Lions Club Municipal Golf Course continued its record-breaking streak in August and reached a milestone by bringing in nearly $60,000 — the highest monthly intake that is on record for the golf course.
Revenue for August came in at $58,888, shattering the previously-held record of $42,373 that had been set just a month earlier.
“It’s the biggest month we’ve ever said,” said Danny Carelock, manager of LCMGC.
While reviewing year- and -month-to-date revenues during a regular meeting Aug. 26, members of the El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds Commission marveled at the amount the golf course had taken in for the month at that point: $50,000.
The information was compiled just before the start of the EPPC’s meeting at noon.
Commission chairman Ken Goudy pointed out that a record had been set in June at $41,875, adding that the number was surpassed in July, with the golf course taking in $42,372 by the end of the month.
“We’ve got the rest of this week and a Saturday and a Sunday to go and we’re already at $50,000,” Goudy reported. “Obviously that’s a record and they’ve done an outstanding job out there.”
Goudy predicted then that if the skies remained clear and cooler temperatures set in, as was forecast for Aug. 29, 30 and 31 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively), then “it is going to be something.”
His prediction came true.
Through the remainder of the day Aug. 26 and the five days that followed, the golf course raked in another $8,888, less than $700 shy of the lowest monthly income total for the year — $9,579 in January.
“Seeing these numbers, even with all this heat, it’s just hard to believe,” Goudy said.
He said Lions Club staff had reported that 140 golfers visited the facility on Aug. 23 and another 120 on Aug. 24.
“That’s a lot of people out there,” said Goudy.
Other EPPC members Greg Harrison and Anjanett Walker-Kemp chimed in, saying that the golf course is well maintained and lauding the work of Carelock, co-manager Terri McKissick, other LCMGC staffers and crews from the Department of Public Works.
“The golf course is in great shape. The greens are better than they have ever been and we have had some very, very good play out there — a lot of people, a lot of people,” said Carelock.
Goudy said that in recent months, the golf course has consistently been crowded on Saturday morning before noon.
Carelock said 39 golf carts are available for rent at Lions Club.
“The last two or three Saturdays, we were out of carts by 10 (a.m.),” he told commissioners. “They play and then they come back and rent them back out again. Everybody’s wanting to play golf for some reason.”
Carelock also noted that an increasing number of golfers are coming from out of town, including Magnolia, Crossett and North Louisiana, primarily from Ruston and Monroe/West Monroe.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of people out there that I have not seen out there before, which, that’s good and they’re telling people …” said Goudy.
Golf course staff and parks and playgrounds commissioners have said that efforts over the past few years to improve the grounds and foster a welcoming environment at LCMGC has helped to turn the facility into one of the best municipally-owned golf courses in the region.
Carelock said word of mouth seems to be the golf course’s most powerful marketing tool.
He said he has heard positive feedback from players about the condition of the golf course, adding that has helped to attract new visitors and maintain regulars.
Over the past few years, the EPPC has worked with the city, including presenting funding requests to the El Dorado Works Board and El Dorado City Council, for resources to help purchase equipment to better maintain the grounds; build a new, indoor storage space for equipment and chemicals; build a golf cart barn to better maintain golf carts; and seek assistance in identifying and addressing a fungus problem that had attacked golf course greens, etc.
Lions Club has hosted several tournaments this year and high schools are utilizing the course for matches, said Carelock.
He told commissioners that LC Ross & Hazel Ross Memorial Benefit Golf Tournament drew 27 players — fewer than usual — and a tournament fundraiser for the Junction City High School baseball team drew 32 teams, up from last year.
Both tournaments were held in July at Lions Club.
He said the facility hosted one tournament in August and the 2025 First Financial Bank/SHARE Foundation Benefit Golf Tournament is set for Sept. 27 and 28.
Carelock said Lions Club will host the first day of the tournament before activities move to Mystic Creek Golf Course on day two.
He also told the EPPC that LCMGC crews are preparing for winter maintenance.
Goudy said the golf course is on track to break another revenue record for the year.
A record of $317,442 was set in 2024.
Just before noon Sept. 12, revenue at Lions Club stood at $15,373 for the month.
