Although the Gunflint Hills Golf Course greens and tees are covered with snow, those who maintain the course are not idle. Parks Director Dave Tersteeg, Golf Course Manager Mike Kunshier and City Administrator Mike Roth have been discussing equipment and infrastructure needs at the golf course. They hope to keep costs down by purchasing used equipment when they can.
All businesses need to keep investing in maintenance and equipment in order to stay in operation and continue to draw customers. Such is the case at Gunflint Hills Golf Course, owned by the City of Grand Marais.
On December 6, 2011, Parks Director Dave Tersteeg and Course Manager Mike Kunshier presented the Grand Marais Park Board with a list of vehicle, mower, equipment, cart, and infrastructure needs they foresee over the next 20 years. They had met with City Administrator Mike Roth and decided they should start planning for capital replacement needs. They expect the course to need an average of just over $18,000 a year, not including building and grounds upkeep, in capital expenditures.
Most years, the golf course needs some subsidy from other city income, such as the campground or liquor store. Roughly speaking, Tersteeg said, the course makes and spends $150,000 a year. “Every year,” he said, “it comes out about even or just a little short.” One way to fund capital expenditures would be to try to increase income by $10,000 a year and use another $10,000 from the general fund.
Tersteeg suggested that they consider trying to get the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support the course since it is an amenity available to the entire county and brings income from outside the county as well.
Board chair Walt Mianowski said the course is popular with Canadians. In Thunder Bay, people have to wait two or three days to get a tee time at one of their 13 or 14 courses, he said, explaining that Gunflint Hills does not have those wait times and is cheaper for the Canadians than their own courses.
The county has been giving Gunflint Hills about $5,000 a year in support, Tersteeg said. He believed good marketing could increase its profitability. “If [EDA-owned] Superior National gets CCVB [Cook County Visitors Bureau] marketing,” he said, “then we should too.”
The plan recommended by Tersteeg, Kunshier, and Roth included keeping costs down by purchasing used equipment in many cases.
Board member Tracy Benson wondered if the course could save upkeep costs by becoming a “greener,” more environmentally friendly course. Tersteeg said yes, they could let the roughs get a little rougher, use the solar power that will be generated by new panels going up, and do less watering. Kunshier has tried to make this a “wilderness golf course,” Mianowski said.
“More challenging that way?” Benson asked.
“Yes,” Mianowski said. “Mike has done a fantastic job with that golf course.”
How feasible is it to get more people to golf at Gunflint Hills? board member Todd Miller wondered. Kunshier said membership has grown over the last three years, and Tersteeg said they have been marketing the golf course with the campground.
The board took no action on the proposed capital improvement plan.
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