Fernandina golf course unveils $7 million plan, including $2.7 million irrigation overhaul

FERNANDINA BEACH — A proposed $2.7 million irrigation and drainage renovation headlines a five-year capital improvement plan that could bring more than $7 million in upgrades to the city-owned Fernandina Beach Golf Club.

The long-term investment plan comes as the golf course continues to post recent strong financial results.

The largest project identified Tuesday in the capital plan is a comprehensive irrigation and drainage renovation estimated at $2.7 million and scheduled for fiscal year 2030-31. The project is designed to address one of the course's most critical infrastructure systems and represents the single largest investment outlined in the long-range plan.

The plan identifies a series of infrastructure projects beginning in fiscal year 2027.

"So, on the capital investment strategy for our capital projects, we're assessing what's most important for the golf course infrastructure improvements that we need, and we're going to move forward with those as the budget allows," Biggers said. "In 2027, the upcoming year, the two biggest needs we have is the (irrigation) well rehabilitation. That's our big well. That was our only source of water up until this past year."

Additional projects planned for fiscal year 2029 include restoration of the clubhouse irrigation system at a cost of $95,000, along with multi-year tee box and bunker renovation programs.

In addition to the $2.7 million irrigation and drainage project, fiscal year 2030-31, the plan includes $200,000 in golf maintenance building improvements and a $65,000 clubhouse roof replacement.

For fiscal year 2027, the course plans approximately $454,271 in additional equipment purchases, including replacement tee-box mowers, a roller, utility vehicle, terrain-cut mower and a Steiner mower. Replacement golf carts account for another $163,271 of the projected spending.

"The goal to this is obviously to get the equipment needs on the equipment side and get a resale value for our older equipment to offset the replacement cost of these new purchases," Biggers explained.

The Fernandina Beach Golf Club is one of the city's most heavily used recreational facilities and operates as an enterprise fund, generating revenue through greens fees, memberships, cart rentals, food and beverage sales, tournaments, lessons and other golf-related activities. City Manager Sarah Campbell has told city commissioners that the goal is to have the golf course operate on a break-even basis and eliminate the need for transfer from the general fund to operate the facility.