After some uncertainty following the failed sale of Tri-Mountain Golf Course, Clark County extended its management contract while determining the course’s long-term future.
The Clark County Council unanimously approved an amendment to the Tri-Mountain Golf Course Management Agreement with Tri-Mountain Golf Management, LLC during its Tuesday, March 18, meeting, extending the current contract through Dec. 31, 2026.
The amendment maintains a 15% funding increase approved for January through March 2025 for the entirety of that year, with no additional increase in 2026. The change also reinstates a revenue share incentive program that had been previously removed and maintains existing language regarding capital contributions.
The decision follows the Cowlitz Economic Authority’s recent withdrawal from purchasing the golf course. The Cowlitz Tribe had placed a $3.6 million bid on the property late last year but ultimately decided to pull out of the deal in March. With no sale in place, the council opted to maintain operations while considering long-term management and ownership options.
The Port of Ridgefield originally purchased Tri-Mountain Golf Course in June 1993. In January 1997, the port entered into a memorandum of understanding with Clark County to transfer ownership, with the county assuming full control later that year after the port could no longer financially support the facility. Since then, the county has contracted with third-party management companies to operate the course, with Indigo Golf (owned by Troon company) managing it for the past 20 years.
In March 2024, Clark County decided to renew Troon Golf’s management contract for just one year instead of the usual 10-year contract, an early sign the county was seeking a new path for the 30-year-old golf course. A request for bids and a tour of the golf course to interested bidders took place in September. Bids to the county for the golf course auction were placed on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
At the council’s Wednesday, March 12, meeting, several county residents urged officials to maintain Tri-Mountain as a public golf course. Many expressed concerns that a sale could lead to its closure, while others emphasized its value as an affordable recreational asset for the community.
Michelle Schuster, senior management analyst at Clark County, presented the amended contract to the council based on feedback from the March 12 meeting, where council members reviewed different options for the golf course and ultimately chose to extend the current agreement while evaluating long-term plans.
The amendment aligns the contract’s expiration date with the end of the golf cart lease, avoiding early termination costs. If the county were to end the contract before December 31, 2026, it would be responsible for buying out the remaining balance of the golf cart lease, which would require a lump-sum payment to cover the outstanding costs.
Council Chair Sue Marshall highlighted the benefits of the extension.
“Glad to see there’s a buyout if need be,” Marshall said.
Marshall also noted that while the extension provides stability, discussions on the golf course’s future must continue.
“Just a note that we’ll be talking about this at some point in the next ... year and a half,” Marshall said.
