Based on the revenue projections, officials believe the return on investment for such a project would be around one to two years.
Evesham Township officials are looking to tee up a new recreation initiative for the township with the potential addition of a miniature golf course.
Bob Hennefer, director of golf, recreation and open space for the township, mentioned the idea of a municipal-owned miniature golf course at this week’s council meeting while he was detailing other potential plans for the municipal-owned-and-managed Indian Spring Country Club and golf course.
Hennefer said he had already met with a company that was able offer a rough outline of a miniature golf course based on one of the company’s former projects.
Based on the revenue projections the company provided, Hennefer he said he believes the return on investment for the township on such a project would be around one year, or two years for a more conservative estimate.
As the township already owns and manages Indian Spring, Hennefer said it already has the clubhouse and payroll needed for a miniature golf course.
If the course were to be built, Hennefer said the township would mostly be adding utility costs.
“Payroll is already there and we’re not adding payroll,” Hennefer said.
Members of council also spoke highly of the idea of Evesham Township potentially having its own miniature golf course, including Councilman Ken D’Andrea.
D’Andrea noted he and other members of council had been thinking about the idea of adding a miniature golf course for at least 10 years, with a potential location to the right side of the Gibson House Community Center, which already sits next to the Indian Spring driving range.
“It’s nice that you guys are rekindling this,” D’Andrea said.
However, D’Andrea also said he hoped Hennefer and officials would be methodical in their planning.
“I just want to make sure we’re looking at the operational pieces, outside of the initial construction,” D’Andrea said.
Hennefer said the company he spoke with about the project had already started work on creating a concept drawing of a course Hennefer and the township would be able to review.
Township manager Michael Barth also noted the discussions regarding any potential miniature golf course were separate from the $320,000 in funds council approved at this week’s meeting for other upgrades for Indian Spring, include new tee placements and driving range heaters.
Barth said if council decides to repurpose money in the capital bond for other projects, such as a miniature golf course, council could make those changes through a resolution at a later meeting.
