Cape Coral’s city-owned golf course may get more than $2.5 million in upgrades, including a new irrigation system.

Nods of approval came from Cape Coral City Council Wednesday regarding steps to be taken at Coral Oaks Golf Course to improve and enhance the greens.

The city went to an outside vendor for management last year, awarding Arizona-based Troon Management the operations contract.

Regional Director of Operations Brian Rhodes has been involved with Coral Oaks Golf Course since Feb. 1.

He said told Council he has been getting to know the golf course, community, and golf market in the area.

Rhodes said there are a couple upgrades identified, which would enhance the operations and set the foundation for future growth.

They included equipment upgrades, and an irrigation system.

In the last seven months, there has been $29,000 in equipment repairs, with an estimated fix of another piece of equipment set at $9,000.

Council was shown two lease packages, as the equipment that is there is past its life span and very old, with some closing in on 500,000 miles.

An irrigation specialist was hired to evaluate the system, which resulted in a statement of it being the worst he had ever seen. The specialist designed a new system. The first bids have come in.

New pipes, sprinklers, and new technology could begin as early as next September.

This has a price tag of $2.465 million.

Council members were in support of putting money into the golf course.

Councilmember Keith Long said it is something that is overdue and the course needs to be brought up to standards.

He said it is something he whole heartily supports as the course needs to get back to the shape it should be in.

Interim Assistant City Manager Mark Mason said the installation would be an underground piping system — that does not see the light of day — and, in today’s pipe technology it would last for 50 years. As tendered, the cost would be financed over a minimum of 20 years.

“An improved golf course with proper watering technology in place, then I would expect we may be able to pay it off earlier than necessary,” Mason said.

Councilmember Tom Hayden said he has been talking about the irrigation system for all four years he has served on council.

“I saw that it was detrimental to the golf course. It needs to be done and needs to be done now,” he said. “People are not going to play at a golf course that has flooding and damage like that.”

The city is are looking at, all told, including equipment purchases, an investment of more than a $4 million for the golf course, Hayden said.

Mayor John Gunter said the irrigation system is the backbone of the course; the infrastructure of the course.

“I support that we need to move that forward. I recommend we move this forward and get it on the capital improvement project list to get this started. I would support voting for the equipment, but also the irrigation system, knowing that later on down the road there will be other asks to keep the golf course going. We want a premium course, we have to invest in it,” he said.