U of M seeks lease deal for aging golf course.

Byline: Brian Johnson

University of Minnesota officials hope to lift the aging Les Bolstad Golf Course out of its figurative sand trap with help from an outside partner.

Through March 27, the U of M is accepting proposals for an "external entity" to operate the 18-hole course at 2275 Larpenteur Ave. W. in Falcon Heights. The selected partner would operate and invest in the course in exchange for a long-term lease.

Under the lease deal, the partner would continue to run the property as a golf course and driving range, accommodate the U of M's varsity golf and cross country running programs, and keep the course affordable and open to the public.

"Our priority is to eliminate capital investment and ongoing operating subsidies," according to a U of M request for proposals. "Ideally, the university would receive ongoing revenues from the selected partner."

As far as the U of M knows, no other Big 10 or university golf courses have pursued this method of "third-party management," U of M public relations director Jake Ricker said in an email.

The course, built in 1928, has seen its better days. The property's 40-year-old irrigation system is "nearing the end of its lifespan," and the 88-year-old clubhouse has been shuttered since 2012, the RFP says.

Ricker said the clubhouse is in a state of "disrepair." A clubhouse renovation could cost "anywhere from less than $1 million to $4 million or more," and the estimated cost of updating the irrigation system is $1 million to $1.5 million.

"The price tag ultimately depends on the plan," Ricker said.

In recent years, the university has considered "a variety of scenarios" to address the capital improvement needs at the golf course, he said.

"There are going to be infrastructure challenges in years to come for that property, and they will need to be addressed in the near future," Ricker said.

Even so, Les Bolstad is a "historic course" that could benefit from a partnership going forward, he said.

"We are looking in this case for someone to bring experience in terms of increasing the efficiency...

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