Discussion Over Future of City Golf Courses Not Quite Over
Reprieve: council vote will keep three courses open for next two years
Three Detroit owned golf courses will remain open. City Council voted this week to award a management contract to Signet Golf Associates for the Rackham, Chandler Park and Rouge Park courses. The move follows a stalemate among council members last week. Some had raised questions about whether city administrators followed proper protocols during the search for a management company. The short, two-year, contract is considered a temporary fix while a long-term strategy for all three courses is finalized. Glenn Pulice is a PGA Golf Pro and a member of the council appointed Detroit Golf Course Advisory Council. He tells WDET’s Amy Miller that most golf course management contracts are at least 10 years long.
“If you put out a long-term bid, and a long-term bid in golf would be is a 10 year contract with two 5 year extensions. If you do that, management companies that have the capital will invest in those golf courses and everybody wins” -Glenn Pulice
The city will pay for everything necessary to operate the courses. That includes new carts, maintenance equipment, and personnel costs. Pulice says it’s not clear how much revenue might be generated because the former management company did not fully share its financial records.
Click on the audio link above to hear the entire conversation between Pulice and WDET’s Amy Miller
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