We are a NON-PROFIT organization geared to providing opportunities for our young golfers in our community.

We are turning the city owned old firehall into a modern day golf facility. THEY APPROVED IT! Now in order to make this a reality for the students we need to fund raise. Any help is appreciated. For too long golf has had no indoor facility for the students. This will give them the opportunity to get better at a life long sport!! Thank you for your time!!

Good afternoon, City Commissioners and guests. My name is Clayton Johnsen. I am the current Boys and Girls Golf Coach for Killdeer Public School. I am also the President of the Cowboy Golf Foundation. Our foundations mission is “To strengthen our community by giving youth the opportunity to learn, play, and grow through the game of golf.”

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today. I’m here to present a forward-thinking proposal that transforms an underutilized city-owned building into something vibrant, revenue-generating, and community-focused: a modern golf simulator facility.

As we all know, one of our ongoing challenges is ensuring that every city's asset is being used to its fullest potential. The building we’re discussing today has strong bones, solid infrastructure, and an ideal location—but it’s no longer meeting the needs of our residents in its current state. Rather than allowing it to sit idle, demolish it or continue to drain resources, we have an opportunity to reimagine it into a space that brings people in, supports local activity, and gives a thriving community a resource that is long overdue.

A golf simulator facility is a perfect fit for a few key reasons.

First, it offers year-round recreation for residents of all ages and all skill levels. Weather and daylight no longer limit play. Families, students, seniors, and professionals can all enjoy the space at any time of year. It becomes a community hub—safe, active, and fun.

Second, it creates a new revenue stream. Modern simulators are in high demand, especially in cities where outdoor golf is seasonal or limited. With four state-of-the-art simulator bays, lounge seating, and a small concession or café area, this facility can operate efficiently while generating income, hosting parties, leagues, lessons, and even tournaments. This income will be used to expand upon within the existing building.

Third, this facility provides a major benefit to our local high school golf team. As many of you know, our student athletes constantly struggle with limited access to practice facilities—especially during early spring, late fall, or during inclement weather. By giving them access to a dedicated, professional-level training environment, we can dramatically improve their consistency and development year-round. Simulators allow players to analyze swing data, ball flight, club speed, and accuracy in ways that outdoor ranges simply can’t provide. This means our youth athletes gain better coaching opportunities, more meaningful practice time, and a competitive edge when representing our city in regional tournaments. It also reinforces our commitment to supporting school athletics and student wellbeing.

Fourth, the renovation is cost-effective. Compared to building a new recreation center or sports complex, repurposing an existing structure significantly reduces costs and construction time. This will allow your planning of the new community center to utilize the space for a golf simulator for something else. The footprint of this building already aligns well with what a simulator facility requires: open floor area, high ceilings, and adaptable utilities. By making targeted upgrades—lighting, technology installation, sound treatments, and modern interior finishes—we can create a premium experience without the price tag of a full rebuild and no cost to the city.

Fifth, this project supports local economic and social goals. It encourages physical activity, offers a modern gathering space, and creates opportunities for instructors, youth programs, and school partnerships. It even has tourism potential—visitors look for unique things to do, and an upscale simulator facility adds to our city’s entertainment offerings. As well as surrounding golf teams using the facility due to it being able to accommodate an entire team. No other town within 100 miles of Killdeer can do the same. This would be the premier golf facility in western ND.

Most importantly, this project represents responsible stewardship of city resources. We aren’t asking to invest in something untested or extravagant—we’re proposing that we breathe new life into a building we already own, turning an underperforming asset into a productive one. Being proactive rather than reactive. Long term, this will benefit everyone involved.

In closing, this is a rare opportunity to achieve multiple wins: enhance recreation, support our high school athletes, generate revenue, revitalize city property, and provide residents with a new, modern amenity they can be proud of. I urge the board to consider the long-term value this facility can bring and to take the next steps toward transforming this building into a destination that works for our community.