Remake Jones Golf Course

The Gazette Editorial Board

It seems to us that Jones Golf Course has used up its mulligans.

For the second year in a row, Prairie Creek spilled from its banks to flood the course's back nine holes, so that half of the course will be closed for the rest of the season. The city must spend $13,000 to make the repairs necessary to reopen the full 18-hole course next year.

This has become a frequent occurrence. Last year, city officials considered, but then shelved, a plan to transform the course to nine holes with a training academy course and driving range. It was designed to end the course's costly flood-close-repair cycle.

But officials concluded that golfers wanted it left as it is. The creek, however, has once again made its opinion known. We think the plan should be dusted off and implemented.

Jones is a great course, but it makes little sense to ignore the threat of and costs of frequent flooding. Although $13,000 isn't a massive sum within the scope of the city budget, it is real money, especially for a golf system struggling to achieve self-sufficiency. And it's wasted money, because it's only a matter of time before the creek swells again.

Some golfers will be unhappy with the decision, but Jones still will be a great municipal course once it's remade. It also will be a better deal for the city's taxpayers.

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