Braemar Golf Dome Construction Set to Begin Later This Month

A new and improved Braemar Golf Dome, which burned down in early 2012, is on track to start being built in the next several weeks, according to city officials.

The Edina City Council last week approved several additional contracts for the construction of the new dome, including a $299,700 fire suppression system, a $144,000 storm sewer retention system and numerous aspects of the site's new clubhouse. That's only a couple of months after Council members unanimously approved the construction of a new dome, set to cost the City an estimated $3.58 million.

The bulk of project costs will be covered by the City's insurance money for the dome, with insurance payments coming in at around $2.6 million. The remaining $982,000 is set to be covered by revenue from Edina's golf operations.

The former golf dome was constructed back in 1983, with a support building attached directly to the dome. The new design calls for a dome of the same size, though the replacement clubhouse building will be separate from the dome to ease concerns of it being damaged should the dome encounter trouble with heavy winds or storms.

Because the existing underground foundations of the golf dome were not damaged by the fire, the replacement dome will be installed right where the old one previously sat. 

Construction of the new golf dome is set to begin later this month, with the project estimated to be completed by November.

The new dome will feature a steel-and-concrete driving deck, insulated dome walls to approximately 50 feet from the ground and cutting-edge dome fabric designed to shed snow, ice and dirt. 

In addition to approving the latest round of construction contracts, the City filed an additional insurance claim with Travelers Insurance to the tune of $55,600 to cover the remainder of code upgrade coverage available under its policy limits. That reimbursement would cover a diesel generator for the dome's new fire suppression system.

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