Sarasota Firm to Manage County Golf Courses

The Manatee County Commission laid off nearly 30 workers this week when it contracted out management of the county's two public golf courses.

The county signed a five-year contract with Pope Golf, LLC of Sarasota for the management of Buffalo Creek and golf courses. The contract includes renovations to both courses and revenue sharing that is expected to bring in $2.7 million to the county over five years.

The move was designed to save the county money as maintenance costs rise and the number of users has decreased in recent years.

County Commission Chairwoman Carol Whitmore on Tuesday urged Pope Golf to hire as many of the employees working at the golf course as possible. Pope is responsible for hiring the employees at the golf courses. In the contract, Pope agreed to give preferential employment opportunities to county employees working at the golf courses.

The county negotiated a contract with Pope Golf that provides taxpayers with 10 percent of the revenue from the golf courses in the first two years. The county will receive 20 percent of all revenues from both courses in the last two years. In the third year of the contract, the county will receive 15 percent of revenues from Buffalo Creek and 20 percent of the revenues from Manatee Golf course.

The County anticipates it will receive about $355,000 in the first year and more than $2.7 million over the course of five years.

The contract requires Pope Golf to support all operations and maintenance costs at both courses, as well as making capital improvements to both facilities to help provide golfers with "high quality public golfing experiences."

The contract includes improvements to the greens at both courses, remodeling bag drop areas, tee box renovations, adding starter consoles at each course, a bridge upgrade at Manatee Golf course, repairs to the retaining wall at Buffalo Creek and parking lot improvements at each course.

The contract is also designed to expand the county's community golf programs and provides for discounts for Manatee County residents.