Politics & Government

Timbers at Troy Golf Course Looking to Refinance

Officials say golf course is headed for turnaround after temperatures melted revenue.


After a rough year in 2011, the county-owned golf course needs to make changes to stay in the green.

Two county officials testified before the County Council Monday, requesting it refinance the debt service on the golf course in Elkridge.

“Last year we had a really bad combination of weather and heat, and the course conditions deteriorated pretty badly,” said John Byrd, director of Recreation and Parks for Howard County.

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The county had to pay $80,000 for Timbers at Troy to meet its debt service earlier this year, according to the Department of Recreation and Parks' February board minutes.

Stan Milesky, the county’s director of finance, told the County Council at its April 16 hearing that refinancing by extending the county’s payments on the course by two years—to expire in 2023 rather than 2021—will save the county $155,000 each year.

Find out what's happening in Elkridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"How is the golf course doing?" asked Councilwoman Courtney Watson, whose district includes Elkridge.

Byrd assured Watson and other members of the County Council that things were turning around for .

“The four winter months have been our best months in the past 12 because of the mild winter,” said Byrd.

The Elkridge course is also absorbing players from the Fort Meade course, added Byrd. That course is closing in May to make space for expansion by the Department of Defense,  

“We’re starting to see a lot of play from folks who normally would play at Fort Meade,” said Byrd. “So things are on a good track.” 

Other initiatives may also add to Timbers' coffers.

The golf course installed low-sodium lighting that enabled it to extend nighttime play hours and increase revenue, according to the Department of Recreation and Parks' 2011 annual report.

In addition, the Howard County Delegation passed a bill through Annapolis that will allow golf courses, as of July 1, to sell alcohol between 6:30 a.m. and 2 a.m., which the Howard County Times reported would make courses more appealing venues for special events.


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