Golf posts strong season-to-date results; capital projects completed or underway at city courses

CityGolf manager Mark Poyer updated the Park Board on capital work and participation trends across municipal golf courses and reported financial and program gains.

Poyer said the Indian Canyon bunker renovation — a redesign that included reshaping, Better Billy bunker liners, drainage work and tournament‑grade sand — cost about $392,855 and that most bunkers are now open. The Qualchan pump house was fully replaced, added fertigation capability and cost roughly $850,000; that project was funded by the City of Spokane Water Department and did not draw on golf funds. Downriver’s phase‑1 cart‑path reconstruction and related landscape work cost about $426,000 and included widened paths, basalt retaining walls and curbing to protect turf and direct traffic.

Poyer reported operational and program highlights: April produced about $200,000 net gain for golf, year‑to‑date golf is roughly $500,000 positive (excluding a separate improvement fee), and rounds played and pass sales are ahead of 2024 (staff reported about a 12% increase year‑to‑date). Junior and access programs are expanding: Esmeralda instructed about 315 junior golfers in 2024 and projects 350–375 in 2025 with additional PGA junior league teams; three adapted golf carts were donated by the Paralyzed Veterans of America Northwest chapter to increase accessibility; women’s participation is growing and family programs such as Parents Play with Kids were noted.

Poyer listed 2025 capital needs if funding allows, including reroofing a downriver maintenance building and sewer/septic engineering at Esmeralda, and said the department would prioritize projects based on available funds. He thanked parks planning, operations and accounting staff for support on capital delivery and operations.