The Golf Course Association entered discussions with the City of Babbitt to improve the course and its offerings at a council study session on Tuesday.
The clubhouse has “probably outlived its lifespan,” said Don Negley, a former Babbitt mayor and council member who is affiliated with the Golf Course Association. The building has been around for decades and the floor has even begun to soften.
The association has “done a lot of improvements to extend the life of the building,” and although it might not fail “tomorrow or next year,” Negley said, it’s worth beginning to plan now for its replacement within the next three to five years.
“We all know how construction goes. It takes a period of time in order to make that happen,” Negley said.
A new building would better accommodate wedding receptions, family reunions and other annual bookings. Additionally, the project could present even broader opportunities for the city to grow economically.
If the clubhouse were moved to the northeast end of the golf course, said Negley, the city could connect the property to water and sewer via the Junction and begin selling off lots along the east end of the golf course.
“We have a tendency to be a community of retirees. Babbitt is one of the nicer communities up here, and having the availability to build on a golf course — in most areas, it’s been far and away the faster way to get people to develop real estate,” Negley said.
“Years ago, I was down in Anoka. There was this golf course that was put out in the middle of nowhere,” Negley said. “Unbelievably, the lots around there developed in no time. And even the lots that were off of the course sold because people had access to that course from a number of different points.”
He estimates the city could generate up to $800,000 from sales if they were to plat and sell 32 quarter-acre lots for $25,000 each, a plan which would also mean greater tax revenue from the new residents.
“We can make (the course) one of the nicest nine hole courses in the state. That’s what our goal should be, to be the best nine hole golf course, and play it off so when people go over to Giants Ridge and they spend their 18 or 36 holes, whatever they do over there, and they want to come to a very nice golf course that’s not going to rob their pocketbook, they come to Babbitt. Not to Hoyt Lakes, not to Ely, but to Babbitt,” Negley added.
The land also presents an opportunity for growth in winter tourism.
“I’ve heard a lot of positive comments from people about cross country skiing, out at the golf course and out at the trails, and that’s something that just kind of gets overlooked, and it’s really a huge asset,” said Negley. “I can imagine somebody going out and skiing in the morning and then going in and having a cup of coffee or a Danish.”
The council and the Golf Course Association tossed around several thoughts on potential funding pathways, including grants from IRRRB, the Small Business Administration, and others.
“I mean, I just Googled for two seconds and got like five different places that offer cities grants for golf courses, up to $350,000 that are matching. So there’s different avenues we can look at,” said council member Joe White.
The city will tap into its recently approved contract with the Community Economic Development Associates for consulting purposes on how best to move forward with the project ideas.
