Yoakum City Council talks subpar golf course conditions

  • The green on hole seven at the Yoakum Municipal Golf Course is sparse with grass.
    The green on hole seven at the Yoakum Municipal Golf Course is sparse with grass.
  • The replacement of the golfing greens at the Yoakum Municipal Golf Course will be discussed at the May 10 Yoakum City Council Meeting.
    The replacement of the golfing greens at the Yoakum Municipal Golf Course will be discussed at the May 10 Yoakum City Council Meeting.

    Several Yoakum Golf Association (YGA) members discussed the worsening conditions of the turfgrass on greens at Yoakum Municipal Golf Course and options for replacement at last Wednesday’s special city council meeting. 

     

    Assistant Director of Public Works Greg Miears explained that the quality of the golfing greens had been subpar since Winter Storm Uri in February 2020 and discussed the costs associated with replacing the turfgrass. The council tabled action on the agenda item until May 10 to allow staff to collect information from nearby golf courses on their greens replacement processes. 

     

    The meeting began with YGA President Patrick Matusek addressing the value of the golf course as a city asset and the poor greens' impacts on the course's quality. 

     

    “I think it’s a huge asset to the city. It was a top 25 golf course before the freeze, and I think it’s something the city shouldn’t want to lose. We want to keep it…” said Matusek. “We try to be patient about it, but to see our golf course go from one of the best in the state to having this winter kill it has been pretty frustrating for a lot of people.”

     

    Miears discussed one company he had talked with about planting and replacing the greens, though the grass would require costly upkeep with equipment that the company wouldn’t provide. City Manager Kevin Coleman estimated the cost of their service to be around $27,000 without the additional funds Miears predicted would be required. 

     

    Coleman explained to the council that the funds for the project would likely come from the remaining money of the first allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which was about $53,000. 

     

    Councilmember Glenn Klander added that the bathrooms at the course were also in poor condition and could benefit from remodeling.

     

    “I do (have) to remind you guys that we lose about $200,000 at the golf course every year. If it’s meant to be a money-making position, we will never get there,” said Coleman. 

     

    Although Council tabled the item until May’s meeting, Coleman said that June was typically the ideal month for turfgrass replacement.