WESTLAKE, Ohio \u2013 The city\u2019s Meadowood Golf Course is about to get a $3.5 million upgrade with the addition of a golf driving range.<\/p>\n
City Council, during its Dec. 18 meeting, approved awarding a contract to Town Center Construction of Northfield. The golf course, which includes two nine-hole courses and a smaller five-hole course, currently lacks a driving range that would allow golfers to practice their swings.<\/p>\n
The city received five bid proposals for the project, and Mayor Dennis Clough and James Smolik, the director of engineering, recommended that City Council accept the bid proposal of Town Center Construction.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be building a state-of-the-art practice facility with indoor heated bays,\u201d said Paula Horner, director of recreation for the city of Westlake. \u201cThere will be 18 heated bays and additional exterior open air bays.\u201d<\/p>\n
While not part of the recently awarded contract, the city is considering future renovations to the clubhouse and the rest of the golf course campus.<\/p>\n
While there are other privately-run golf driving ranges in nearby communities, they tend to focus on being entertainment venues, Smolik said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re not so much for people who want to improve their game,\u201d Smolik said. \u201cHere, we\u2019re going to provide grass tees, and you can practice your skill and improve. And then we\u2019re going to have lessons. It\u2019s a true practice facility that the area needs because there\u2019s definitely a niche in the market for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because of the indoor heated bays, the golf driving range will be able to operate year-round. <\/p>\n
Construction is expected to begin in early March, and the city hopes the driving range will be open in the spring or summer of 2027, Smolik said.<\/p>\n
The driving range will be built on the site of the current five-hole course.<\/p>\n
The city decided to add the golf driving range and consider additional future renovations after residents expressed a desire for an upgraded golf facility.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2015, there was a recreation master plan, and there was definitely public interest in it,\u201d Smolik said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been thinking about it since then. We had a lot of (City Council) committee meetings on it, a lot of public input, and we decided.\u201d<\/p>\n
Horner confirmed that a 2015 survey demonstrated that residents were interested in golf facilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt that time, golf was rated the most highly desirable amenity within the city by residents. And we also have the survey online right now regarding phase two of this project.\u201d<\/p>\n
The current online survey asks residents whether they would like the city to redesign the golf facility to offer a nine-hole regulation course or an 18-hole par-three course. The survey also asks what other improvements they would like to see.<\/p>\n