Foster Gulch Golf Course seeks $15K more

New Foster Gulch Golf Course board of directors president Tom Bassett presented a detailed report to the Lovell Town Council at the May 12 regular meeting, outlining highlights from the 2025 year and seeking an increase in the golf course budget.

Bassett began by thanking the town for its continued support of the course, noting the partnership “has played a vital role in the success and growth of the course over the years.”

Bassett said Foster Gulch has experienced record course usage and participation over the past three seasons, adding that what was once primarily a local course has become a destination for golfers from the region as well as visitors passing through the area, with golfers from all 50 states using the course.

“This growth has reinforced the value Foster Gulch provides to our community while also highlighting the increasing demands placed on the course, facilities and equipment,” Bassett said.

Higher usage has made it necessary for the course to receive funding necessary to maintain and improve the quality of the course experience, Bassett said, adding that, though the board has “worked diligently” to make upgrades and improvements to the course, several larger infrastructure and equipment needs remain.

Thus, Bassett said, the board of directors is “respectfully” requesting $50,000 in funding from the town in the 2026-27 budget, a $15,000 increase from the current fiscal year budget of $35,000.

Bassett said the money would be used for upgraded maintenance equipment  and mower replacement, irrigation system improvements and sprinkler upgrades, continued course and facility improvements and ongoing maintenance expenses including fertilizer, sand and equipment upkeep.

In 2025, Bassett said, the course saw the planting of 10 new pine trees, two golf carts purchased, new highway signs, replenished black bunker sand, an enhancement of the fountain for Pond 6, a new men’s tee box on hole number five, reel sharpeners for in-house maintenance, a new GHIN rating, new clubhouse lighting and electrical work, a new reciprocal play agreement with the Olive Glenn Golf Course in Cody and record-breaking usage. Foster Gulch also hosted the Class 3A Regional golf tournament last fall.

Bassett said course records show that Foster Gulch had a record-breaking 8,367 visits in 2025, up from 7,714 visits in 2024 and 3,974 in 2023. Of the 8,367 golf visits, 4,158 were Lovell residents, the rest from out of town or out of state including 814 from Cowley, 291 from Byron, 1,005 from Powell, 208 from Cody, 160 from Burlington, 50 from Greybull, 27 from Worland, 24 from Lander and 21 from Casper. Out-of-state totals included 166 golfers from Montana, 44 from Utah, 18 from Arizona and Washington, 16 from Colorado and 13 from Idaho toward the total of 346.

Summing up, Bassett said that more usage means more wear and tear on equipment and facilities, and although the board has increased membership fees and daily rates, costs from equipment and employees have increased.

Trailer ordinance

One of the main issues to come before the council during the regular agenda last week was the consideration of Ordinance 1035 and Ordinance 1036 on second reading. Ordinance 1035 amends the town code to prohibit semi-trucks and semi-trailers from being parked in a marked school zone or on a street in front of a residential dwelling not owned or rented by the truck owner/operator without written permission of the property owner or dweller.

The ordinance also prohibits trucks or equipment from idling in a non-commercial zoning district in a manner that produces excessive noise or exhaust but shortens the prohibition against parking recreational vehicles and trailers on a town street for more than 48 hours to the seven months from November 1 through Memorial Day.

Councilman Dan Anderson expressed the opinion that, rather than the town having an ordinance to ban truck parking and idling in the manner the ordinance lays out, it would be better for the police to react only in the case of a signed complaint, stating that the town “shouldn’t interfere in someone’s livelihood.” The ordinance passed on the second of three readings unanimously, with Anderson saying he voted in favor “this time.”

The council also passed Ordinance 1036, which states the definition of commercial trailers, semi-trailers, semi-trucks and eighteen-wheelers.

Cleanup vouchers

The council discussed the current spring cleanup period and a problem with landfill vouchers the town feels are being over-used by commercial businesses, property managers and landlords who dump “huge amounts” of material in the county landfill via a town voucher. After discussion, the council voted in favor of a policy to limit the landfill vouchers to two per permanent resident for each cleanup period.

In other business May 12:

• The council passed on second reading Ordinance 1033 establishing the tax levy for the 2026-27 fiscal year and Ordinance 1034 establishing the annual appropriation (budget) for the FY’26-27. 

• The council voted to approve a catering permit for Aud’s Four Corners for the 2026 Mustang Days Rodeo.

• After discussion, the council voted to approve the open container request for a roped-in area outside of liquor establishments during Mustang Days – June 26-28 – as well as the extended hours of operation for establishments to 4 a.m. on June 28.

• The council passed a budget amendment in the amount of $10,000, moving unanticipated revenues from the sales tax account to street repair under Streets and Alleys to pay for extending Eighth Street to the east.