Golfers enjoying Foster Gulch course improvements

The Foster Gulch Golf Course officially opened on April 12. Members and guests visited the course 431 times through the end of April, and more than 100 memberships to the popular local recreation site have been renewed to date. 

The peaceful nine-hole course, named after the creek that runs through it, is managed by an all-volunteer board of 10 local golfers. Board president Tim Winland said the 40-acre property saw many improvements this year, including renovations to the clubhouse interior, like new carpet, epoxy resin countertops and freshly painted cupboards.

In addition to the usual beverages and snacks, the club house now sells T-shirts and sweatshirts and will soon be selling hats with the course logo. It also sells pro golf accessories and hopes to expand these offerings.

Last summer, 12 new golf carts were purchased to be used as rentals, allowing the club to offer 19 rentals this season to those who need them. New this year are several brand-new sets of golf clubs, which are available for rental. Winland said the new clubs are a great addition for people wanting to come out to the course to try the sport before making an investment in equipment.

The course itself has been cleared of trees and tall brush in problem areas to provide more open space around the fairways. Improvements to the bridge over Foster Gulch Creek between fairways three and four include new planking, making much safer passage for golf carts and maintenance equipment using the bridge.

 “Our workers have removed a lot of trees around the edges of the fairways and around the creek so it’s more open,” Winland said.

Winland said much needed repairs to the clubhouse deck are expected to begin within the next few weeks. The board has requested funds from the town for these repairs, but as of this writing, he has not heard back regarding the request.

“The funds haven’t been approved yet, but regardless, we still have to improve the deck because it’s become a hazard,” Winland said.

The golf course was made possible by a group of local farmers who donated their land, time and equipment to make the first five holes playable in 1984. The time and efforts of volunteers, town support and fundraisers have allowed it to grow into the nine-hole course it is today.

“We get people of all ages using the course,” Winland said. “We get a lot of people from here and out of town. People say they really like the small, hometown feel of the course.”

The course is owned by the Town of Lovell, which contributes $30,000 annually to its operating costs and maintenance. The rest of the cost is supported by funds raised through memberships and other income generated through the course operation itself. Extra expenses are paid for through additional town funding and grants.

Winland said the funding from the town is critical for keeping membership and fees down for those using the course. Last season, the course had more than 1,500 visits through the season ending in October. Memberships topped at 129.

The course will host eight tournaments this year, which is about the same number as last year. Winland said the club is expecting to host several private events, as well. He noted that three private corporate tournaments have already been scheduled this season.

It also hosts high school golf tournaments and cross country running events. Winland noted that about 25 high school golfers use the course during their competition season.

“The high school has two seasons in the spring and in the fall, so we’re quite busy during that time,” Winland said.

The course also provides part-time job opportunities for both college and high school students during the summer.

In addition to the ongoing men’s golf league that meets on Wednesdays, a women’s league will meet on Tuesdays at 8 a.m. and Thursdays at 6 p.m.

Winland said discussions are in progress with the Lovell Recreation Department to offer three-day golf camps in the future. 

The board is exploring options for funding a new and improved clubhouse, an automated sprinkler system and other improvements. Ideally, the new clubhouse would be large enough to house two golf simulators, an expanded pro shop and a snack bar with more options than those offered at present. 

“For big improvements like this, we’d have to obviously look to grants,” Winland said.

Winland has been a golfer for about 35 years. He has served on the board for close to 16 years. He said most of the board members are very active in the ongoing efforts to maintain and improve the course.