Palo Alto officials report Baylands Golf Links is operating in the black despite billing and mitigation work

The Parks and Recreation Commission heard a detailed update Tuesday on Baylands Golf Links, where city staff and the course operator reported positive operating contributions to the city’s general fund in recent years and described ongoing environmental and youth‑program efforts.

The presentation, led by Lam Do of Open Space, Parks & Golf and Matt Malloy, senior vice president of OB Sports (the course operator), noted that the course reopened as Baylands Golf Links in February 2018 after a two‑year redesign. Since then, staff said the course has produced an annual contribution of “over a million” to the city’s general fund in most years, but that fiscal 2024 showed a smaller contribution (about $500,000) tied to a potable‑water billing error that staff and utility personnel are working to correct.

The commission was given financial context, operations data and ongoing initiatives. Staff described the course’s design as a links‑style layout built with Paspalum (a salt‑tolerant turf) to accommodate irrigation with recycled/reclaimed water; the greens use a separate grass requiring potable water but account for only about two acres versus roughly 87 acres of other turf. OB Sports described dynamic pricing, a local loyalty…