Can Indian Trails be brought up to par?

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - It's bleeding tax payer dollars at a rate of about $100,000 per year. Now, a consultant is offering Grand Rapids officials ideas on how to save the city-owned Indian Trails Golf Course.

Shorten it, spend half a million to fix it up and let someone else help run it were among the suggestions offered by James Keegan of the firm Golf Convergence.

"You've got a great recreational asset," Keegan told the city commission Tuesday.
 
But it's an asset that will cost the cash-strapped city of Grand Rapids a whole lot of money to fix up with hopes of the course self supporting in about seven years.

"We'd like you to invest a half a million dollars in the golf course to build a driving range and convert it to nine holes," Keegan told commissioners.

Indian Trails sits on property some at City Hall, including the mayor, wanted to sell to developers five years ago.
 
"Found out just how much people love that golf course during that period of time," said Heartwell.

Heartwell said no one wants to sell the course now.
 
"No one -- including the mayor. No interest in selling Indian Trails Golf Club," said Heartwell.

So selling the property for say condos or a strip mall, which would generate tax dollars, is off the table.

The consultant's report put the course in the rough, saying the price of running Indian Trails has put the course "...in a death spiral that, without investment, is unlikely to reverse," according to Keegan's report.

The course needs a lot of work. There is water damage on the 15th hole that resembles a huge divot and a bridge that's a bigger hazard than the creek it crosses.

"Look at the liability. Can you imagine if someone drive off that in a cart?" Keegan told commissioners as he showed photos of damage.

The consultant also said the course can be managed more efficiently. Keegan suggested the city take on a partner, like Kent County, to run the course.

L.E. Kaufman Golf Course in Wyoming is county-owned.

Heartwell said he's opened to the idea of partnering with the county.

"Could they be a good partner for the City of Grand Rapids? Absolutely. But we haven't opened that door to that conversation yet," Heartwell story.

No word on when that conversation may tee off.