Efforts fail to keep Municipal Golf Course open

Members of a committee set up to study options for Thunder Bay's Municipal Golf Course left no stone unturned in their effort to keep the golf course open. But it was to no avail, and the current season will be the last for the course.

The city's other two courses, Chapples and Strathcona, will remain open next year.

The minutes of the meetings held by the Municipal Golf Advisory Committee earlier this year show how far some members were prepared to go to keep the course from closing.

Their ideas ranged from renting out the clubhouse to reducing maintenance of the greens and fairways.

Jules Tupker was on that committee, and he thinks golfers would have supported a leaner operation.

"A lot of the golfers are saying, 'You know what, if we want country club conditions... then we'll have to pay for that obviously. But, we're prepared to have something less." Tupker said.

The committee also discussed improving the food at the concession stand.

The hope was that more golfers would stick around for a meal or a drink, adding to the revenue stream.

But the committee's ultimate recommendation -- to keep green fees down -- was rejected last month by city council.

So this will be the last season for Municipal. Starting next year, its fairways won't be cut at all.