Bastrop, Tx–The historic Lost Pines Golf Course in Bastrop State Park could be forced to close this year in the face of a two-year drought and declining business during an economic downturn, an official told the Bastrop City Council on Monday.
Operated by the non-profit Lost Pines Golf Club for decades under a contract with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Judge Benton Eskew told the council the organization is running a deficit and, without some city assistance, could be forced to shut down rather than sign a new contract for continued operation. “Right now we can’t make ends meet,” said Eskew. The current contract is up for renewal in August, he said.
Eskew is judge of the Bastrop County Court at Law.
Golf club officials will negotiate for new contract terms, but Eskew urged the council to consider some form of assistance to help close an operating deficit he estimated at $24,000 to $30,000 a year. The course also badly needs some maintenance work, he said.
“It’s no country club,” said Eskew. “It’s blue collar,” appealing both to “kids and seniors.”
At Monday’s council workshop session, where no decisions were made, council members offered various tentative suggestions. “Let us grind on this,” Mayor Terry Orr told Eskew and other backers. “I don’t have an answer (right now), but the golf course is a major asset (for Bastrop).”