Buffalo Hill outlines long-term facility needs

Cracked asphalt, a frayed driving range and an irrigation system in need of an update are the bane of Jon Heselwood's workday world these days.

But Heselwood, the course superintendent at Buffalo Hill Golf Course in Kalispell, may get some help if the Kalispell Golf Association board gets the nod on Nov. 3.

Voters in the general election that day will decide whether the city of Kalispell should renew the association's lease on the golf course land for another 20 years. The last time it went to the electorate, in 1997, the golf course won 80 percent voter approval.

"For the sixth straight year, we were voted the most popular golf course in the valley," Buffalo Hill's executive director Steve Dunfee said.

With 650 full members and perhaps 65 more playing on punch cards and frequent-player cards, a work force of 45 at season height, and its role, along with the Flathead's eight other golf courses, producing revenue that translates into what he said could be tens of millions of dollars, Dunfee wants Buffalo Hill to stay viable.

Eight years remain on the current lease for the 240 acres owned by the city and operated as a municipal golf course.

Lenders want Kalispell Golf to have longer possession to secure a loan for the $1.5 million to $2 million in projects the board hopes to carry out.

With an annual gross revenue of $2.1 million and $1.8 million in operating expenses, that leaves just $300,000 for capital improvements. Dunfee cited an industry study showing the association should put $500,000 into the course each year.

Since 1993, Dunfee said, the association has put $3.5 million into the course between lease payments and improvements. Of that, he said, 70 percent was related to improvements to the facility and property. Each year, the course puts $150,000 into leaseholder improvements - all coming out of the revenue generated from course operations.

Dunfee lined out the priority list, beginning with the most important:

n Asphalt - approximately $250,000. The main parking lot needs an overlay to fix severe cracks. Other areas such as approaches to the cart storage sheds and some of the cart paths need to be milled out and rebuilt from the base up.

n Driving range - upwards of $1 million. Renovation would include poles, netting, turf, tees and targets. The design could be scaled back somewhat to money available.

"We are losing our chance to do a better job of lessons, seminars' and the like, Dunfee said. The driving range should complement what he called 27 good holes.

"You won't get a return on the investment," he said, "but if you have a $15 million facility you need to bring it up to standard for the expectations of the players and the good of the game."

n Irrigation - about $200,000 over five years. Since putting $500,000 into irrigating the Cameron Nine in 1989, a few pump heads have been replaced. In 2004 an electronically controlled irrigation system started going in, but sprinkler heads and gear drives still need to be replaced. About $200,000 was spent on the project in the last two years.

n Equipment - $80,000 a year. In April this year two rough mowers were replaced, at a cost of $120,000. Dunfee said the course needs a capital budget to replace mowers for greens, fairways, and tees, collars and approaches.

n Erosion control - undetermined. The Stillwater River runs through the championship 18, offering some of the most beautiful terrain but some of the biggest flooding threats. Last year the course spent $20,000 just to sandbag against the rising river. The city of Kalispell is requiring a river management plan by Dec. 31 this year.

n Cart storage sheds - About half the current wood sheds, of 1960s vintage, need to be replaced. A bank of 10 sheds runs about $30,000.

n Cart fleet - All 70 golf carts were replaced last year for $275,000. Regular replacement is a goal.

n Bunker sand - This season, $20,000 barely topped off the bunkers with the white, crystal sand.

n Tree maintenance - A tree management plan to remove dead and diseased trees and plant new trees could run $50,000 a year. Last year, selective management cost $25,000.

n Clubhouse - $15,000 to $20,000. The kitchen needs commercial-grade equipment and code-compliant flooring. Other equipment is on the wish list, too.

n Miscellaneous course equipment - Sand-raking machines, grinders, ball dispenser for the driving range, aeration and top-dressing equipment need to be replaced every five to 10 years. Dunfee said they're not funded now.

Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com