Richland, WA
Richland is betting on a new arrangement to ensure Columbia Point Golf Course, the municipal facility that overlooks the Columbia River, operates for decades to come.
The city council approved a 30-year lease deal with Richland Golf LLC, aka CourseCo Inc.
City officials say the long-term agreement ensures the course will be properly operated, maintained and updated by experts in their industry.
CourseCo previously operated the 18-hole course under a series of management agreements.
The new lease puts it in charge for an initial term of 20 years followed by two five-year extensions.
CourseCo, based in Petluma, Calif., operates dozens of golf courses in eight western states and Texas. Municipal courses like Columbia Point are its bread and butter, said Chris Waite, the city’s parks and public facilities director.
Locally, it operates the Columbia Park Golf Tri-Plex in Kennewick and Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.
Its other Washington properties include the Lake Wilderness Golf Course in Maple Valley, Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, Red Wolf Golf Club in Clarkston.
Under terms of the new Richland agreement, CourseCo will pay $155,000 a year in rent, with cost of living adjustments and will dedicate 5% of all revenue to a capital reserve to support ongoing updates and projects.
It will invest $100,000 in capital projects to start. Base rent will be reduced slightly after 2039, after the city expects to retire debt it took out to develop the course.
Columbia Point will remain a public course under the new agreement. CourseCo won’t be able to raise fees by more than 10% without going to the city council for approval. The city will retain ownership of any permanent improvements.
Columbia Point Golf Course opened in 1997 following a controversial and troubled redevelopment of the former Sham-Na-Pum Golf Course.
It features a golf course as well as driving range, clubhouse, shops, café and restrooms. The project was designed by Jim Engh of Global Golf Design in Castle Rock, Colo. Green fees for the first day were set at $18 for 18 holes.
Fees start at $49 for weekday play and no cart and rise to $80 on weekends with a cart.
“I designed the course to look difficult but play easy,” Engh said at the time. “If you choose the proper tee, it is possible for any golfer to have fun.”
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Reporter Wendy Culverwell writes about growth, development and business for the Tri-City Herald. She has worked for daily and weekly publications in Washington and Oregon. She earned a degree in English and economics from the University of Puget Sound.
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