Minnesota: Feedback opportunities for municipal golf
Published: Wed, 09/21/22
GRA NOTE: Over the almost 40 years in the business, I've seen the questions of golf courses regularly cycle through our dialogue. Are they an enterprise or are they an amenity? How many municipal courses are REALLY running 'in the green'? Are all the costs considered, such as original land acquisition, debt, administrative support, etc. How many are tax-payer subsidized and to what extent? What management/pro models make the most sense? Should a golf course (aka a city park, sell alcohol)? Hmmm, what is the demographic of golfers and how do the taxes they pay (after freezes, exemptions, etc.) compare to the cost of the service? This community in Minnesota is soliciting community input.
Feedback opportunities for municipal golf
KIMT3.com
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Rochester Parks and Rec department is holding public engagement sessions for feedback on potential future golf courses
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Rochester residents are invited to attend engagement opportunities throughout the week to give feedback and ask questions about the future of municipal golf in the city.
The open house events - or listening sessions - are being held to get feedback from the golf community to find out more about where they want to see their golf courses go.
The events are being held at the four Rochester golf courses, to meet the golfers in their natural habitat.
"We have been running a deficit in golf," said Rochester Parks and Recreation Director Paul Widman. "We are subsidized by the residents of Rochester through the tax levy and because of ongoing maintenance needs, we've been going in the red on top of that subsidy. That's the issue we are trying to resolve. We need to talk to golfers about what they're willing to contribute as far as fees and charges of the courses."
Widman said one proposal was to repurpose or shrink the golf courses in order to use less operational money.
This proposal would focus the money on a smaller-scale golf program. The golf community has pushed back, and that proposal is still on the table.
City Council feedback so far is pointing in the direction of golf staying how it is with four courses in Rochester.
These listening sessions are to gauge how the community is feeling about these potential cost changes.
"We have been running a deficit in golf. We are subsidized by the residents of Rochester through the tax levy and because of ongoing maintenance needs, we've been going in the red on top of that subsidy. That's the issue we are trying to resolve. We need to talk to golfers about what they're willing to contribute as far as fees and charges of the courses," said Widman.
The listening sessions are open to anyone. The first one is Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon at Northern Hills Golf Course.