Consultants present $14.5–$19.7 million drainage and master‑plan options for Henry Homburg Golf Course

City consultants told Beaumont City Council on March 25 that Henry Homburg Golf Course would require major work to resolve chronic ponding and infrastructure decay, and offered two cost tracks: a renovation of existing routing and infrastructure estimated at about $14.5 million, and a full re‑routing and comprehensive rebuild estimated at about $19.7 million.

Baxter Spann of Finger Dye Spann Golf Course Architects, with Mike McClung of Tetra Tech engineers, presented a drainage-focused master plan that included short‑term fixes and a long‑term regrading and irrigation program. Spann said the course is "well past the maximum life expectancy on all of its systems" and described fairways that stay wet because they are flatter than 1% slope in many spots.

Nut graf: The consultants recommended near-term work (upsizing undersized culverts at the northern outfall, clearing silted swales and improving roadside ditch grading) and long-term construction of a systematic network of drainage basins, subsurface piping, regrading of fairways into drainage basins, larger irrigation lakes, a new automated irrigation system with central computer control and a new enclosed pump station.

Key findings and costs: The presentation documented severe ponding—consultants noted pockets with up to 6 inches of water in a 5‑year storm and more than 2 feet in major events—and that extensive siltation has reduced on‑site drainage capacity. The irrigation system components were described as 20 to 40 years old, lacking central automation, and with undersized mainlines for an 18‑hole course. The consultants proposed relocating the practice range across Babe Zaharias Drive to create a full‑size driving range, adding a large primary putting green and short‑game areas, and building a new system of 200‑foot drainage basins tied to regraded fairways to move water into irrigation lakes and an overflow pipe to the east drainage facility.

Spann summarized costs: a full master plan with site preparation, earthwork, drainage, irrigation, green construction, bunkers, cart paths and landscaping had a construction subtotal of about $16.7 million; with professional fees and a 10% contingency he gave a total of about $19.7 million. A more limited renovation to replace infrastructure in place was estimated about $14.5 million.

Context and next steps: Recreation Director Jimmy Neal said the drainage study was funded from a prior park system allocation of more than $1 million and thanked public works and engineering staff. Council members asked for the study to be used to plan funding and to return with details on phasing, operating‑revenue projections and how improvements would affect playability and revenue. Consultants said improved drainage would increase playable days, speed play, and could increase rounds and revenue over time, but they did not provide an immediate revenue guarantee.

Ending: The presentation gave the council a concrete engineering pathway and a budget range to begin capital planning. No funding was approved at the meeting; council requested supplemental information on phasing, long‑term revenue assumptions and opportunities for grants or partner funding before any commitment.