McGrath: Is selling the historic Erie Golf Club in Millcreek Township's best interests?

Since I was involved with the 2009 transfer of Erie Golf Club from the city of Erie to Millcreek Township, I thought that I would offer my 2 cents on the recent news that the Millcreek Supervisors plan to petition the court to allow the sale of the course.

Erie Golf Club history

A little background might be helpful. The city of Erie had owned and operated Erie Golf Club (EGC) for over 80 years. The 175-acre property is located in southwest Millcreek on beautiful, heavily wooded rolling hills. It was laid out in 1921 by A.W. Tillinghast, a renowned golf course architect, and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Tillinghast's courses have hosted more of golf's major tournaments than any other designer. His courses are frequently referred to as "masterpieces."

After extensive renovations were done to the course, including an irrigation system, in 2007 a new city administration decided to close it and pursue selling the property in order to pay down the loan for the work. At the same time, coincidentally, negotiations were taking place among the Erie Regional Airport Authority, PennDOT and Millcreek Township concerning the runway extension project. The project would severely impact the Millcreek Golf and Learning Center (MGLC), at the east end of the runway. Renovating the MGLC would cost about $2 million. Some serious "horse-trading" ensued. A deal was struck that would have the runway project pay the city about $2 million for EGC and transfer it to Millcreek. In exchange, Millcreek would receive EGC and forego the renovations to the MGLC. Since EGC had been closed for a while and maintenance deferred, the deal also included money to perform renovations to the clubhouse and the course.

After some environmental concerns were addressed at EGC, Millcreek assumed ownership, hired an operator and reopened the course. The agreement with the operator provided for a percentage of the gross revenue be returned to the township, while membership and green fees had to be approved by the township.

The improved clubhouse, grillroom and patio overlook the course, with amazing views of Lake Erie. Over its 100 years, thousands of junior golfers learned the game at Erie Golf Club. It remains popular with players of all ages and hosts several charitable organizations' fundraisers each year. The banquet room is also rented for private events.

Millcreek's ownership of EGC and the MGLC is far from unique. Municipally owned golf courses are very common. The city of Erie still owns and operates J.C. Martin, near the Erie Zoo, and Downing Golf Course, located in Harborcreek Township. According to the World Golf Foundation, there are about 2,500 municipal golf courses in the United States. Some are state-owned, many are county-owned, but the majority are owned by the host municipality (city, town or township) and provide an affordable option to private or semi-private courses.

The recent news about Millcreek's interest in selling EGC mentioned financial issues and the township's lack of "expertise" in golf course operations. A quick internet search of municipal golf courses will provide many articles about how some municipalities have experienced similar issues and how they addressed them. Solutions required some innovation — thinking outside the box. Some set up restoration funds, similar to what was done with Erie's J.C. Martin. Others formed trusts or foundations.

Recreational facilities integral to quality of life in Millcreek

Millcreek is a great place to live and the recreational opportunities are integral to its quality of life. Ball fields, basketball, tennis and eight new pickleball courts; two swimming pools; walking trails; Veterans Park; Scott Park; Asbury Woods; Zuck Park and several neighborhood parks are all part of it. Except for the pools, all of those facilities are free to the public. Their maintenance is paid through tax funds, about $1.2 million per year.

Since 1999, when the former Harper Drive Superfund Site became the Millcreek Golf and Learning Center, golf has also been part of Millcreek's recreational opportunities. Playing there however, like Erie Golf Club, is not free — reasonably priced, but not free. They are also easily accessible, minutes from anywhere in the township.

What else might be sold?

My fear, should the board of supervisors be successful in their petition to be able to sell the Erie Golf Club property, is that a door may be opened. Scott Park, on the bluff of Presque Isle Bay, requires maintenance yet produces no revenue. It would be prime for high end housing and likely quite valuable. What about other parks?

"Oh, that will never happen."

I hope not.

But boards of supervisors change. The boards that I served with were interested in expanding the township's recreational opportunities, improving existing and acquiring new parks. Selling them was never a consideration. Heck, Sue Weber raised a bundle of money to help build the Belle Valley Pool.

Grant money was used to build the MGLC clubhouse, acquire the land for Veterans Park and another grant for the construction of the pavilion there.

Background: Millcreek supervisors eye sale of Erie Golf Club, cite lack of expertise, money in filing

I trust that the current board of supervisors will listen to their constituents and do what is in the township's best interest. If that includes finding ways to continue ownership of Erie Golf Club and its operation, great. If the board receives permission and decides to sell the property, I hope it requires the new owner continue the golf operations and retain board oversight of the fee schedule.

Sure, owning Erie Golf Club can be a headache. A cheaper and easier solution would be to sell it. However, the best solutions are not necessarily the cheapest and easiest ones — they're just cheaper and easier.

Brian McGrath, first elected in 1993, served for more than two decades as a Millcreek Township supervisor before retiring at the end of 2017.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Former Millcreek supervisor McGrath questions sale of Erie Golf Club