HomeMy WebLinkAboutJan. 30 Golf Meeting
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications & Technology Services Director
Phone 952-833-9520 • Fax 952-826-0389 • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City to host meeting about future of municipal golf operations
Edina, Minn., Jan. 17, 2014 – The City of Edina on Thursday, Jan. 30, will host a meeting about the
future of municipal golf course operations in the community. The meeting will be held 7 to 9 p.m. at
Braemar Golf Course, 6364 John Harris Drive.
The City’s golf enterprise is projected to have lost more than $400,000 in 2013, marking the fourth
consecutive year the enterprise ended the year with an operating deficit. The City’s view of the
financial future for municipal golf in the community is not very bright, as the recently approved 2014
and 2015 budgets for the golf enterprise project annual financial losses of $205,374 and $129,982,
respectively.
“While it is demonstrably true that changes in the public’s relationship with the sport of golf and the
changes in the climate and weather are impacting the financial operations of our golf enterprise, it is
no longer acceptable to ignore those impacts by failing to adjust to them,” said City Manager Scott
Neal. “We must collectively acknowledge that our past operating practices and customs at the Edina
golf enterprise are no longer effective in achieving operational or financial success. We have studied
the operations of our golf enterprise. We have reviewed and discussed ideas for change. The time
for devising and implementing a plan for change is now. It simply can’t wait any longer.”
At the meeting, City staff will introduce plans to reduce operating costs and increase operating
revenues for the golf enterprise, which includes operations at Braemar Golf Course, Fred Richards
Executive Golf Course and the Braemar Golf Dome. Under the plan, new net revenues would be
reinvested into capital improvements at Braemar Golf Course to attract new golfers. Those in
attendance will then be asked to provide feedback on the plans.
After the meeting, staff will carefully consider the feedback given by residents and golfers and
contemplate adjustments to the plans before presenting them later this winter to the Park Board and
City Council.
For more information about the meeting, contact the Parks & Recreation Department, 952-826-
0367.
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