For years, soldiers, retirees and their families have enjoyed Custer Hill Golf Course on Fort Riley – soon, it will be a just a memory. 

Custer Hill Golf course will close at the end of the month as announced last week as part of several budget cuts and constraints to Fort Riley, and the Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

Mick McCallister, Mayor of Junction City, wants to keep up the quality of life for soldiers and their families.

“We’ve been talking with John Bernstein, and Ed Lazear, and the City Manager (Allen Dinkel) to figure out how we can incorporate those quality of life issues that they’re diminishing out at Fort Riley – how we could pick those up here in Junction City, or in the Flint Hills region and more in particular, the golf course – we’ve been looking at that,” said McCallister.

City officials have been involved in discussion with the Fort Riley Garrison command team on creating a partnership with Rolling Meadows Golf Course at Milford Lake.

“It’s under very strong consideration,” said McCallister. “Colonel Lawrence is very excited about being able to partner with Junction City and Rolling Meadows, and we are very excited to be able to partner with families and soldiers that continue wanting to play golf.”

For now, McCallister said they are looking at costs and coming to an agreement for a three month span, with the intention to create a fee structure in the future.

“No matter what the cost is, whether it’s a military discount…there could be more rounds in golf, which is a win-win situation the more soldiers and families that want to play golf that cannot at Fort Riley, could play at Rolling Meadows if we partner with the Army, it’s just a win-win situation – they get to play golf and we get more rounds,” said McCallister.

No official agreements have been made at this time.