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Council committee approves Highland Park Golf Course fee updates; foundation subsidy scheduled to taper
Summary
Council approved amended ordinances to raise certain Highland Park Golf Course fees for 2025–2026 and reviewed the foundation’s multi‑year plan to reduce the city subsidy from $500,000 (2023) toward $100,000 by 2027. Committee members asked for clarity on driving‑range rates and banquet room renovation plans.
The committee approved an amended ordinance updating Highland Park Golf Course and banquet‑room rates for 2025 and 2026 and discussed the course’s path to reduced city subsidy.
Director Nichols told the committee that Highland Park Golf Foundation, which has managed the course since 2023, has made several capital improvements — cart paths, tee boxes, drainage work and a planned driving range and learning center — and requested the council adopt a two‑year rate schedule. “The amount of subsidy that the city provides to this operation decreases every year,” Nichols said; committee testimony showed the planned subsidy schedule as $500,000 (2023), $400,000 (2024), $300,000 (2025), $200,000 (2026) and $100,000 (2027).
Committee members sought specifics: Councilman McCormick requested a facility list and clarification of where banquet‑room renovation costs would be borne; Nichols said the Highland Park Golf Foundation intends to cover those interior improvements as part of its operating budget. Members also asked about driving‑range pricing; Nichols said the range is expected to open late summer or early fall and indicated those fees were listed in the ordinance’s “additional rates” section but agreed to confirm.
Councilmember Michael Polincic — who said he does not favor city ownership of golf courses generally — asked about rounds of play. Nichols provided rounds data showing a modest increase: nearly 59,000 rounds in 2024 and roughly the same in 2025.
Outcome: The amended ordinance (2‑43‑2025) was recommended for passage out of committee. Committee members asked staff to supply a complete list of facility projects and to confirm driving‑range and banquet‑room financing details before final council action.
