Superior National at Lutsen Golf Course Manager Bob Fenwick explains the proposed redesign of the golf course to the EDA board (L-R, seated) Don Davison, Mark Sandbo, Bob Spry. (L-R, standing) Jim Hall, Golf Course Committee Member Marland Hansen, Bruce Martinson.
In an effort to attract more golfers and grow business, some major changes are being proposed for Superior National at Lutsen Golf Course.
Under a current proposal, many holes at Superior National will change, making the course longer, and a new, bigger clubhouse will be built closer to Highway 61.
Superior National Golf Course Manager Bob Fenwick brought a map with the changes to the Cook County/Grand Marais Joint Economic Development Authority (EDA) on Tuesday, October 11.
The new design was the work of Jeffrey Brower, a golf architect employed by Golfscapes Inc. which is located in Arlington, Texas.
Under Brower’s plan a new twoto three story clubhouse would be built and would sit next to the Poplar River and closer to Highway 61 than the current clubhouse.
“We hope by having the clubhouse closer to the highway that we will draw more people in. Not just golfers, but people that might want to stop in for a drink or get something to eat,” said Fenwick, adding that the clubhouse will have 360 degree views of everything, “the lake, the mountain, everything.”
Brower’s plan also calls for a new parking lot with 120 parking spots. The old clubhouse will be phased out when the Mountain Nine course is built.
“Each nine holes would cover more than 3,500 yards from the championship tees,” Fenwick said, adding that golfers often want to play longer courses and 3,500 yards is the benchmark for a longer course.
If money is allocated from the 1 percent recreation fund, construction will be done in three phases. Construction of River Nine would begin in 2012 and be completed in 2013. Canyon Nine is slated for construction 2013-2014 and would be open for play in 2015. There is no current timetable for the development of Mountain Nine.
Before any of that can happen, land for River Holes 4 and 5 and Canyon Holes 2 and 3 must be purchased, leased or donated from Lutsen Mountains ski hill. Mountain Hole 6 (new) and 7, which would be relocated from its current location, would require a subdivision plat change.
Under the current proposal, Golfscapes will provide preliminary design and design development drawings for all existing 27 holes— but they are only bidding to renovate the first 18 holes. The three-year renovation of the golf course is estimated to cost $2.2 million per nine holes. That doesn’t include costs for irrigation intake lines and other things that might come up.
EDA Member Hal Greenwood made a motion, seconded by Mark Sandbo, to hire Brower as the golf course architect based upon the county board accepting the Superior National business plan and Cook County Auditor Braidy Powers giving the green light to use money from the 1 percent sales tax being collected by the county to help fund recreation projects.
Cost for pre-design, preliminary design, design development, and permitting will run $85,000. Estimated travel costs push that figure to $97,500.
“This agreement is extremely standard to the industry,” said EDA Director Matt Geretschlaeger. “But your agreement must be contingent upon finding financing to pay for the service.”
The EDA has also been working with John Waite of Sirius Golf Advisors LLC. Sirius has also put forth a proposal to become managers of the golf course. Currently they are consultants to the EDA and Superior National staff.
“Before we contemplate entering into an agreement with Sirius, first we need to get funds to fix the golf course,” said Fenwick, and he affirmed the idea of bringing in an outside firm like Sirius to manage the course. But, he added, “We have quality people here who certainly could manage the golf course, but in this political atmosphere it might be difficult for them. We might avoid the politics with outside management.”
Jim King, who spoke on behalf of the EDA’s golf course committee, said his group would weigh the alternatives of keeping the course managed locally versus hiring a firm from outside and come back to the board with its recommendation.
The board will hold a special meeting with John Waite and Jeff Brauer on Monday, October 24 and discuss issues and potential contracts and potential conflicts with both of them.
Fenwick said the last day for golf this year is October 24. He commended Mike Davies and his staff for all of the good work that they have done this year. He said the staff and administration received “nothing but accolades from people that played in the recent North Shore Health Care golf tournament.”
Although there have been 585 fewer rounds played this year than in 2010, revenues are up $17,000 from last year, Fenwick said.
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