Council hears plan to reopen golf course to 18 holes; staff seeks $1.5M TDA match for maintenance building

Town staff reviewed the golf-course budget and recommended moving to full 18‑hole operations to restore rounds and revenue. The presenter said the draft budget assumes about 22,000 18-hole rounds and proposed a modest rate increase, noting weekend rates could move toward $70 and that the rate change could add roughly $154,000 at that volume.

Why it matters: Reopening to 18 holes is central to revenue estimates and affects staffing, equipment and capital needs. The presenter said increased personnel, chemicals and contract services are required to maintain an 18-hole course and explained specific equipment shortfalls — the course currently lacks a grinder and some heavy equipment needed for proper maintenance.

Grant and capital plan: Staff told the council the course advanced to phase 2 of a TDA application with a July 15 submission deadline and is pursuing approximately $1.5 million in TDA support. The presenter said roughly $1 million of that request is tied to a maintenance building and that about $260,000 in post-storm repairs has been counted toward the local match; the remainder would be funded or matched as part of the grant plan.

Operational details and costs: The presenter outlined part‑time staffing (about 11 employees) and forecast operating costs including aeration (twice yearly), reel grinding, cart repairs and potential capital machinery (airator estimated ~$50,000; a tractor capable of pulling some implements could approach $100,000). The presenter also proposed considering a slight price-point change (e.g., $71 instead of $70) to absorb credit-card processing fees and avoid charging customers directly.

Council questions focused on historic rounds data (presenter cited a pre-storm high of 32,000 rounds across all round types), the conservatism of the 22,000 assumption, and timing: staff said the revised maintenance-building cost estimates will be presented on June 8.

Attribution: Quotations and summaries are attributed to the meeting presenter and council members as recorded in the official transcript; the presenter is represented by the functional label "Presenter" because a formal job title was not clearly stated on the record.

Ending: Council set the budget public hearing for June 15 at 6 p.m. and scheduled follow-up budget meetings to refine rates, processing-fee policy and the capital plan before the grant deadline.