Donated golf course just outside Lafayette not to be 'city-owned'

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - With the donation of a local golf course to the Lafayette Parks Association, the Lafayette Municipal Course may be closing its doors.

Mayor Tony Roswarski and Owner of the Battle Ground Country Club John Scheumann announced Friday morning the donation of the property to the Parks Association.

As we've previously reported, the city cannot own the course because it is too far outside the city limits.

However, Roswarski announced that he is recommending to the Parks Association that the Lafayette Municipal Course be closed.

Mayor Roswarski says the conversation with Scheumann about donating the course began in 2010 when the Lafayette Municipal Course flooded over the summer.

“The city will not make any money, I want to make that clear – this is not a city course,” Roswarski said. “We have no financial risk, no financial liability, they will not be City of Lafayette employees, they are not parks department employees. They will be this separate entity.”

Although the city will not see any funds directly from the course, the city could still see benefit from it.

"The way the agreement is structured is that, if the golf course would make profit – if there is still money left over – that money has to go back to the Parks Foundation ," Roswarski said.

Scheumann, who has had an active role in the Lafayette area with not only the parks department, but youth athletics, made sure that the course would continue to be a part of youth golf in the Lafayette area.

"The Jeff High School boys and girls teams both play there, and they will continue to play there under this gift agreement," Scheumann said.  "They've played there for free since I've owned it."

Fees are estimated to be less than current prices, but more than the city course.