Owasso Public Golf Authority hears annual golf operations report; approves consent agenda

The Owasso Public Golf Authority received its annual operations report from manager Corey Byrd and approved the consent agenda during a regular meeting. Trustees recorded unanimous approval of the consent agenda.

Byrd told trustees the course recorded 41,798 rounds last year and pointed to the renovated greens completed in 2021 as a factor in the increase. "We renovated greens in 2021. So you see a little dip there. But that was the impetus, I think, for where we got to 41,000 rounds," Byrd said.

The report highlighted several ongoing maintenance and capital items. Staff are arranging repairs to the pump house that supplies irrigation across the property; Byrd said the facility contains two pumps and motors that are removed through the roof for refurbishment. He also said an inlet into the pump was missing a grate and was allowing debris — described in the meeting as "fish bones and turtles" — into the intake, causing operational problems.

Byrd described a drainage project on Hole 12 to address chronic wet conditions on that hole. Contractor Fleetwood Services won the bid and completed sodding work; the hole was being played temporarily as a par-3 while the work finished. Byrd said the new channel is designed to slow water flow and be maintained as grass so players can retrieve balls if needed.

Tournament bookings for 2025 are full, Byrd said, and membership is likewise at capacity. He described the tournament scheduling approach: "We typically only schedule tournaments on mornings, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday," which lets the course run backward-shotgun starts and resume regular play the same day, he said. Byrd said the recent greens and course demand help explain the tight booking, and that a recent rate increase drew little complaint.

Byrd introduced the authority's new food-and-beverage manager, Kelly Erickson, who began work the week before the meeting; Byrd said Erickson previously worked at Wausau Golf and Athletics. He also acknowledged irrigation technician Jeffrey Dugan for on-the-ground turf work during a severe winter period the report characterized as unusually challenging but survivable due to cover practices.

During the meeting the authority approved the consent agenda. The motion to approve was seconded and recorded votes of "yes" were entered for Walter, Bonebraich, Dunn, Loving and Couje, resulting in approval.

There were no formal new directives or ordinance-level actions recorded during the golf report discussion. The authority moved on to other items and adjourned after official notices and new business were handled.