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Ottawa City general manager details golf course repairs, irrigation problems and programming
Summary
City general manager Rob Mylar updated the Ottawa City Commission on equipment deliveries, temporary building progress, irrigation leaks and programming at the municipal golf course; no formal action was requested.
Rob Mylar, general manager for the Ottawa municipal golf course, told the Ottawa City Commission on March 26 that staff have focused this month on fixing irrigation leaks, restoring greens and restarting programs while a temporary operations building is completed.
Mylar said crews have repaired "six or seven major leaks" and traced older sections of pipe to galvanized and other legacy materials that make keeping the system pressurized difficult. He described a patched valve that had been watered with a hose until recently and said crews will replace two sprinkler heads and continue repairs to tee boxes and other components.
The update said the temporary building footings have been poured and are curing, and that recently acquired equipment includes a sprayer and a zero-turn rough mower roughly 100 inches wide. Mylar said the course currently has a supply of diesel and expects the temporary building to be delivered soon.
Mylar summarized early-season use and sales: about 800 rounds played since staff took over operations, of which roughly 500 were held by pre-existing "Great Life" memberships that do not yet produce new revenue; the other roughly 300 rounds generated daily-fee revenue. Staff reported 420 cart rentals (88 for 18 holes and 332 for nine holes) and 38 cart-storage spaces available. Annual passes will go into effect April 1 and the course will begin enforcing new rules and cart-storage policies then.
He listed programs that have resumed or will resume, including the high school and college teams, a ladies league, a Monday senior group, a men's league and a junior camp run by the Optimist Club. Mylar said staff are coordinating with volunteers and noted that Trey will teach lessons as he progresses in a PGA apprenticeship.
Survey feedback reported by Mylar identified cart paths and irrigation as top priorities, along with clubhouse renovation, pool removal or renovation, a possible driving range, improved tees, pond depth and ongoing tree maintenance. Mylar and staff said pond grading and dredging are being discussed with an engineer; options include regrading a northern area to improve drainage and adding a small silt-capture pond near No. 9.
Melanie and Justin Carey were singled out by Mylar for operational support; Drew and Jason were described as key to on-site irrigation repairs. Mylar said staff expect to rely on a mix of in-house repairs and contractors for more extensive work and that a previously applied federal grant for acquisition was not available in time for the purchase but could be applied for again in future funding cycles.
No formal motion or vote was taken; commissioners asked questions about payment plans, cart availability and tournament hosting and were told staff are not currently offering monthly payment plans and will honor Great Life memberships through March 31.
Looking ahead, Mylar said staff plan to map the greens for autonomous mowers and continue phased improvements prioritized around irrigation and cart paths.
