Two of his golfing buddies, Jack Monroe and Dan Houston, chimed in during a round at Willow Springs Golf Course that they'd like to see cheap beer — less than $2 — and a more casual atmosphere.

They're looking forward to the changes being made to Willow Springs' concession area, which will soon become an eatery called the Iceman's Pub.

Willow Springs' new look comes from a business group called KGK 44 Interests, of which San Antonio Spurs legend George "The Iceman" Gervin is a partner. KGK is revamping the food concession areas of the six city-owned golf courses using a basketball theme.

Earlier this year, KGK purchased the majority interest of Polanco & Co., the former contract holder of the clubhouse eateries. Polanco took over for Moore's Cafeteria Services last year.

Besides Gervin, KGK includes lawyer Ken Saks, financial adviser Karl Kapustka and Sergio and Fernando Avila, owners of Express Building Maintenance.

The city currently is proposing to raise green and cart fees at its courses by 75 cents or $1. Last year, the city also increased golf fees to make up $700,000 in lost revenue caused by the heavy July rains that shut down some of the city courses for several weeks.

With the sluggish economy keeping golfers away from the greens, can KGK bring back penny-pinching golfers and encourage them to spend on food and golf ?

Curiosity about the eateries will bring in new golfers, said restaurant management consultant Will Thornton. Saks said people are getting a country club setting at municipal prices.

"We want to create a place where people can sit down and be comfortable and eat a good quality product," said Gervin, who got involved in the project because of his love of golf.

Thornton said the new menu features bistro-style food instead of the convenience store-type snack foods golfers have been used to.

Ron McCulloch, also a restaurant consultant, said the tofu hot dogs and burgers have been taken off the menu to make room for a variety of Chicago, New York and Texas-style hot dogs and hoagies and the Iceman's Chillin' Chicken Salad.

This project also is a way for Gervin to develop the East Side. He said city leaders have been encouraging businesspeople to invest in the area, and he wanted to take that challenge.

With an investment estimated to be about $500,000, Saks said Willow Springs will be the first to open in November. The other courses include Mission del Lago, Riverside, Cedar Creek and Olmos Basin.

The Brackenridge Golf Course may have a different manager. Golf San Antonio, a nonprofit group, is trying to raise money to renovate the clubhouse and take over the concession area, according to Ron Smudy, assistant director for operations at the city's Parks & Recreation Department.

In the meantime, Smudy said, KGK is overseeing Brackenridge's menu. Saks also said the San Pedro Driving Range and Par 3 Golf Course does not have a full concession area, but aesthetic improvements are being made to the patio area.

Smudy said having KGK involved benefits both the city and KGK since the six city courses on average attract about 240,000 golfers a year who could become customers for the Iceman's Pubs.

At the same time, the city receives 16 percent of the eateries' revenue.

While Polanco struggled to survive in bad weather, Kapustka said, KGK plans to diversify revenue by hosting weddings and retirement parties and providing patio dining.

Expanded services may be necessary at a time when less golf is being played at municipal courses. Smudy said from the mid- to late 1980s, the six courses used to average 400,000 rounds of golf a year.

With more courses providing competition, Smudy said, that figure has declined by almost half.

But golfers like Fred Martinez still find time to play at Willow Springs at least once a week. Now that the clubhouse eatery will have a full bar, Martinez said, Willow Springs is even more appealing.

mmonroe@express-news.net