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City staff report progress, challenges after taking golf course operations in-house
Summary
City staff and new golf staff reported on the December transition of golf-course management to the city, the course opening, staffing, equipment needs and short-term budget questions. No formal council action was taken; staff will return with equipment-purchase authorization and more detailed budget revisions.
City staff, the new head golf professional and the golf superintendent updated the commission on the city’s recent assumption of golf-course operations and described early accomplishments and outstanding operational needs.
Director Landis and City Manager Silcott said the city authorized the transition in September and completed the management turnover on Dec. 30. City staff accelerated the transition and opened the course in mid‑January where weather permitted; snow and saturated ground delayed the initial planned opening. Silcott acknowledged staff should have communicated the accelerated timeline earlier and apologized for communication gaps.
Rob (head golf professional) and Drew Murphy (golf superintendent) described immediate priorities: establish vendor relationships, hire staff, obtain supplies and rebuild cart paths and irrigation capability. Rob said the city obtained a city‑issued liquor license and that a temporary building (pro shop) has been ordered and is expected within about a month. The team has hired a head pro, a superintendent and at least one additional full‑time assistant and reported several additional interviews for shop and grounds positions.
Staff noted outstanding operational questions that will require future commission decisions, including whether to permit private cart storage on public property (about 28–30 private carts currently stored on site) and more detailed budgeting once rounds and demand data are better known. Rob summarized the revised pricing approach as a daily‑fee model with options for annual passes; staff are still deciding whether an annual-pass option will include multi‑payment plans. The city is honoring existing GreatLife memberships through March 31 (as stated in the presentation).
Public‑works, utilities and building‑maintenance staff were credited for rapid, cross‑departmental support during the transition; Lloyd Builders donated time for the temporary building permitting process and Bartlett & West provided donated structural engineering for a foundation design. Staff said they built an online tee‑time function that allows bookings up to seven days in advance and will continue outreach to community groups and schools to coordinate tournaments and practice times.
No formal vote was taken on the operations update. The commission was told staff will return with a revised operations budget and a request seeking authorization to purchase golf‑course equipment.
