Golf course implements 20-year capital improvement plan

Keeley Meier

Staff writer

The city of Brandon, which in the process of developing a five-year capital improvement plan, will begin to see changes after the projects are prioritized and approved. The Brandon Golf Course, which has its own CIP, is no exception to forthcoming changes. 

The golf course’s CIP has an estimated 20-year total of $2,943,218. Some of the projects are already underway while others stretch to 2041.

There are 13 projects the council has prioritized:

• Bank stabilization

• Bunker and turf renovation

• Putting green

• Parking lot

• Retaining wall

• Central restroom

• Cart paths

• Maintenance shop

• Driving range

• Updated inside clubhouse

• Well-irrigation

• Pond expansions

• Equipment

Bank stabilizations

Areas of the banks along Splitrock Creek that border the golf course have begun to deteriorate due to flooding. The proposed stabilizations would occur on holes 10, 11 and two locations on hole 13. The last time a bank stabilization was done on No. 13 was in the late 2000s. The CIP projects the construction to begin in January of 2021 with an estimated cost of $377,698.

BGC pro/manager Andrew Bauer said the retaining wall is top priority.

“We’ve known that we’ve had issues with it essentially since the clubhouse was built,” he said. “There’s definitely been a few engineering companies that have looked at it and monitored it and we need to get it taken care of.” 

The tentative plan is to integrate the parking lot needs into this project, Bauer said. And with the final loan payment coming on the 20-year-old clubhouse, eliminating the near $150,000 annual payment frees up money to tackle the CIP list.

“This is something I’m looking forward to getting done,” Bauer said “I’m not looking forward to spending the money on it. I wish we could justify putting money into something that would generate more revenue like a simulator or some sort of clubhouse renovation or driving range renovation. But right now, we need to take care of our bones, our infrastructure.”

Bunker & turf renovation

Due, again, to the 2019 flooding, all bunkers and several turf areas were damaged. According to the CIP, “Kevin Norby and Landscapes Unlimited have already been awarded the construction of the project contingent on FEMA funding approval. We have been working with FEMA for funding since the spring of 2020 and hope to have the project funded through them and done in 2021.” The total projected cost is $978,101.

Putting green

This project would consist of constructing a new putting green between the No. 1 tee box and No. 18 green. This would also improve the cart paths in the area to direct golfers who are finishing on No. 18 around the west side of the green instead of traffic filtering by the No. 1 tee box—which would prevent interference with golfers teeing off there. The CIP states that the current green is not in an ideal location and is too small. The estimated cost is $80,000 with no current estimates for construction timelines. 

Parking lot renovation

With deterioration and drainage issues, the CIP suggests renovations to the parking lot that would include a new drop-off lane, improved handicap parking, new landscape/water detention areas and a new main entrance from Country Club Avenue. The current parking lot was constructed in 2001 when the clubhouse was built with little to no improvements made since then. There are no estimates for a construction timeline yet, but there is an estimated cost of $1,061,900.

Retaining wall repairs

This project would replace the existing retaining wall north of the patio, between the hill and the cart path, as well as widen the cart path, add new railing and renovate the north patio area. Additionally, it would widen the path from the No. 10 tee box to the bottom of the hill. The estimated cost is $738,906 and would ideally be done in conjunction with parking lot renovations.

“This is a safety issue. The longer we have waited on this project, the more worrisome it has been. This area is highly used when we have large golf events for staging carts and can have as many as 50 golf carts and over 100 people in this area at a time. This season we have stopped using it for these reasons and have utilized the parking lot in order to minimize risks associated with having too many people in the area at once,” the CIP states.

Central restroom

The current restroom facility near hole No. 7 has been there since the course opened in 1979 and was damaged by  flooding. The CIP states that it is not an ideal location and is currently non-operational—portable restrooms are being used instead. The proposed project is to build a central restroom west of the No. 3 tee box, at an estimated cost of $433,325 and an tentative construction start in 2021.

Cart paths

Through fundraising that began in 2015, the Brandon Golf Course completed a significant amount of their planned paths from their cart path master plan. They plan to continue fundraising and complete the work themselves.

“The areas remaining are extending No. 1 from the corner of the dogleg, No. 3 green to the No. 4 tee box, No. 4 tee box to connect with the path on the No. 4 green, extend the No. 10 path to the dogleg and add a paved pathway the entire length of No. 12 connecting the current path from the tee to the path at No. 13 tee.”

Maintenance shop

addition

This proposal includes building an addition to the maintenance shed, which was built in the mid-90s, that would feature a chemical room, new work area with lift and a wash bay with a dedicated pit. The 1,600 square-foot addition is estimated to cost $165,000.

Driving range upgrade

This estimated $200,000 upgrade would re-grade, re-align and enlarge the current driving range tee. As long as the course has been in operation, the driving range has never undergone an upgrade. 

“It is currently two-tiered with a large percentage of the tee unusable for hitting golf balls off of, so the re-grading would flatten it out and enlarge it to approximately 90 yards from south to north. The current set up of the tee aims the golfers too far north and towards hole No. 8, so re-alignment into a half-moon shape that aims the golfer to the center of the range from either side is beneficial,” says the CIP.

Clubhouse renovations

The proposed renovations would update the pro shop, lounge and community room areas. The goal is to modernize the lounge with updated flooring, bar area, seating, kitchen flooring and storage areas. The CIP also suggests potentially shrinking the size of the pro shop to utilize the extra space for simulators or a bar addition. The community room updates would include new carpeting, updated style and décor and the consideration of a permanent bar area. 

The current clubhouse was built in 2001 and will be paid off following the 2021 season, according to the CIP. Additionally, “The city made a significant investment in the clubhouse when it was built and it would be warranted to continue to invest in the building, as the city will own it outright in about a year.”

There is currently no estimated cost or construction timeline for these actions.

Wells—irrigation 

There is no description, cost or timeline for this project yet. 

Pond expansion, new ponds

This project would expand the current ponds on holes three, four, five and six. It would also create a new pond between holes one and nine; between 10 and 18; and left of 10. This project would create more water storage for the irrigation system and have the potential to catch more storm water drainage. With an estimated cost of $1,548,565, the CIP states that this is not a high-priority project currently.

Equipment

The total estimate for the equipment is over $3 million and would include pieces of equipment such as Triplexes (mowers), a bunker rake, Cushman Trucksters (industrial utility vehicles), Reelmasters, a core harvester, tractor, blower and golf carts.