Pryor Creek golf course posts revenue gains as council debates discounted church memberships

The Pryor Creek golf course reported higher revenues for July and August compared with the prior year, and board members spent more than an hour debating whether to offer discounted group membership rates to churches — ultimately taking no action.

Golf course manager Dennis Bowman told the board the course recorded about $105,000 in July revenue this year compared with roughly $95,000 in July 2024, and projected August would rise from $89,000 last year to about $100,000 this year if weather cooperated. Bowman said paid rounds were up and that membership price increases and higher green-fee sales both contributed to gains.

The course hosted a number of successful tournaments this summer, Bowman said, including the LifeSmart event that grew from 11 to 14 teams year over year. He also outlined capital and maintenance work: reconfiguring the pump station from one large assembly into four smaller, individually serviceable pump units to ease river access for repairs; replacing and improving a number of cart bridges and approaches; and ongoing bunker and turf work.

Why it matters: The golf course is a major revenue generator for the city. Board members repeatedly noted the balance between encouraging broader community use and protecting the green-fee income that funds course operations.

Discussion and membership proposal: A resident who identified himself as representing a church asked the board to allow churches to buy group memberships similar to corporate memberships (which currently allow businesses to list named full-time employees). He said churches could provide lists of verified members and that discounted church memberships would bring additional players and on-course spending.

Board members expressed concerns about administrative burden, fairness and financial impact. Questions included how many church members were already paying full price, who would verify membership, whether offering church discounts would dilute existing membership revenue, and where to draw the line for other civic or nonprofit groups. One board member said corporate memberships were discounted because a corporation often pays the full tab, not because of a different membership category. Another said the golf course depends on about 17,000 paid rounds that support operations and cautioned against discounts that would reduce green-fee revenue.

Outcome: The Park Board discussed the idea but "took no action" on the proposal to recommend council approval of discounted church group memberships. The board asked staff to keep working with proponents and to consider alternative outreach options such as special event days, twilight rates and targeted promotions.

Supporting details: Bowman said the course had converted pump-station hardware to smaller, easier-to-service units and expected improved irrigation reliability. He also said approaches to new bridges were temporarily surfaced with city millings, with plans for fall asphalt or concrete work. Bunker repairs and sand replenishment were underway.

Next steps and context: Board members suggested Dennis and staff consider marketing or limited promotions (for example, a monthly church night or existing twilight rates) rather than creating a new corporate-style membership class. Several members emphasized getting usage and revenue data before making policy changes.

Ending: The board heard the report and debate, recorded no policy change, and asked staff to gather more data and consider promotional alternatives that could increase rounds without risking core green-fee revenues.