“Things are looking up for 2022,” Wackowski said.

Mayor Lori Bagwell kept her feedback for DGM brief.

“Keep golfing, everyone,” she said, getting chuckles from the audience.