“After months of public input, legal counsel, and Town Manager Mary Jacobs’ financial analysis for the various options, it became increasingly apparent to me that the Town could best be served by keeping the 36 holes.” Mayor Joe Winfield said this during his “State Of The Town” address in September.
Last week, we asked the Mayor why he felt this was the best solution. He gave us 5 reasons.
1. There is potential for growth in corporate memberships
“One of the things I believe is that the courses have not been marketed aggressively; and this is something I have heard from the time I was campaigning. I think one constant theme [that some spoke to him about| was that [the courses] were being under-marketed and managed to fail. I’m hoping that we can change that paradigm and be more aggressive at marketing.” By doing that “I believe that there is an opportunity to increase membership by increasing corporate memberships.”
Town of Oro Valley Golf has one corporate member. “I’d like to see 35 new corporate memberships and 10,000 more rounds.”
2. Town Of Oro Valley Golf subsidy levels have been decreasing
According to Mayor Winfield, Town of Oro Valley Golf losses have been slowly decreasing. He sees a trend. They have been “downtrending” over a recent three month period.
3. There was not ‘enough’ difference in subsidy between 18 and 36 holes
Winfield gave significant weight to the town manager’s golf financial projections. “If you looked at the golf options between 36 holes and 18 her financial analysis showed those very similar.” He noted that the 18 holes option did require less subsidy.
4. There are potential purchase contract challenges to any change
According to Winfield: “Given the executive sessions we had with legal team and knowing some of the challenges the town could face legally, that certainly factored in.” The Mayor declined to elaborate because the discussions were held in executive sessions. LOVE and others have reported that the purchase agreement has many clauses that favor the seller. One, for example, gives the seller unlimited veto power over the selection of course management firm.
5. Public support favor keeping the courses
“The preponderance of community input at these various public hearings and emails I received were in favor of golf.”
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