It has been a challenging winter for three of the region's top golf courses. Osprey Meadows at Tamarack Resort might not open this year, MeadowCreek Golf Resort might be sold next week and Hunter's Point Golf and Country Club hopes to open this spring after financial problems caused a one-year delay.

OSPREY MEADOWS AT TAMARACK

The course is entangled in the financial mess at Tamarack Resort, which will close indefinitely Wednesday.

However, there is a sliver of hope that the course can exist outside of the resort.

Two Hopkins Financial Services funds own 60 percent of Osprey Meadows. The Tamarack ownership group owns the other 40 percent. The course is operated by Tamarack under a 29-year lease agreement.

Randy Hopkins, the president of Hopkins Financial Services in Meridian, hopes to find a way to open the course this season.

"It would require the cooperation of the lender group, Tamarack and the receiver, or some combination thereof," he said. "I would simply say that of course it's our opinion that there's more value there if it's operating."

Hopkins has not been told that the course won't open this year.

He told club members Tuesday that the owners likely will default the lease to gain more control and would like to open the course if it can break even.

Ken Rider, director of resort sales, marketing and lodging services, said the course will be maintained either way.

"We will cut the fairways," he said. "É We'll be keeping an eye on everything from water run-off to erosion control. Through the mountain operations team, we will be keeping that asset at least protected in a dormant, not open, state."

The course would have a difficult time as a separate business. It sold about 8,000 to 9,000 rounds each of the past two seasons, Rider said.

"Golf courses are always a challenge," Rider said. "It had room for future revenue opportunities. É The thing about a resort is - be it the lake or the ski mountain or the lodging - none of them are going to work by themselves. They all have to work in unison."

MEADOWCREEK, NEW MEADOWS

Property owners are scheduled to vote Monday on whether to buy the course from the McNeal Family Partnership, which acquired the course in October 1999. The McNeal family attempted to sell last year and even held an auction, but wasn't able to find a buyer.

MeadowCreek has about 440 property owners, said Carey McNeal, the vice president of the McNeal Corp.

"It's very sad," said McNeal, whose family couldn't break even operating the course. "It's been a huge part of our life and the good part about the way it's going to potentially transition is it can be part of our lives still because we own land up there."

HUNTER'S POINT, NAMPA

The Gene Bates-designed course could open this spring, a year behind schedule because of financial problems. The course was developed as a country club, but likely will be open to the public at least for the near term.

Developer Greg Bullock said Tuesday he hopes to make an announcement soon, perhaps even this week.