Lago Vista committee advances irrigation design for municipal golf course; staff outline timeline and revenue outlook

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee heard an update that the council has formally awarded the municipal golf-course irrigation design contract to Les Hill and that the irrigation subcommittee met with him by Zoom to reset design targets.

"We've awarded the contract to him," said a committee member who reported the council action, noting the subcommittee once concluded prior targets were incorrect and that the revised targets will produce a smaller, lower-cost system. Presenter (the course professional) agreed with the approach and outlined a tentative timeline: a design meeting is set for Sept. 9, the design must be finalized before an RFP can go out, and procurement could run into February–March with construction mobilization after that. "My my hope is it's done this time next year," the presenter said when describing an optimistic schedule that assumes average design and favorable weather.

The presenter gave detailed operational numbers that informed the budget conversation. He said the club had recorded more than 3,000 rounds in August and forecast an annual total in the high 20,000s to low 30,000s this year, with a 40,000-round target once irrigation is complete. He added that modest green-fee increases and new Monday booking for corporate outings could materially raise revenue once course condition improves. "If we raise it $2 and you're doing 40,000 rounds a year, that's pushing a $100,000," he said.

Committee members and staff stressed the importance of timing: the budget currently shows $910,000 in projected revenue for the coming fiscal year, and whether that target holds depends on when irrigation and repairs are completed. The committee agreed that staged construction (working one or two holes at a time) would allow tournaments and public play to continue during construction; the presenter said the Lions Club and other tournament bookings will be scheduled around the work.

Members also discussed a recurring operational issue: balls from the driving range have occasionally reached adjacent pickleball courts. The presenter recommended a low-cost mitigation—signage asking range users to call out when balls travel toward courts—and said a 100% engineering solution is not feasible within the city's likely budget for that small site. Committee members asked staff to follow up on short-term steps to reduce conflicts.

The committee approved the meeting minutes later in the session and set the effluent-valuation work item and financial-projection streams for upcoming committee work.

Next steps: finalize design details with Les Hill, post the RFP after design completion, and develop a public communication plan and schedule for tournament and course operations as construction timing becomes firmer.