… but more investment is needed
Good news often comes with a cost.
After telling the Jefferson city council that “things are going good so far this year” at the Jefferson Community Golf Course, manager Micah Destival asked for approval of the purchase of a new well pump for the irrigation system there.
According to Destival, he had hoped for 25 new season pass holders for the 2016 season. There are already 31, and he thinks 40 may be possible. There are more than 100 season pass holders, despite having 10 of the regular league players on hiatus this season for health reasons. He is particularly pleased to see young golfers spending a lot of time at the course.
The wet April has cut into playing days. There have been 13-15 fewer golf days this year than at the same time last year, but the amount collected in greens fees is the same. Also, there are already more events booked in the clubhouse than were held during all of 2015, he reported.
Improvements to the course have been done as well. A bunker has been added midway down the fairway on Hole 6, the hole closest to Highway 4, and work has been done on the pond between Holes 2 and 3 to beautify it and reduce odor and mosquitos, Destival said.
The next agenda item was approval of a new well pump at a cost of $19,250. Destival said the pump now serving the irrigation system only delivers 50 psi in water pressure. That’s enough to water greens and tee boxes, but not the fairways. Watering fairways requires 95 psi, he said.
The purchase from a golf course irrigation company in Des Moines was approved by the council. The cost will come from the city’s local option sales and service tax (LOSST) fund.
