Golf Driving Range
The Driving Range is currently open.Golf Driving Range
Tuesday through Friday
11:00 a.m. 'til 7:00 p.m.
Weekends
9:00 a.m. 'til 5:00 p.m.
Closed Monday
$10/bucket of balls (last bucket sold 30 minutes before closing).
Golf Course Update
Status of the Park’s Three Golf Courses
City Park has offered golfers affordable golf in a variety of courses for more than 100 years. For much of that time the Park has also been the home of a variety of professional and amateur tournaments. The Park’s golf complex includes three courses, a 100 stall driving range, golf clubhouse and a variety of support buildings. Not only was the Park committed to the play of golf but we relied heavily on it for revenue to maintain many areas of the Park besides the complex. For many citizens, City Park was synonymous with golf. And then came Katrina...
The North, East and West Golf Courses at City Park have been closed since they were severely damaged during the Hurricane. The courses were under between three and eight feet of water for almost a month, resulting in the loss of all golf equipment and significant damage to every golf building. The damage necessitated the lay off of all golf staff. We were able to reopen the golf driving range in March 2006 even though the main building remains damaged.
Efforts to Reopen Golf Courses in City Park
In order to address the damage to the courses, the Park initially sought the assistance of the golf organizations, including the PGA and the United States Golf Association. The Park then sought the assistance of over 50 companies that provide golf equipment and supplies. In other parts of the Park, organizations such as the United States Tennis Association and individual sports stars such as Saints running back Reggie Bush provided grants and donations to restart facilities in those sports. Unfortunately, only Par Aide and the Club Car companies were able to provide any financial or donation assistance for golf.
While continuing to seek private aid, the Park has diligently pursued its golf damage claims with FEMA (which has the obligation of restoring damaged public facilities to their pre-Katrina condition). However, this general commitment is balanced against the Stafford Act (the Federal law governing recovery efforts of the Federal Government) which identifies activities which are eligible and not eligible for reimbursement assistance. The Park made an initial claim for damages to the three courses (not the buildings or golf equipment, which are the subject of separate claims) at approximately $4.0 million. FEMA’s initial estimate of eligible damage was $350,000. To date, three different damage estimates have been calculated and given to FEMA to evaluate.
In March of 2007, a representative of the USGA inspected the courses and issued a report on their damage. The State retained an additional consultant (a golf course architect) to perform another damage assessment. The local FEMA team is now in the process of submitting its recommendations on the North Golf Course damage to its Louisiana State policy team for review. Once approved by FEMA, the scope of work identified as being eligible for reimbursement under the Stafford Act will serve as a template for damage claims to the East and West Courses. The Park expects a final determination on damage to the courses by the end of the summer. Once this occurs, the Park will then be able to determine how much of the damage FEMA will repair and how much will remain to be paid for by the Park. Unlike private golf clubs, which had private insurance to repair their courses, the Park must depend on the Public Assistance Program to provide for those repairs. It should be noted that the Park did have property damage and business interruption insurance through the State. That insurance, however, has not been available to the Park because of the large number of claims made on it from throughout the State. Once the Park knows how much FEMA will pay for the repair of the courses, the Park can then determine a business plan to repair and operate the courses. The Park cannot afford to begin a plan for golf which will result in substantial un-reimbursed start up costs or substantial operating losses on any or all of the courses.
Master Plan funding for Golf at City Park
Prior to the storm, City Park had adopted a $115 million dollar Master Plan for the entire Park which included over $20 million in golf course improvements, beginning with a complete renovation to the East Golf Course. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the Park applied to the State for capital funding for the first phase of the plan. While the storm obviously required the State to scrutinize its capital priorities, the State Bond Commission did approve in March of 2007 $6.2 million for renovations to golf. Once FEMA approves a scope of work on the golf course damages, these funds may be considered along with the State’s funding to develop a complete repair and improvement program.
The Fore!Kids Foundation and its partners have suggested an approach to redevelop golf at City Park by combining private and public funds to completely renovate the golf complex and then privately managing the courses, paying the Park an annual “rent” and other payments. The Fore!Kids plan also involves a redevelopment of the St. Bernard housing area through a public-private partnership. The Fore!Kids plan could result in a significant re-arrangement of the courses and the support buildings such as the clubhouse and driving range as well as reducing the courses from three to two eighteen hole courses and a nine hole First Tee course. The Fore!Kids concept is one approach that will be considered in reopening golf in the Park. The Fore!Kids plan, however, is complex and there are many issues the Park and public must consider in connection with it. Other approaches to improving the golf complex include pursuing the original plan for a phased renovation program beginning with the East Course, as well as the consideration of a variety of management options. Again, knowing definitely what part of the damage FEMA will pay for is crucial to making any determination about golf.
Summary
The Board and staff of City Park are committed to reinstituting golf in the Park in a way that substantially upgrades the courses, provides a range and variety of golf experiences and provides for their operation and maintenance as a first class public facility of which we all can be proud. The Park expects that the decisions necessary to this commitment will be possible in late summer and early fall of 2007. We are open to any and all suggestions that will help us attain our objective and appreciate your patience and support. We will continue to provide updated information in this page.
