This morning’s Star Tribune featured a story about the future of the University of Minnesota Golf Course.
Indications are that the university (my alma mater) is pondering whether it should remain in the golf business.
While I certainly don’t want the golf course to go away, I can understand why the question is at least being raised. At one time — back before big high-end public courses dotted the exurbs — the U of M course was a treat to play and was one of the better public courses in the Twin Cities.
Now the ball didn’t travel as far then, the trees on the course weren’t quite as large and I wasn’t as much of a golf course snob.
Right now, the U of M course isn’t in the top 10 public courses in the Twin Cities I would consider playing if I was going to go out and spend some cash money. Actually check that, it might not even be in my top 20. Here are some courses right off the top of my head that would play first: StoneRidge, Troy Burne, Legends, Wilds, Willingers, Chaska, Keller, Rush Creek, Edinburgh, Refuge, Bunker, Baker, Braemar, Deer Run, Elk River, Loggers, Island View, New Richmond and Prestwick.
Basically, I think the U of M course is only slightly better than the Minneapolis and St. Paul municipal courses. It isn’t awful, but it isn’t special.
Am I being fair to the old Les Bolstad? Maybe, maybe not. It has certainly been a long, long time since I played there in the summer. When I’ve played there in recent years, it has been early the season before other places are open. I guess maybe I just remember too many times in the past when conditions have been average or worse and the pace of place has been glacial.
What would I like to see the U of M do? I think they should either spend the correct amount of money to do a renovation the right way or they should shut down the current version and build a really good modern public course when they develop UMore Park in the southern part of Dakota County.
What do I think they will do? I think they’ll keep operating the golf course and if they spend any money, it won’t be enough to really make a huge difference. And then they will wonder why golfers choose to play elsewhere.
Only Golf Matters 
Nice post Jeff. Would be nice to see a certain U of M golf alumni **cough**Tom**cough** get involved and put a little weight behind restoring the course, perhaps donating his design fee a la Pete Dye. I can’t imagine it would sink the University by using a few million in bonds to finance said restoration.
A $19.5 million renovation of the University golf course? That’s crazy, if you ask me!
If the taxpayers of the State of Minnesota and the Regents of the University of Minnesota cannot find a better use for $19.5 million … well, there’s no need to finish that sentence.
Better ideas:
1. Sell most or all of the current course, which will never be good enough to justify that kind of “investment.” Upgrade the driving range and practice area, to serve students and community organizations. Develop partnerships with local public courses, to serve U students who wish to play.
2. Make the course a laboratory in Minimalism — a demonstration project in Sustainable (and Affordable) Golf. How can golf become “greener”? Let’s have the University of Minnesota (a RESEARCH institution, after all) show the rest of the industry, locally and otherwise.
A $19.5 million renovation of the University golf course? That\’s crazy, if you ask me!
If the taxpayers of the State of Minnesota and the Regents of the University of Minnesota cannot find a better use for $19.5 million … well, there\’s no need to finish that sentence.
Better ideas:
1. Sell most or all of the current course, which will never be good enough to justify that kind of \”investment.\” Upgrade the driving range and practice area, to serve students and community organizations. Develop partnerships with local public courses, to serve U students who wish to play.
2. Make the course a laboratory in Minimalism — a demonstration project in Sustainable (and Affordable) Golf. How can golf become \”greener\”? Let\’s have the University of Minnesota (a RESEARCH institution, after all) show the rest of the industry, locally and otherwise.
WordPress.com / Gravatar.com credentials can be used.
Keep your eyes on this and don’t be so sure $19.5 million would come from taxpayers.