ASHLAND — Golfers who play Brookside Golf Course should anticipate some temporary disruptions next season.
Ashland lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously approved advertising for bids for a culvert replacement along Valentine Valley Drive — which is ultimately the bridge visitors cross to get to the golf course, Mayor Matt Miller said.
The mayor said the replacement project does not come as a surprise, explaining the city has known for years this work was needed.
“The time has come and we’ve been very fortunate to secure a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission to put towards what is expected to be a $931,500 project — so more than half of it will be paid with the grant dollars,” Miller said.
The city hopes to see construction begin sometime in 2027, the mayor said. During construction, temporary arrangements will need to be made to allow visitors to access the golf course.
A likely alternate route will direct visitors to enter through Brookside West Park off North Baney Road and retrieve their golf cart near the park’s pickleball courts.
Once a contractor is awarded the project, more details about the start of construction and the estimated timeline of the work will be determined.
“We’re expecting to have to install a temporary construction trailer as the office so that everything can be processed there and get people over to Hole 1 by the clubhouse,” Miller said. “Next year it will no doubt impact golf season.”
Revenue at the city-owned course this year is currently up 8 percent over last year, the mayor said, citing continued growth as a contributing factor.
Councilman Dan Lawson addressed the fact not every Ashland resident is a golfer and many question why their tax dollars are contributing to the city’s local share of the project cost.
“I would like to point out, it is owned by the city. It is public property. Without doing this work we would actually devalue the property,” Lawson said. “It is important that this be passed to protect the value of the property and continue that access.
“It’s value to the city, whether we golf or not.”
