City of Rochester staff, as well as a representative from survey provider Morris-Leatherman will present the feedback gathered from the community engagement process and provide a recommendation for consideration on a sustainable municipal golf course funding strategy to the Park Board. This will take place during the Park Board meeting on November 1, 2022. It will be held in the Community Room at the Development Services & Infrastructure Center (4001 West River Pkwy NW, Suite 100) and begin at 4:30 p.m.                                                            

The City Council adopted a resolution in the early part of 2022, which asked for the exploration of three different ideas. The recommendation from the City team would be to maintain all four municipal courses and adopt a $500,000 funding strategy via a shared model of an increase in golf fees and tax levy dollars. The $500,000 annually would provide $100,000 in annual operations, split across the four courses, and $400,000 for Capital Improvement Projects, also split across the four courses.

• The proposed increase to golf season pass fees would be a 20% in 2023, 14% in 2024, 12% in 2025 and 3% in 2026 and 2027.
• The proposed increase to the daily rate would be a 10% in 2023, 8% in 2024 and 3% in 2025-2027.
• The tax levy that would be requested would be $250,000 annually and, if adopted, would be a part of the 2024 budget.
• The regular golf season pass would go from $795 dollars for a single adult to $954 for 2023.By 2027, the annual cost would be $1,292.
• The walking adult daily rate at Soldiers Field Gold Course would go from $32 to $35 for 2023.By 2027, it would be $37.10
• The season pass would continue to provide golfers the opportunity to golf at any of the four municipal courses an unlimited amount.

Paul Widman, Director of Parks & Recreation shared, “We thank the community, especially the golfers, for the time and energy they have provided during this process. The recommendation being proposed for the Park Board’s consideration is one that we believe is inclusive of the community feedback we received and ensures there is a sustainable way to support all four municipal courses.”

The community engagement activities that occurred included a Public Hearing held by the Park Board, Open House events at each one of the four municipal courses, a randomized sample telephone survey conducted by Minnesota provider Morris-Leatherman and an opt-in digital Polco survey.

The meeting material can be found here. The City Council is scheduled to receive a similar presentation during the City Council Study Session on November 28, 2022. The Study Session would not include any formal action by the City Council. A recording of the Park Board meeting will be available via the City website the following day.