Politics & Government

Fate of Normandy Oaks Golf Course Discussed: Close It? Sell It?

The financial viability of the golf course is simply unsustainable, according to City Manager Don Johnson.

Normandy Oaks Golf Course, one of Royal Oak's two nine-hole municipal golf courses, may not open this summer.

City Manager Don Johnson told members of the Royal Oak City Commission he will recommend they approve the closing the golf course this year.

Johnson made his announcement at Saturday's strategic planning session as part of his presentation on parks and recreation goals and planning. The financial viability of the golf course is simply unsustainable, he said.

"If we open, we'll probably have to subsidize it," Johnson said. "The long-term decision we have to make is whether we sell it."

The city manager described golf as a dying sport that is not embraced by the younger generation. 

"The plus is there is probably the potential to bring in from its sale enough to complete everything in our our parks and recreation master plan," Johnson said.

The $6.7 million master plan includes a splash park and community center with a pool, said Stewart Meek, assistant to the city manager.

"It includes pretty much everything people asked for, except for a downtown park," Meek said.

The value of the golf course is somewhere in the neighborhood of $14-18 million, according to Johnson.

"The greater density allowed, the more it's worth," Johnson said.

"If you sell (Normandy Oaks) and the result is world-class municipal parks as a result...that is major," said Royal Oak Commissioner Sharlan Douglas.

Should the city close Normandy Oaks this summer it will have to decide whether or not to maintain it as a golf course or simply keep it from being an eyesore.

The city has a provision in its ordinances that states the land has to be maintained for recreation use, according to the city manager.

"The only way we could do anything else or sell it would be to put it on the ballot," Johnson said.

Mayor Jim Ellison reminded staff that Normandy Oaks is used by Royal Oak High School golf teams.

"When they find out we're going to close it, they are going to be in trouble and we need to be prepared to have an answer," Ellison said.

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