Portland’s Golf Fund is Broke

The city's golf courses have been steadily losing money for at least five years.

(Henry Cromett)
By Rachel Monahan

Score a bogey for the Golf Fund.

In the past, Portland has been able to operate five city-owned golf courses without asking taxpayers to chip in. Links fees and concessions have covered costs.

But now the city's Golf Fund is depleted, and Portland Parks and Recreation, for the first time, is asking for a up to $800,000 infusion of general-fund dollars as part of re-balancing the budget at the end of the fiscal year.

The Portland Mercury first reported the new budget figures this morning on Twitter.

As WW reported last month, the city's golf courses have been steadily losing money for at least five years. Civic leaders say the city should look at closing at least one and replacing it with housing.

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