Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Golf course clubhouse is razed
 |
| Demolition of the clubhouse at De Bell Municipal Golf Course is well under way, but workers stopped due to the rain on Friday. |
De Bell officials are looking forward to modernization project, which is scheduled to be completed by October.
By Jeremy Oberstein
BURBANK — Demolition of the clubhouse on De Bell Municipal Golf Course started Tuesday, elating officials who hope the new facility will attract more golfers.
“It’s very exciting for everyone,” said Scott Scozzola, director of golf operations. “I’m really looking forward to the new building, and I think it will bring the whole facility up to a new level that we’ve never been at before.”
Crews are tearing apart the building with light machinery as part of the demolition, which will last seven to 10 days, Scozzola said.
“There will be no big machines, no big trucks used,” he said. “We try to make it as convenient as possible.”
Part of the nuisance of the construction work for golfers revolves around the lack of a central eating area, where many have congregated in the past, Scozzola said.
“The main inconvenience is the food area,” he said. “With the demolition, people can’t gather in groups for parties and things, but everyone has taken it very well. We have a temporary food service truck and a food and beverage cart that travels around the golf course. We’ve maintained somewhat normal operations.”
Normally, De Bell sees 65,000 to 70,000 rounds of golf a year. This year, there has been a slight drop due to the construction, Scozzola said.
“It’s still too early to tell, but if I were to look at the first few months of the fiscal year, we are slightly below,” he said.
But he hopes that will change when the $9.44 million worth of improvements are complete.
“The new clubhouse will attract people we haven’t gotten before in the past,” Scozzola said. “We plan on increasing the number of tournaments. It will be a really big draw for us.”
Any increase in golfers could represent a revenue increase for the city, which taxes some of De Bell’s profits, said Councilman Gary Bric, who sits on the clubhouse subcommittee.
“The city gets between 10% and 12% for food and beverage sales,” he said.
“When this is finished, the city will benefit, golfers will benefit, and everyone will gain from this.”
Burbank Chamber of Commerce President Gary Olson envisions a more popular golf course with a new clubhouse that could attract golfers from near and far.
“I think it’s a magnificent asset to have a municipal golf course,” Olson said.
“Burbank residents get a discount, and I’m sure word will spread that this new facility is there. There are only so many courses, and Griffith Park is very difficult. Municipal courses are of great value to golfers in general because most can’t afford private ones.”
While crews worked to tear down the facility, Bric eyed future improvements for the facility.
“Most of the profits at De Bell go to the Golf Enterprise fund, so when we demolish this one in another 30 years, the money will go toward another,” he said.
“Taxpayers basically won’t pay one dime.”
After the demolition is complete, the next couple of steps in the modernization project will be to construct the clubhouse and landscape the area surrounding the parking lot, which was completed Nov. 6.
“We’re looking to have this done by October 2008,” Scozzola said.
JEREMY OBERSTEIN covers City Hall and public safety. He may be reached at (818) 637-3242 or by e-mail at jeremy.oberstein@ latimes.com.
“It’s very exciting for everyone,” said Scott Scozzola, director of golf operations. “I’m really looking forward to the new building, and I think it will bring the whole facility up to a new level that we’ve never been at before.”
Crews are tearing apart the building with light machinery as part of the demolition, which will last seven to 10 days, Scozzola said.
“There will be no big machines, no big trucks used,” he said. “We try to make it as convenient as possible.”
advertisement
“The main inconvenience is the food area,” he said. “With the demolition, people can’t gather in groups for parties and things, but everyone has taken it very well. We have a temporary food service truck and a food and beverage cart that travels around the golf course. We’ve maintained somewhat normal operations.”
Normally, De Bell sees 65,000 to 70,000 rounds of golf a year. This year, there has been a slight drop due to the construction, Scozzola said.
“It’s still too early to tell, but if I were to look at the first few months of the fiscal year, we are slightly below,” he said.
But he hopes that will change when the $9.44 million worth of improvements are complete.
“The new clubhouse will attract people we haven’t gotten before in the past,” Scozzola said. “We plan on increasing the number of tournaments. It will be a really big draw for us.”
Any increase in golfers could represent a revenue increase for the city, which taxes some of De Bell’s profits, said Councilman Gary Bric, who sits on the clubhouse subcommittee.
“The city gets between 10% and 12% for food and beverage sales,” he said.
“When this is finished, the city will benefit, golfers will benefit, and everyone will gain from this.”
Burbank Chamber of Commerce President Gary Olson envisions a more popular golf course with a new clubhouse that could attract golfers from near and far.
“I think it’s a magnificent asset to have a municipal golf course,” Olson said.
“Burbank residents get a discount, and I’m sure word will spread that this new facility is there. There are only so many courses, and Griffith Park is very difficult. Municipal courses are of great value to golfers in general because most can’t afford private ones.”
While crews worked to tear down the facility, Bric eyed future improvements for the facility.
“Most of the profits at De Bell go to the Golf Enterprise fund, so when we demolish this one in another 30 years, the money will go toward another,” he said.
“Taxpayers basically won’t pay one dime.”
After the demolition is complete, the next couple of steps in the modernization project will be to construct the clubhouse and landscape the area surrounding the parking lot, which was completed Nov. 6.
“We’re looking to have this done by October 2008,” Scozzola said.
JEREMY OBERSTEIN covers City Hall and public safety. He may be reached at (818) 637-3242 or by e-mail at jeremy.oberstein@ latimes.com.
Save/Share
 |
 |
|
| Boy dies during P.E. run | Couple give $2-million gift to hospital |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of burbankleader.com.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
Not registered yet?
RSS