Commissioners get a look at Superior National recommendations

To help them decide how to proceed with management and improvement of Superior National Golf Course, the county board hired a golf course consulting firm. Sirius Golf Advisors have now presented the board with their evaluation. Most of their improvement recommendations carry big dollar signs.

Sirius presented three scenarios to the board and their recommended choice would spend $4.5 million and course improvements -- $161,000 on the clubhouse plus $30,000 for extras. Of the total $4,724,000 price tag, $1,800,000 would come from one percent sales tax money requiring financing of $2,924,000.

The consultants feel Superior National is being managed more as a municipal course rather than fulfilling its potential as a resort quality facility, thereby limiting its potential for greater income. Sirius calls for a larger budget for marketing, improvements in greens, bunkers, irrigation, tees and fairways, the clubhouse and basic course design. What Superior National does have, they say is great view and location.

According to Commissioner Bruce Martinson, the consultants are recommending a smaller, not larger, course.

“They recommend going from a 27 hole to an 18 hole course. We’re at 27 and of course maintenance expenses would drop way down. They thought it was more important to have 18 holes of higher caliber than 27 holes that are just so-so.”

A big concern for the county and the Economic Development Authority has been proper course management. Here the consultants had a strong recommendation. An outside third party company should manage Superior National and it should have no connection with local interests.