Duluth Golf Course Previously Closed Could Get New Life

A Duluth golf course that had been permanently closed could have a new future as a nonprofit explores revitalizing it to be more accessible.

The nonprofit, Barrier Free Golf, has shown interest in the Lester Park Golf Course following its closure in 2023. According to a Northern News Now report, the course was originally closed due to financial struggles and is now boarded up and overgrown.

Barrier Free Golf is hoping to revamp the property and make it more accessible for people with disabilities. They say the location along Lake Superior and the elevation changes within the property set the course up to become a nationally recognized facility with a carefully planned renovation.

As part of that revitalization, Barrier Free Golf would need to make some changes to the physical course for wheelchairs and accessible golf carts. According to their plans, the reimagining of the course would also cut down on the presence of physical buildings as a way to cut operational costs, instead erecting temporary facilities for hosting larger events like the US Adaptive Open.

The organization also plans to fund the project without asking Duluth residents to carry the price tag. They say the project would be privately funded through grants, and when open they would use a pricing model that lowers fees for Duluth residents and charging out of town residents an extra premium. The organization needs to raise about $1 million to begin construction.

Barrier Free Golf expects that the City will receive a boost in tourism from the rebuilt course, and have the opportunity to offer more programs, host tournaments, and increase community engagement.