DULUTH — The fact that the city’s public golf operations are expected to end the year nearly $54,000 in the red may not sound exactly like good news. But considering the fact that the city expected to lose $276,000 on golf this year, that performance could be considered at least a small victory.
In other words, Duluth’s public golf program lost about 80% less than what had been projected.
If not for devoting about $108,000 to capital improvements at Enger Park Golf Course, the operation actually would have turned a small profit this year, noted Jessica Peterson, Duluth’s parks and recreation manager. Those capital expenses for new equipment were mitigated, in part, by the sale of older, less-efficient machines.
The performance is all the more remarkable considering that Enger was able to operate at only two-thirds its capacity, as its irrigation system received a total overhaul this year.
Nevertheless, the level of play held fairly steady, slipping less than 1% from last year. Golfers recorded 31,056 rounds in 2024, versus 33,316 the previous year.
The long-term trend for golf is more disconcerting.
In 2015, golfers played 81,059 rounds of golf on Duluth’s two public courses, with the Lester Park Golf Course still in the mix. By the time the city decided to close down Lester at the end of the 2019 season in the face of mounting financial losses, the number of rounds played on municipal courses had dropped by nearly 37%.
Lester’s closure was declared permanent
in subsequent years, leaving the city with just one public golf course at Enger Park.
Despite a resurgence in the popularity of the sport during the pandemic, local municipal golf activity has continued to trend downward in recent years, with 2024’s level of play down more than 60% in the past decade.
Peterson said the 2024 season benefited from an early start due to an unusually mild winter, and a strong October thanks to unseasonably warm weather.
As for the outlook, Peterson said: “We’re optimistic we will see an upward trend in rounds at Enger next year.”
The city projects local golfers will increase their activity slightly to 34,000 rounds in 2025.
Enger will start next year with just 18 holes in play, but Peterson said the city hopes to open all 27 holes by Memorial Day.
The city is investing $7.46 million in a completely new irrigation system that includes a new pond and pumphouse.
Previously, the course’s irrigation ponds were connected to Buckingham Creek, a designated trout stream. Peterson said the new pond will function as a stand-alone reservoir.
Another $910,000 is being invested to
restore Buckingham Creek
with the help of state and federal grants.
Restoration work to a tributary stream on the right side of the 15th hole at Enger Park Golf Course in Duluth as seen Oct. 1. The stream eventually connects to Buckingham Creek on the course.
Dan Williamson / File / Duluth Media Group
“The creek will be fully daylighted and no longer culverted nor passing through the ponds, and our fish habitat will be greatly improved,” Peterson said.
Enger’s new irrigation system seems to have passed its early testing.
Recalling its preliminary run, Peterson said, “We all cried a few tears of joy the first day we turned the new system on and saw it throwing water onto our golf course. We had worked very hard to get to that day.”
Next year, city officials project Enger Golf Course will post a net income of more than $205,000. But $178,500 will go to cover debt repayments associated with ongoing golf course improvements, likely leaving the city with an anticipated modest profit just shy of $27,000.
Peter Passi covers city and county government for the Duluth News Tribune. He joined the paper in April 2000, initially as a business reporter but has worked a number of beats through the years.
