City to keep managing Logan River Golf Course | Government

Daines said eliminating the subsidy for the golf course is still a high priority. Current management will use suggestions from the public hearing and explore other options for reducing this subsidy.

“I personally am not interested in putting the golf course in the general fund,” Daines said. “I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

Daines said it will take a little time for course management to eliminate the subsidy and that there will be routine evaluation over the next few years to see if progress is being made.

Daines said the options for privatization are still on the table if the costs cannot be reduced enough.

Parks and Recreation Director Russ Akina said increasing green fees will be one of the first efforts made to reduce the subsidy.

Akina also said reducing aeration of the course to once a year may also be considered.

“The flip side to that is anytime we do aeration,” Akina said, “most golfers don’t want to play behind that because it takes a little time for the greens to heal. When that happens, golfers go to other courses until the greens heal up enough.”

Although it only takes a few days for the green to heal, Akina said they want to keep those patrons at the course.

Improving marketing efforts and better utilizing social media will also be part of the plan, Akina said.

Akina said he believes the subsidy can be cut in half in the next two years and that it would take closer to four years to completely eliminate it.

Akina said the Parks and Recreation Department is working on a proposal for fee increases that they plan on presenting to the Municipal Council on Feb. 19.

“I think the meeting was a great conversation to have because everyone now is really aware of the situation we have,” Daines said, “and that we need to do something about it.”