Architects propose new Quail Run clubhouse with event space; early cost estimate $2 million

An Erickson Sullivan Architects representative presented a preliminary plan to replace the existing Quail Run Golf Course clubhouse and pro shop with a new building designed to accommodate larger tournaments, rentals and everyday play.

The architects told the Columbus City Committee of the Whole that the current clubhouse is undersized for its uses, with an approximately 700-square-foot pro shop and controller space that creates crowding and limited views to key tee boxes and greens. “The building is undersized for its current use,” the architect said. The team recommended demolishing the existing structure and building a new clubhouse with a larger pro shop, an event space, full restrooms, storage and a warming kitchen to allow more food service without requiring a full commercial kitchen and hood.

The presentation said the existing building also fails to meet current codes and standards for HVAC, accessibility and energy performance. Architects said restrooms are not ADA compliant, the HVAC cannot handle peak loads, and the building envelope lacks required drainage behind the masonry. The team advised that retrofitting and expanding the current building would be costly and produce operational compromises; they recommended new construction instead.

In preliminary design, the architects located the pro shop to the north to improve sightlines to tee boxes, placed an event space with south-facing views to the course and proposed an outdoor patio and lawn to allow mixed indoor-outdoor events. The plan includes storage for tables and chairs, a central bar and concessions area with an optional outdoor order window for golfers to use during rounds. Movable partitions were proposed to allow the event space to be divided for multiple rentals while retaining seating for golfers when events occur, the architect said.

Design outreach included an on-site public meeting and an online survey. The team reported roughly 20 comment cards collected in person and 31 online survey responses, 83% of whom said they were golfers. Architects said survey results suggested a strong increase in likelihood that golfers would stay before or after rounds in a renovated clubhouse, which could increase food-and-beverage revenue for the course.

On cost and schedule, the architects offered an early construction estimate of about $2 million for the new building, equivalent to roughly $3.75 per square foot by the firm’s rough square-foot assumptions. They described construction types that could control cost: pre-engineered metal building panels for outer portions and standard steel-truss framing for the main, flat-roof areas. The firm estimated a construction timeline of about a year, with a possibility of nine months if work concentrated in the off-season. The design team also discussed staging operations if construction occurs — options included a temporary portable building for a pro shop or operating from the existing cart barn.

Council members and staff asked about kitchen capacity, ongoing operating and staffing costs, parking and sun exposure for the outdoor seating area. The architects said the proposed warming kitchen was sized to add basic cooking and reheating capability but would not include a full frying/grill hood without additional budget; they noted expanding kitchen capability increases capital and operating costs and staffing needs. On parking, the architects said they intentionally avoided reducing existing parking and that the city may need to consider acquiring additional land in the future for expanded parking; they did not present a formal parking plan.

The design team recommended further study of shade and sun patterns for the south-facing patio and said they could analyze maintenance and life-cycle choices to minimize long-term operating costs through durable materials and modern HVAC and insulation standards.

The presentation concluded without a formal vote; the committee proceeded to the next agenda item, a budget public hearing.