Watertown City Council debates success of Thompson Park Golf Course

Dec. 2—WATERTOWN — Councilman Robert O. Kimball on Monday night warned that the city must take a hard look at keeping the Thompson Park Golf Course open after the city-owned facility lost about $259,000 this past summer.

He and Councilwoman Lisa A. Ruggiero debated the success of the golf course at Monday night’s council meeting.

Golf course manager Jordan Northrop attended the meeting to give council a report about how the season went.

It was the second season that the Parks and Recreation Department has run the historic 18-hole course. It’s been the subject of debate ever since the city purchased the facility for $3.4 million in January 2023.

Kimball said council should look at the golf course’s future during next spring’s budget deliberations as the city faces some difficult fiscal decisions.

In defending the facility’s financial picture, Ruggiero said it’s not fair to keep painting a dark picture of the golf course.

She proclaimed it’s time to end the politics revolving around the golf course, stressing that negative comments have only hurt its success.

“It’s all about the bucks,” Kimball shot back.

Ruggiero commended Northrop and his staff for what residents have told her was “a better year than the year before.” She’s heard compliments that the course was in better shape than it has been in years.

“It’s not fair to the employees who have worked hard for the negativity to continue,” she said.

The golf course lost $259,341, down from being $306,590 in the red during the first year.

The season had some challenges under what was one of the wettest summers on record.

A total of 35 inches of rain fell on site, according to a written report by Northrop.

As a result of the wet summer, “golf cart rentals and the driving range experienced more limitations compared to the previous season,” Northrop wrote.

The 17 days of rain meant a loss of about $20,000 in golf cart revenues, he told council members.

The course also had competition from Ives Hill Country Club reopening last summer. Businessman Jake Johnson purchased and reopened the 9-hole course.

But there were pluses, too, Northrop said. The pro shop made about $15,000 more than the first year. The course also hosted 18 tournaments, increasing revenues $22,600. The golf course hosted nine in 2023.

Golf fee revenues also increased from $398,859 to $421,197. A total of 180 season passes were sold and golfers played 12,421 rounds of golf this summer.

Councilman Benjamin P. Shoen, who played on the course this summer, suggested that Northrop look at doing some in-house clinics and lessons.

Pointing out he was impressed by the way the city championship was handled, Shoen also recommended the course not close for golfing during the event. He thinks it should be open for golfers.

Northrop agreed, saying that about 70 people followed the participating golfers during the event.

Ruggiero also said the golf course should not be picked on for losing money for the city since the Watertown Municipal Arena loses about $1 million for the city every year, she said.