Jones Golf Course to reopen Saturday

CEDAR RAPIDS - Like an experienced golfer adjusting his swing, city officials hope a retuned business model pays off for Jones Golf Course.

'It certainly is still part of our system,” said Lisa Miller, the city's manager of golf operations. 'This year, it's really important for all of our courses to generate as much revenue and customer satisfaction as possible.”

Closed after flooding last September and initially planned for closure this year, Jones opens at 7 a.m. Saturday, about a month after the city's other courses. Staff restocked the clubhouse at 2901 Fruitland Blvd. SW Thursday afternoon while maintenance workers put finishing touches on the course.

'Looks pretty good,” maintenance worker Rick Arnold said as he groomed a bunker along the fourth-hole fairway. 'I've got to get out and do some golfing.”

The future of Jones was in doubt as recently as last month. The city's budget for fiscal year 2018, which begins July 1, called for closing the course this year. That was key to erasing or at least cutting the golf department's $1.1 million operating deficit. Closures due to repeated flooding of Prairie Creek - 25 times since 2001 - meant Jones accounted for more than $800,000 of the shortfall.

But the City Council voted 7-2 on April 25 to reopen the course. The resolution also eliminated Jones' golf pro and called for city staff to investigate whether operations at the city's four courses - the others are Ellis, Twin Pines and Gardner - should be turned over to private management. Mayor Ron Corbett and council member Justin Shields were the dissenting votes.

To attract more casual golfers to Jones Golf Course, Miller eliminated league and high school play at the course.

'Our other courses just have so many other leagues, it was hard to squeeze people in,” she said. 'We take tee times to honor peoples' schedules, but I'm sure there will be times you can just walk on. It should mean more after-work opportunities.”

Jones' green fees are to be the city's lowest. Eighteen holes start at $19 weekdays ($28 with cart before 10 a.m.), compared to $23.50 ($39.50 with cart) at the city's Ellis and Gardner Memorial courses. Twin Pines also offers 18 holes for $19 for those who walk and $35 with a cart.

Reduced rates are offered at all courses for juniors (17 and under or still in high school) and seniors 62 and older).

'We're hoping to attract not only from the community but from the Corridor,” said Miller. 'It's a really good deal. There are always people looking for that value golf opportunity. That doesn't mean the others aren't a value for what they offer - it's just a different business model.”

Golfers can book tee times at any city owned course at PlayCedarRapidsGolf.com or by calling (319) 286-5588. Miller said staff will refer golfers to the course that meets their schedule.

'If you call Ellis and they have a tournament happening, they can say, ‘Can we get you a tee time at another location?' ” she said.

Named for a former city parks commissioner, Jones Golf Course opened as a nine-hole course in 1959. Nine holes were added in 2001, and the current clubhouse in 2004. The city's four courses have hosted about 100,000 rounds annually in recent years.

Jones Rates

Weekdays

' 18 holes with cart - $28 before 10 a.m., $30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., $25 after 2 p.m.

' 18 holes walking - $19 for adults, $16 for seniors, $11 for juniors. After 2 p.m., rates are $13 for all adults.

' 9 holes walking - $13.

Weekends and holidays

' 18 holes with cart - $35 before 2 p.m., $28 after 2 p.m.

' 18 holes walking - $24 for adults before 2 p.m., $16 for adults after 2 p.m., $13 for juniors.

' 9 holes walking - $16.

Family golfing

'Allows one or two adults - parents or grandparents - and junior players age 6 to 17 - or those in high school - to play unlimited holes after noon on weekends. The rate for families is $17.50 per adult and $5.50 per junior player.