The Cowlitz Indian Tribe, which already owns and operates a hotel-and-casino advanced in north Clark County, is seeking to broaden into the golf enterprise.
The Cowlitz Financial Authority was the one bidder for Tri-Mountain Golf Course. Clark County put the 132-acre property up for public sale in September. Tri-Mountain is simply 2 miles south of ilani at 1701 N.W. 299th St., Ridgefield.
The 18-hole course has been operated by Troon Golf LLC for years, however Troon’s present contract is about to run out on the finish of this yr, county spokesperson Joni McAnally stated. What occurs after that will depend on the Clark County Council’s determination whether or not or to not promote.
The county had set the minimal bid requirement for the golf course property — which features a professional store, business kitchen, places of work, eating space and driving vary — at $3.525 million, with the extra requirement that Tri-Mountain stay a golf course in perpetuity. Solely the county council has the ability to vary that requirement, in accordance with the bid paperwork.
The county’s request for bids went out in mid-September, and bids have been examined Oct. 30.
One bid from the tribe, for $3.6 million, was accepted for additional dialogue, McAnally stated. The council will consider the bid throughout a public listening to that has but to be scheduled.
One other Cowlitz bid was considerably larger — $5 million, in accordance with bid paperwork — however was rejected as a result of it included ending the golf course requirement after 5 years, McAnally stated.
If the $3.6 million Cowlitz bid is accepted, Tri-Mountain will stay considered one of Clark County’s final surviving golf amenities of any dimension.
Inexperienced Mountain Golf Course, a full-sized 18-hole course in Camas, closed in 2014 and The Cedars on Salmon Creek, one other 18-holer, closed in 2021. Govt nine-hole Hartwood Golf Course, in Brush Prairie, closed in 2021 and so did Lakeview Par 3 Golf Problem close to Vancouver Lake. As just lately as late October, the Vanco Driving Vary in Vancouver shut its doorways.
What’s left now could be Lewis River Golf Course in Woodland, Camas Meadows in Camas, Fairway Village in east Vancouver and Pine Crest, a par 3 course within the Salmon Creek space.
In line with a property appraisal included with the bid paperwork, rising revenues at Tri-Mountain haven’t stored up with even faster-growing bills. There was 46 p.c decline in web earnings in 2022, the appraisal states.
However the Cowlitz stay .
“The sale of the property offers compelling opportunities, and we look forward to participating in discussions about the best potential outcomes for its future,” stated an announcement from Cowlitz Indian Tribe Chairman William Iyall.
Earlier this yr, county councilor Gary Medvigy stated the county is going through an extended listing of overdue capital wants and should give attention to these.
The county hopes to shut the sale of Tri-Mountain in January.