COTTAGE GROVE – Over the past nine years, the Middlefield Golf Course has become a major attraction for Cottage Grove, drawing tourists and revenue for the city.
During a city council meeting on Monday night, public works director Faye Stewart explained some of the improvements the course has seen since his hiring in 2017. He said the gross revenue for the golf course in 2017 was around $265,000. Last year, the course nearly broke $1 million in gross revenue, bringing in just over $999,363 for the fiscal year.
“I was cautiously optimistic that we would break the $1 million mark,” Stewart said.
He also pointed out that Travel Lane County recently visited and discussed tourism draws for the community, and said that 40% of people who come to Cottage Grove are from out of town to visit the golf course.
“It really is a substantial draw to our community.”
Reliable equipment upgrades were needed over the years to keep the golf course in good condition and draw people back. The city made investments in various mowers, a spray wagon, a top dresser, a core harvester, a leaf vacuum, a wood chipper, an aerator, and an irrigation software system.
In addition to equipment upgrades, the course itself has seen steady improvements over the years. Stewart said that just last month, workers improved the landscaping around the entrance sign and the golfer statue. A covered space was created for hosting events. A new tee box for hole number four was built, which moved the course from a par three to a par four.
Stewart brought up the 2024 ice storm and how it essentially devastated the golf course. He said it took crews three months to clean up the mess, but they were reimbursed with support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Also in 2024, the golf course started using a new software called Lightspeed for its point-of-sale system.
The new system lets folks book their tee times online, saving staff members from phone calls and walk-ins.
Stewart said that through Lightspeed, staff can view specific course metrics throughout the day, including how many soft drinks have been sold. On Sunday, 161 rounds of golf were played at the course, generating $6,361 in revenue.
Significant investments have been made in security cameras around the course. Stewart said that if vandalism occurs, there is now a chance that footage will capture the suspect, allowing corrective action to be taken.
Around three years ago, a golf simulator was built and opened year-round for indoor play.
