It's a tough decision, but I think the right decision is to keep it a 18-hole course and put it on the national register for what it has done for the community. Minneapolis doesn't need more soccer fields.
With the expense of a re-design, I'd wonder where the funds would come to complete it, if it went that route. With what the park board has done over the past several years, I wouldn't be surprised if they closed it with the plan to make it into 9 holes, then claim there is no money to do so and let it fall into disrepair. They've been voted down several times now and they keep pushing for it. Why can't they respect what the people of Minneapolis want and leave it an 18-hole course?
There are plenty of other places to make a "sweet 9 hole course" for SSG. I believe the old Sawmill/Stillwater Oaks land is still available. As for sustainability, you have to look at what St. Paul did with The Ponds at Battle Creek; it was profitable, had the only lighted range on this side of the metro and they still shuttered it. While a Sweetens Cove-esque 9 holer would be amazing, there is no way the park board would even consider that.
Yeah, if you are going to have a 9 holer do any sort of revenue, there has to be something out of the normal for people to be attracted to it. Winter park in Florida put in 2.1 million dollars into the fun and crazy short game shots, bunkers, and greens to make it super fun. Sweeten's Cove is on a piece of land that allows for space of creativity with each hole. The culture would need to be something that is appealing to hang out in the area as well. Shopping areas, walk ways, it all needs to align for the magic to happen
Nicely written article. Thanks for sharing. Would be a shame to invest this much into something to not have it generate any revenue. However, I don’t think the Minneapolis courses have always been profitable. I remember looking at their revenue reports from 2015-2019, and every course (except the Theo Wirth Par 3) showed consistent losses. So I don’t think it’s true that they out-earn their operating costs. Municipalities don’t have to. There isn’t livelihood on the line for the managers because a muni will almost never go under even if it runs at a loss. I don’t know what the solution for
The golf course is. It’s a crappy situation and I don’t think the park board is as invested in something of this historical significance as it should be. But I do know that if they went the renovation route, that it would take likely 30 years of a well managed golf course to recoup what was spent.
I haven't played there in years, but Hiawatha always seemed to be subject to the whims of the weather, due to poor drainage. Too much rain, casual water everywhere and frequently drown grass. Not enough rain, turf was burned out. A combo of the two, not unheard of in Minnesota, you get a double whammy of poor conditions.
Despite that, as a golfer I agree that keeping it alive as 18 holes is the best option.
It's a tough decision, but I think the right decision is to keep it a 18-hole course and put it on the national register for what it has done for the community. Minneapolis doesn't need more soccer fields.
With the expense of a re-design, I'd wonder where the funds would come to complete it, if it went that route. With what the park board has done over the past several years, I wouldn't be surprised if they closed it with the plan to make it into 9 holes, then claim there is no money to do so and let it fall into disrepair. They've been voted down several times now and they keep pushing for it. Why can't they respect what the people of Minneapolis want and leave it an 18-hole course?
There are plenty of other places to make a "sweet 9 hole course" for SSG. I believe the old Sawmill/Stillwater Oaks land is still available. As for sustainability, you have to look at what St. Paul did with The Ponds at Battle Creek; it was profitable, had the only lighted range on this side of the metro and they still shuttered it. While a Sweetens Cove-esque 9 holer would be amazing, there is no way the park board would even consider that.
Yeah, if you are going to have a 9 holer do any sort of revenue, there has to be something out of the normal for people to be attracted to it. Winter park in Florida put in 2.1 million dollars into the fun and crazy short game shots, bunkers, and greens to make it super fun. Sweeten's Cove is on a piece of land that allows for space of creativity with each hole. The culture would need to be something that is appealing to hang out in the area as well. Shopping areas, walk ways, it all needs to align for the magic to happen
Nicely written article. Thanks for sharing. Would be a shame to invest this much into something to not have it generate any revenue. However, I don’t think the Minneapolis courses have always been profitable. I remember looking at their revenue reports from 2015-2019, and every course (except the Theo Wirth Par 3) showed consistent losses. So I don’t think it’s true that they out-earn their operating costs. Municipalities don’t have to. There isn’t livelihood on the line for the managers because a muni will almost never go under even if it runs at a loss. I don’t know what the solution for
The golf course is. It’s a crappy situation and I don’t think the park board is as invested in something of this historical significance as it should be. But I do know that if they went the renovation route, that it would take likely 30 years of a well managed golf course to recoup what was spent.
Thanks for the comment... good stuff. Very tough situation... our guy Mike says turn it into a sweet 9 holer
I haven't played there in years, but Hiawatha always seemed to be subject to the whims of the weather, due to poor drainage. Too much rain, casual water everywhere and frequently drown grass. Not enough rain, turf was burned out. A combo of the two, not unheard of in Minnesota, you get a double whammy of poor conditions.
Despite that, as a golfer I agree that keeping it alive as 18 holes is the best option.