Council considers fate of Thunder Bay golf courses

Thunder Bay city councillors will hear from the city manager Jan.30 about what businesses the corporation should consider getting out of.

As part of a review, the city hired a consultant to study municipally-operated golf courses. The report didn't make any recommendations, but listed the drawbacks and benefits of maintaining or getting rid of the links.

The city paid about $400,000 to operate its three courses in 2010, not including capital costs.

The consultants said closing a golf course would save about $100,000 a year.

Right now, green fees recover between 70 and 85 per cent of the cost.

The report noted that Thunder Bay has too many courses overall, and the market for the sport isn't growing.

But the report pointed out that Chapples had the best cost recovery of the three courses and Strathcona has a debenture for its new irrigation system until 2028. Both are 18-hole courses. The third course, Municipal, is a 9-hole course.