By DAN HEATH
PLATTSBURGH -- Almost daily rain showers from mid-July through early August have dampened local business.
At North Country Golf Club in the Town of Champlain, Manager and PGA Professional Dustin Beauregard said the past few weeks have been particularly wet.
"It seems as soon as it gets in good, playable condition, another storm comes through."
MOWING TOUGH
In August, the issue is usually trying to keep the course green, Beauregard said. This year, it's trying to keep it mowed.
Course Superintendent Rene Anctil said many spots have been too wet to mow, and even the cart paths have seen standing water.
It would be even worse without drainage improvements installed within the last few years. A heavy rain used to mean several days of standing water, but now the course is usually dry enough to play within one day.
This year, even that's being put to the test.
"A lot of the drains we put in can't drain because the ditches (water level) are so high," Anctil said.
The water in those ditches usually stretches about 3 feet wide but has swollen to about 9 feet wide at times this summer.
Anctil said the rain has mainly affected daily fee golfers, not members. Beauregard said a heavy rainstorm frequently means no daily fee play for that day and the next.
"We can't get those days back. It's a short season anyway," he said.
The one bright spot is that the club hasn't had to cancel any of its major tournaments or outings, Beauregard said.
FEWER VISITORS
Numbers are also down at a number of the Olympic Regional Development Authority venues. ORDA Director of Communications Sandy Caligiore said year-to-date totals as of Aug. 12 show 87,919 visitors this year compared to 101,531 last year.
"So many of the activities we have are outdoors. A summer like we've had the last five weeks definitely affects our bottom line."
Overall revenues are down about $17,000, Caligiore said, about 1.3 percent behind 2007. Some of the biggest drops are at Whiteface and Gore mountains.
Gondola rides at Whiteface are down from 19,888 last year to 16,687 this year. Gondola rides at Gore are down about 30 percent from 1,139 to 781.
The Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway has seen 7,408 fewer visitors, from 39,986 in 2007 to 32,578 this year.
One sunny spot in a rainy summer is at the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Museum. Caligiore said attendance is up more than 13 percent, with 6,971 visitors this year compared to 6,134 last year.
"Quite often, if the weather is not good, that drives people to indoor attractions."
The museum even set a one-day attendance record of 542 visitors Aug. 10 when the NFL's Vince Lombardi Trophy was on display to celebrate the New York Giants Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots.
The venues are open two more months, which leaves time for improvement, Caligiore said, noting that a nice Indian summer could help dramatically.
"We've still got a long way to go. It's (a warm, sunny September and October) been known to happen."
POOL SALES
Rain and swimming pools aren't a good mix, either.
Kay and George Hubbell of Lake Champlain Pools and Spas said sales certainly could have been better this summer.
"It's hard to tell whether it's the economy, gas prices or people who are depressed because of the weather," Mrs. Hubbell said. "I've lived here my whole life. I don't think I ever remember a summer like this."
It's not just rain, she said, but frequently heavy rain.
Mr. Hubbell said that also makes scheduling installations more difficult.
"The construction process is difficult enough. This is one more stepping stone we have to work around. When it rains every day, it's difficult to get things accomplished in an orderly fashion and stay on schedule."
Business picked up some this past week, which was certainly an improvement compared to the previous two weeks, Mrs. Hubbell said.
The company's finance company has helped with a financing package that includes no payments until June 2009 and deferred interest.
Mrs. Hubbell said pool-supply sales haven't been a problem. The state of the economy and gas prices are probably leading more people to stay home and use their pools.
Lake Champlain Pools and Spas usually installs above-ground pools until the end of September, while in-ground work can continue into November, so there's time for business to improve. It would help if the weather improved.
"When people aren't using pools, people are buying them," Mr. Hubbell said.
BRIGHTER OUTLOOK
The owner of Magic Pines Family Campgrounds in Lewis has a sunny outlook on the summer so far. Janet Ingram said the campground is having its best season in five years.
She said most of the traffic is not local.
"If there's rain in the forecast, they probably don't want to go camping," Ingram said.
Most of their numbers are people who came to the area from afar without reservations and end up looking for a place to stay when they arrive. She said they even had a group of people from Finland in a motor home this year.
Ingram said campers have been able to get out in between the spotty rain showers.
The camping area is actually very dry, she said, as evidenced by the dust being scattered as her husband mowed last week.
"The people who have come have stayed longer," Ingram said. "Whether it's the price of gas or what, I don't know. It's definitely been a good summer."
dheath@pressrepublican.com
