Council OKs golf-course upgrade
The Kalispell City Council unanimously approved a $600,000 upgrade of the city golf course Monday, but not before asking for consideration of North Main Street neighbors.
Buffalo Hill Golf Course will proceed with design plans for an improved driving range and tweaking of the Cameron nine-hole course.
The council generally liked the plans but requested the golf course management work with residents who live off North Main Street to offer some protection from stray balls.
Richard Kuhl spoke during public comment and complained about golf balls causing damage to his home over the years.
Kuhl detailed a recent incident in which a golf ball broke the rear window of his vehicle. The repair cost $900 and he paid the $500 deductible. For the first time the golf association contributed $250, he said.
Kuhl said he has had three car windshields, a roof vent and house windows broken.
The stray balls apparently are coming from golfers on hole No. 7 on the Cameron course, which the management wants to redesign by moving the tee box slightly forward and to the east. Another option being considered involves replacing some dying birch trees with some younger trees along the right side of the No. 7 fairway.
In response to a question about whether the city could restrict design of the course, City Attorney Charlie Harball said the council should not try to “micromanage” the golf course.
Mayor Tammi Fisher asked golf course General Manager Steve Dunfee and President Doug Kauffman to “meet with residents on North Main and try to come up with an agreement ... go slow until the folks along North Main are satisfied.”
Dunfee said the revision of the driving range is needed because the current one is “very, very small.” The golf course will revamp the current No. 1 and 9 holes on the Cameron 9 course to make the driving range bigger. Additionally the space used for the No. 6, 7 and 8 holes will be changed into the No. 6, 7, 8 and 9 holes.
Council member Randy Kenyon said he has played the Cameron 9 course and thinks the public will like the revisions when they are complete.
Dunfee said the work could start immediately and be finished by spring 2012.
Harball noted that the city is not paying for the upgrades, which will come from user revenue.
Buffalo Hill’s Championship 18-hole course is slated to host the state amateur tournament next year unless the Montana State Golf Association decides to select another venue due to the improvement plans, Dunfee said.
He said this could happen because the driving range would likely be under construction at that time.
Reporter Caleb Soptelean may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at csoptelean@dailyinterlake.com.