Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc.-Press Release -RCSC Responds To Anonymous Comments In Local Newspapers

Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc. would like to respond to a number of comments made in the Independent’s Speak Out column and Daily News-Sun’s Vent column. Over the past several weeks, there have been numerous anonymous comments regarding various RCSC policies and decisions.

In the May 28, 2008, edition of the Sun Cities Independent, the individual behind the Speak Out titled “No Wonder Dues are High” has mixed up the facts regarding the recent golf cart seat belt event and the cost of the ASU Lifelong Learning program. RCSC cardholders did not pay for the seat belts on golf carts. It was a community event sponsored by the Retirement Association of Sun City, the Sun City Posse and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. RCSC provided the parking lot at one of its golf courses for the event, but did not provide any financial assistance. The anonymous individual is also misinformed regarding the cost of the ASU Lifelong Learning program. RCSC never paid $75,000 for the program. That amount was how much it would have cost to renew the program, but the Board decided against it this past spring. The fact is that we have the most facilities with the lowest assessment of all other Sun Cities.

In the June 4, 2008, edition of the Sun Cities Independent, the Speak Out titled “Giving Away the Farm” paints an inaccurate picture of RCSC’s public golf play and the underage league bowler policy. Public golfers play during times that would otherwise go unused at the courses. Allowing non-RCSC cardholders to play golf helps keep fees lower for cardholders. Also, the decision to allow public golfers was recommended to the Board by the Golf Ad-hoc Committee, which was comprised of RCSC Members. The same is true for the underage league bowlers. The Bowling Committee recommended to the Board to allow bowlers between the ages of 19 and 54 to bowl in leagues so long as the league allows it and so long as that team has at least one person 55 or older. RCSC, as has been the case for the past two years, has not opened up their bowling centers to the public, they have just provided the opportunity for leagues to have players under 55.

In response to the Vent titled “Real saviors” in the June 10, 2008, edition of the Daily News-Sun, the reason RCSC charges what it does on Golfnow.com for public golfers to play is because we are competing with other golf courses in the region. Golfers have a wide range of options across the West Valley, and each of the region’s golf courses is competing for the same golfers. If RCSC did not charge competitive rates for public golf rounds, it would lose its share of public golfers and would have to raise cardholder rates to make up the revenue.

To help keep golf fees lower for RCSC cardholders, we currently market on Golfnow.com only two of our eight golf courses for outside play during times of the day that Sun City residents aren’t golfing. We must bring in additional income and there are really only two options: from Sun City residents or outside of Sun City. Instead of paying the posted guest green fee, the venter or their guests could have logged on to Golfnow.com and received the discounted fees available there. However, Golfnow.com charges a $1 booking fee, and does not allow golfers to choose their tee time. They can only choose from whatever is posted on the site three days in advance, whereas RCSC cardholders can book a tee time five days in advance for themselves and their guests.

RCSC persistently strives to offer its cardholders the highest quality of recreational service at the best possible price. With rising costs, this is not always an easy task. We will continue to evaluate ways to bring in revenue necessary to maintain the services our cardholders desire.