Oct. 7 -- MITCHELL -- A new plan for Mitchell's city-owned golf course is headed back to an advisory board to consider.
The Mitchell City Council, during a budget work session on Monday, Oct. 6, was willing to compromise to get a Lakeview Golf Course project in the proposed 2026 budget. But that plan, which focuses on creating a short course, hit a roadblock.
Council member Dan Sabers initially brought up adding an estimated $1.55 million in course upgrades. When the council became warm to the idea of doing only part of that project, Sabers instead voiced his desire to postpone the whole project another year. Course upgrades include $1.33 million for construction and a revised design fee of $93,100 and a $133,000 contingency while a less expensive course renovation plan, which was solely for a short course to teach kids golf, cost an estimated $1,053,000, fees included.
Council member John Doescher was hesitant to move forward with course renovations and suggested Lakeview start saving money, raise dues, get more rounds played, and increase memberships before planning course renovations and additions.
"You're operating a business," said Doescher, who was a former clubhouse manager at Wild Oak Golf Course. "I have to (know) how am I going to pay for it?"
Council member Jeff Smith liked the idea of breaking phase 3 renovations up into two parts, and supported putting the five-hole course in the 2026 proposed budget.
"I truly think it needs to go together," Sabers said. "Personally, I'm totally OK with putting it off to next year."
Sabers, who is the council liaison to the Mitchell Golf and Cemetery board, was hesitant to speak for the golf board. Golf and Cemetery board president Jeff McEntee could not attend the meeting because he was combining corn. Sabers also is a former clubhouse manager at Lakeview Golf Course.
McEntee told the Mitchell Republic on Tuesday that while he was personally for the short course project in the 2026 proposed budget, the ultimate decision was up to the Golf and Cemetery board, which will meet at 4 p.m Thursday, Oct. 16 at Mitchell City Hall. The board will give Sabers a recommendation to bring back to the council at that meeting.
The short course was a low priority when a renovation wish list was created for Lakeview Golf Course, according to McEntee. But golf participation has grown dramatically in the past few years.
"When we looked at this short course, we saw this as a great opportunity for beginners, especially young kids to have a place to go play and practice where they're not necessarily ready for the big course," McEntee said.
The short course would also provide an opportunity for adults and average golfers to work on their short game, according to McEntee.
The largest expense for the Phase 3 course renovations is the construction of a new five-hole par three course, estimated to cost $900,000, according to Golf and Cemetery Superintendent Jason Gunnare. However, at this estimate with a 7% design fee of $63,000 and 10% contingency of $90,000, the estimated total project cost for the five-hole course is $1,053,000.
Lakeview Golf Course has $250,000 pledged in private donations to the project, with $250,000 pledged in reserve funds, and a potential $186,000 in funds from the preliminary 2026 proposed budget for equipment purchases and a loan repayment to the city that could be allocated toward the project. Even with these funds, the Phase 3 project is short $870,000. If only the short course is completed, the project will need a $317,000 bailout.
In addition to a new five-hole par three course, Phase 3 includes reconstruction of hole No. 14 with pond excavation, new green, forward tees, bunkers and cart path. Additionally, the plan calls for constructing a new green on hole No. 5 and tees on hole No. 4, and reconstruction of the three remaining bunkers on holes No. 7 and No. 9. These renovations come out to about one third of the project cost of the Phase 3 upgrades.
Council vice president Tim Goldammer wanted the course to figure out ways to come up with more funding for the project.
"The juice isn't worth the squeeze right at this time," Goldammer said.
"I can see some negativity here and let's put it off until next year," Sabers responded.