The Cowlitz Indian Tribe, which already owns and operates a hotel-and-casino complex in north Clark County, is looking to expand into the golf business.
The Cowlitz Economic Authority was the only bidder for Tri-Mountain Golf Course. Clark County put the 132-acre property up for auction in September. Tri-Mountain is just 2 miles south of ilani at 1701 N.W. 299th St., Ridgefield.
The 18-hole course has been operated by Troon Golf LLC for years, but Troon’s current contract is set to expire at the end of this year, county spokesperson Joni McAnally said. What happens after that depends on the Clark County Council’s decision whether or not to sell.
The county had set the minimum bid requirement for the golf course property — which includes a pro shop, commercial kitchen, offices, dining area and driving range — at $3.525 million, with the additional requirement that Tri-Mountain remain a golf course in perpetuity. Only the county council has the power to change that requirement, according to the bid documents.
The county’s request for bids went out in mid-September, and bids were examined Oct. 30.
One bid from the tribe, for $3.6 million, was accepted for further discussion, McAnally said. The council will evaluate the bid during a public hearing that has yet to be scheduled.
Another Cowlitz bid was substantially higher — $5 million, according to bid documents — but was rejected because it included ending the golf course requirement after five years, McAnally said.
If the $3.6 million Cowlitz bid is accepted, Tri-Mountain will remain one of Clark County’s last surviving golf facilities of any size.
Green Mountain Golf Course, a full-sized 18-hole course in Camas, closed in 2014 and The Cedars on Salmon Creek, another 18-holer, closed in 2021. Executive nine-hole Hartwood Golf Course, in Brush Prairie, closed in 2021 and so did Lakeview Par 3 Golf Challenge near Vancouver Lake. As recently as late October, the Vanco Driving Range in Vancouver shut its doors.
Remaining public courses are Lewis River Golf Course in Woodland, Camas Meadows in Camas, Fairway Village in east Vancouver and Pine Crest, a par 3 course in the Salmon Creek area. Other golf courses in Clark County — Royal Oaks, Green Meadows and Orchard Hills in Washougal — are membership-only.
According to a property appraisal included with the bid documents, growing revenues at Tri-Mountain have not kept up with even faster-growing expenses. There was 46 percent decline in net income in 2022, the appraisal states.
But the Cowlitz remain interested.
“The sale of the property offers compelling opportunities, and we look forward to participating in discussions about the best potential outcomes for its future,” said a statement from Cowlitz Indian Tribe Chairman William Iyall.
Earlier this year, county councilor Gary Medvigy said the county is facing a long list of overdue capital needs and must focus on those.
The county hopes to close the sale of Tri-Mountain in January.
