Hyland Greens Golf Course

It's puzzling to me that some people want to continue to fight about this. A thoughtful, deliberative process worked. A very good solution has emerged. Here are the details:

• Hyland Golf Course runs an operational deficit of about $300,000 each year. The reasons are many, but the bottom line is that Bloomington taxpayers cover that $300,000 through General Fund dollars.

• Looking for a solution to this money-losing operation, the City Council issued a Request for Proposal to the development community. We asked developers to be creative, to include housing, and to maintain Hyland Greens as a viable golf course. If those criteria were not met to the Council's satisfaction, the Council had the right to reject all proposals.

• The City received four proposals, and none of them met the criteria. In fact, none came close. So the City went back to the drawing board, and city taxpayers (involuntarily) signed up for another $300,000 subsidy to Hyland.

• After some creative problem solving and a determination to get something done, a potential solution has emerged. The City announcement summarized it best:

“The City of Bloomington is exploring a partnership with the nonprofit foundation PGA REACH Minnesota on a project that would bring new life to the game of golf at Hyland Greens Golf and Learning Center and the region.

The two parties are interested in formalizing discussions to commission a nationally recognized golf course design firm, Nicklaus Design, to potentially “re-imagine” the existing Hyland Greens course, driving range and outdoor practice facilities and attract golfers to Bloomington and the region. The plan would construct a new building that would house several golf organizations, serve as a new clubhouse, event center and home of the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame, and include a classroom and indoor golf training areas.

The golf course would operate under PGA REACH Minnesota, which would allow for year-round programming. The course would be redesigned to accommodate people of all abilities and include special reduced rates for Bloomington residents.”

Bottom Line:

• Hyland is not being sold and developed.

• There will still be golf at Hyland with reduced rates for Bloomington residents.

• This is potentially a very good way to keep Hyland open and save the $300,000 that Bloomington taxpayers pay each year to cover Hyland's operational shortfall.