City-Owned Golf Courses

City-owned Golf Courses

The city-owned golf lands are once again threatened by both large and small scale development.

There are currently two serious threats to the golf course lands

Plan to Repurpose Golf Lands approved in 2020 Budget - Report due May 2021.
City planning documents - OurWinnipeg 2045 and Complete Communities enable ad hoc development on all of city's large greenspaces over 25 year vision - Draft due January 2021 Read More ...

The golf lands are zoned PR (park land) and are not intended for development. The Winnipeg Charter has special protection for PR land that requires a two thirds vote of all of Council protecting it from disposed

Threat to golf lands!
City is seeking proposals for a plan on how to re purpose the public golf course lands. Development on golf lands is an option.

Bids due March 11, 2021
Final report due late May 2021.

We see the Sam Katz plan to sell city golf course lands revived as part of the proposed Re purposing Golf Lands Plan and the Transformative Fund as approved in the 2020 City Budget.

Development on parts of or on entire golf courses is an option for this plan. Golf lands are zoned park land and are part of Winnipeg's greenspace and natural heritage.

Winnipeg at 6% is below average in the amount of city area that is park land compared to 9% average of Canadian cities. The city needs more greenspace not less.

The city's 12 publicly owned  golf courses are zoned parkland, and comprise less than 1% of total city area.

The City of Winnipeg Multi-year Budget passed on March 20, 2020 by City Council approved a Transformative Fund and a Report for Re purposing  up to 30% of Golf Lands. Winnipeg does not need another fund.

The new fund  will be supported from the sale of assets deemed surplus to the City's needs such as golf lands.

The “Transformative Fund” approved by the City in the 2020 Capital and Operating Budget

Report due May/June 2021.
The Transformative Fund is a new reserve fund that is to acquire funding from the sale of golf lands and other city owned assets deemed surplus.
“reinvestment” of capital assets (golf land) into services and deficit reduction
one funding source from sale of (or joint venture) John Blumberg Golf Course

Repurposing Golf Lands Report (park zoned lands) to allow up to 30% of golf lands to be repurposed. (Study approved by City in 2020 Capital and Operating Budget)

$200,000 allocated for consultant to lead process
option for residential development on golf lands
reduction of pubic greenspace
We question how the amount of 30% of golf lands available for rerepurposing was determined.
Citizens expect evidence based policy decisions and the 30% of golf lands is not validated by evidence.
“reinvestment” of capital assets (golf land) into services and deficit reduction
Consultants Report due May/June 2021

Winnipeg Golf Services has balanced its budget for the last several years and now the City is proposing to sell some of its publicly owned golf lands for residential development. Media is still reporting a deficit in error.

Note that Golf Services Special Operating Agency has a balanced budget and forecasts a balanced budget for the multi-year budget 2021 - 2025.

Golf lands provide year round health and recreation opportunities
Golf lands provide year round services to the environment - climate change mitigation and resilience, storm water retention and heat absorption in summer, habitat, natural areas for birds
More parkland (not less) will be needed to accommodate increased population density in infill areas where golf courses are mostly located

Summary of Requests by OURS-Winnipeg

1. OURS-Winnipeg requests that the residential development option be removed from the repurpose proposal for golf lands
2. OURS-Winnipeg requests that the proposed re-purposing of city golf lands be halted until a Master Plan for Greenspace is completed.

References to Transformative Fund 2020 Budget

The city owns 12 golf courses located in neighbourhoods mostly along river corridors.
The 2020 season has seen golf rounds on city-operated golf course up significantly over the previous year. New golfers, new leagues, more juniors.
Golf Services Special Operating Agency had a balanced budget for 2019 and forecasts same for multi-year budget 2021 - 2025
Generates close to $650,000 a year in revenue for the city from rent, leases, taxes and surpluses provided additional revenue
The golf courses preserve green space without cost to the City while providing a revenue stream
Provides ecosystem services of storm water retention, heat mitigation, habitat, health benefits
6% of Winnipeg's total city area is public park land, compared to the average of Canadian cities at 9%
Golf course lands make up 1% of total city area and adding them to parkland could increase total park area to 7%
Many of the golf courses are well used by the public in the off season and more use is possible
The golf course lands are some of the city's nicest parks and must not be developed or sold.
City golf is affordable, accessible, good value and harmonizes with the private golf industry providing a supply of players as golfers move to private clubs
The golf course lands have been acquired over the past 100 years and belong to the citizens of Winnipeg
Golf is good for your health
Golf is a beneficial activity for all ages from juniors to seniors

OURS-Winnipeg originated in December 2011 in response to a plan by the City of Winnipeg to make seven of the city-owned golf courses available for sale or lease for commercial or residential development. A public campaign to have the Expression of Interest withdrawn was successful.