KALISPELL, Mont. — Kalispell City Council is considering whether to extend the lease of the Buffalo Hill Golf Club to keep it open at least another 25 years.
The club is located in Kalispell on 200 acres of land and was founded in 1918. Amenities include a restaurant, clubhouse and 27-hole course.
Steve Dunfee is the general manager of the club and is looking to extend the current lease. He has been through three different renewal processes in his 35 years of working there.
“This will be the third renewal I have been involved with,” said Dunfee. “In ’97, and now we’re moving up to ’29 renewal, and we want to get it done.”
Kalispell City Council held a work meeting Monday night to discuss the potential lease extension. It would increase the current lease that is supposed to end in 2029 to 2049, if passed.
Some members of the council see the golf course as an economic driver.
“The Labor Day tournament is coming this weekend,” said Kalispell City Council Ward 1 member Sandy Carlson. “Again, hundreds of golfers come from all over and they stay in our hotels, and they eat in our restaurants, and if you can’t say that’s a benefit to the city, I don’t know what is.”
Dunfee says upcoming projects will enhance golfers’ experience.
“We have all kinds of things going on,” said Dunfee. “Cart path replacement, park lot replacement, all kinds of projects that total up to $10-11 million.
Buffalo Hill Golf Club’s main reason for the extension of the lease is so they can do their biggest project. The club plans to replace all the main water lines and heads throughout the facility, which is estimated to cost $6 million.
“It’s expensive and requires a lot of work, but it will also add to that lease that we need to renew,” said Dunfee.
Buffalo Hill Golf Club does not receive any financial help from the city. All funds come from Kalispel Golf Association revenue and private donations.
“The course is in great shape for the future, and it’ll be a great place to continue to enjoy,” said Dunfee.
Kalispell City Council will vote on the extension once information is received about community benefits from the course.