7-13-22 fdl county rolling meadows golf course future

If a county committee meeting is any indication there doesn’t appear to be much public  appetite to sell or close the Fond du Lac Rolling Meadows Golf Course.  Most of the people in attendance at Tuesday night’s meeting spoke in favor of the golf course, some questioning why this was even being discussed.   An ad hoc committee will be formed to further discuss the matter.  With accrued deficits topping $2.5 million over the years, golf course manager David Brandenburg says he’s still confident the course can at least break even financially.  Brandenburg says the number one reason for the deficits is that green fees have been kept artificially low for several years.  “In my time here, twice, I’ve suggested we raise rates a more substantial amount than the two to three percent we’ve been doing,” Brandenburg said.  “Both times citizen complaints left the committee and county executive to decide we’re not going to go that big.  We just haven’t covered expenses that way.”  Newly elected county executive Sam Kaufman has suggested raising fees,  building a new clubhouse or selling the course as potential options.  Kaufman says the county is reaching a point where continued deficits will result in the accrued deficit exceeding the value of the land.   Brandenburg says quality of life is one of the main reasons the golf course was built in the first place.  “This property use to be the county farm.  They ( county) decided to build the golf course to attract businesses to the new industrial park and it worked,  The industrial park is pretty much full,”  Brandenburg said.  “It’s a quality of life issue and there’s no reason the county can’t provide a golf course for the residents.”