The Cowlitz Indian Tribe, which already owns and operates a hotel and casino resort in northern Clark County, is looking to expand into the golf business.

The Cowlitz Economic Authority was the sole bidder for Tri-Mountain Golf Course. Clark County put the 132-acre property up for auction in September. Tri-Mountain is just 2 miles south of ilani at 1701 NW 299th St., Ridgefield.

The 18-hole course has been operated by Troon Golf LLC for years, but Troon’s current contract is set to expire at the end of this year, county spokesperson Joni McAnally said. What happens next depends on whether the Clark County Board decides whether to sell.

The county had set the minimum bid requirement for the golf course property — which includes a pro shop, commercial kitchen, offices, dining room and driving range — at $3.525 million, with the additional requirement that Tri-Mountain remains a golf course in perpetuity. Only the county council has the power to change this requirement, according to the tender documents.

The county’s request for proposals was issued in mid-September and bids were reviewed on October 30.

An offer from the tribe, amounting to $3.6 million, was accepted for further discussions, McAnally said. The board will evaluate the application at a public hearing that has not yet been scheduled.

Another offer from Cowlitz was significantly higher — $5 million, according to bidding documents — but was rejected because it called for the golf course requirement to end after five years, a McAnally said.

If Cowlitz’s $3.6 million offer is accepted, Tri-Mountain will remain one of the last golf facilities of any size in Clark County.

Green Mountain Golf Course, a full-size 18-hole course in Camas, closed in 2014 and The Cedars on Salmon Creek, another 18-hole course, closed in 2021. The nine-hole Hartwood Executive Golf Course , in Brush Prairie, closed in 2021. as did the Lakeview Par 3 Golf Challenge, near Vancouver Lake. As recently as late October, the Vanco Driving Range in Vancouver has closed its doors.

All that remains is Lewis River Golf Course in Woodland, Camas Meadows in Camas, Fairway Village east of Vancouver and Pine Crest, a par 3 course in the Salmon Creek area.

According to an appraisal of the property included in the bidding documents, Tri-Mountain’s revenue growth has not kept pace with even faster growth in expenses. There was a 46 percent drop in net income in 2022, the assessment said.

But the Cowlitzes remain interested.

“The sale of the property presents exciting opportunities, and we look forward to participating in discussions about the best potential outcomes for its future,” William Iyall, chairman of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, said in a statement.

Earlier this year, County Councilor Gary Medvigy said the county was facing a long list of overdue capital needs and needed to focus on those.

The county hopes to finalize the sale of Tri-Mountain in January.