The City Council today voted to close Tucson’s Fred Enke Golf Course.
The city manager’s office earlier this month recommended shutting the course as part of several recommendations to try to revive the golf program, which has run up a $7.5 million deficit since 2004.
Since the Enke course, on East Irvington Road on the southeast side, received a federal grant when it opened in 1983, the city has to get permission from the National Park Service before closing it, which takes a minimum of six months. The course would remain open during that time. And even after it closed, the city would still run the driving and practice facility.
The process of shutting down Fred Enke will begin immediately. The plan calls on turning it into a "natural passive park."
Meanwhile, the council voted to start drafting a plan to scale back El Rio Golf Course on the west side. The manager's office wants to turn it into some combination of a park and a golf course. El Rio can't be totally closed because the city has about six years remaining on a contract with the First Tee youth golf program.
Read more in tomorrow's Star
