City Golf Courses & Billy Casper Golf

[RecycleMichael]

I got this e-mail today...

Billy Casper Golf of Vienna, Va., is negotiating contract details with the city of Tulsa to take over management of Page Belcher and Mohawk Park golf courses by Jan. 1, 2008, according to interim Tulsa Parks and Recreation Director Max Wiens. A handshake agreement has also been reached for a buyout of the contract of PGA professional George Glenn, who has run the Page Belcher complex since its opening in 1976 and now is in charge of golf operations at both Page Belcher and Mohawk Park. Glenn had two years remaining on his current contract.

Wiens said the committee formed to analyze proposals from private entities had selected Billy Casper's bid above five other finalists. It was also selected after some discussion between City of Tulsa and Tulsa County officials about whether the county, which operates golf courses at LaFortune Park and South Lakes, could take over the city's golf operations.

Billy Casper Golf operates 75 golf courses nationally, 51 of which are municipal courses, the closest geographically to Tulsa being Stonebridge Meadows in Fayetteville, Ark. Wiens said the city would attempt to resod some of the damaged greens on Page Belcher's Stone Creek course prior to the take over by BCG. Greens on holes 1, 5, 10 and 11 have large areas that suffered in the summer heat and are currently covered with sand. A BCG official said today the company would wait until the contract was signed before commenting.

For the complete story go to http://www.southcentralgolf.com/.

This seems like a good thing. I love playing Mohawk and a new operator could really improve the playing conditions there.

[Neptune]

Here's the world story

Tulsa World

quote:Billy Casper Golf is tentatively set to take over the Page Belcher and Mohawk links Jan. 1.


The city has selected Billy Casper Golf of Vienna, Va., to take over the management of its two public golf courses -- Page Belcher and Mohawk.

Billy Casper Golf will be operating the courses Jan. 1 if negotiations between the city and the golf company are finished and a contract is signed, interim Park Director Max Wiens said.

The city also is negotiating to buy out the remaining two years of a contract with PGA professional George Glenn, who has managed the courses since 1976, Wiens said.

Controversy erupted in May when Mayor Kathy Taylor recommended in her proposed budget for the current fiscal year that 18 of the 36 holes at the Page Belcher Golf Course and nine of the 36 holes at the Mohawk Golf Course be closed.

Page Belcher, at 6666 S. Union Ave., has the Olde Page and Stone Creek courses. Mohawk, at 5323 E. 41st St. North, has the Woodbine and Pecan Valley courses.

Taylor's recommendation would have cut by nearly half the city's $1.45 million subsidy to the municipal courses.

Wiens said that with
the proposal submitted by Casper, the city subsidy would be $250,000 for the first 12 months and would decrease each year until the subsidy reaches zero in the fifth year.

Unlike the current contract with Glenn, the city would receive all revenue from greens fees and clubhouse sales. The city now receives only greens fees; Glenn received the rest of the revenue, Wiens said.

Casper is seeking an annual management fee of $150,000, plus an incentive fee for any amount of revenue collected above $2.5 million, Wiens said. The city will remain responsible for deficits between revenue and expenses.

Casper's bid was one of six the city received.

Wiens said several things tipped the decision in favor of Casper. He said the proposal was very complete and had an emphasis on customer service and a strong approach to marketing.

Casper's proposal indicated that the company can reverse the lag in revenues at both courses by maintaining consistent agronomic conditions, improving marketing and creating a positive experience for golfers.

Wiens said another feature of the company is that it operates 75 golf courses nationally, and more than half are municipal courses.

"We like that they have experience with public courses," he said.

Because a subsidy is involved, the city cannot contract beyond one year, Wiens said.

He said the council will be apprised of the contract in the near future because it will take a budget appropriation of about $170,000 to subsidize operations through the end of the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

Taylor agreed to seek a private operator after area golfers and West Highland residents whose homes abut one of the Page Belcher courses opposed her plan to close the courses.

At one point, the administration considered selling 150 acres at Page Belcher for a residential development.

That idea was dismissed after the city learned that federal restrictions prohibited residential development on the golf course site.

Tulsa County commissioners offered to help the city by taking over the courses, but the city said the county would not compete in a bidding process.

I don't understand the City/County relationship there.  It seems to me that the City would be better off just giving the County the golf courses.  If the County will take them.  

Maybe they're concerned the County might one day shut them down?  Don't know what the argument against it would be.

[RecycleMichael]

My post scooped the Tulsa World by three days...

[Porky]

These outfits are really bad to use and are extremely expensive. All Casper will do is get the contract then sub it out to outfits like those that are running Battle Creek and Bailey's Ranch and we all see how bad those courses are in right now.

My suggestion would be for the City Of Tulsa to go out and search for a top notch Club Pro and Greens Keeper. Let them run both golf courses and allow them to hire their own staff.