Every four years, Metro Parks shall compile a benchmarking report of Louisville Metro-owned golf courses for the purpose of equipping Louisville Metro to make informed decisions regarding golf operations. The report should review or evaluate eight to 12 other municipal golf operations and semi-public/private courses within municipalities that are comparable to the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) of Metro Louisville.
Metro Parks shall contract with a private entity or person for the management of any Metro-owned golf courses by December 31, 2019. The following restrictions must be contained in any future request for proposal and subsequent contract executed for the management of the property:
(A) The person or entity must be or employ a Class A PGA Member (“Pro”) to manage each Metro-owned public golf course, or, for Metro-owned nine-hole courses only, an entry level PGA Pro, who: (1) shall have commenced the process to acquire Class A PGA Membership prior to the execution of any Metro golf course management contract; and (2) shall provide sufficient evidence of continued enrollment in the PGA program to Metro Parks on a biannual basis; and (3) shall complete such accreditation within two years of execution of the contract. PGA Professionals shall be provided the opportunity to submit proposals on all individual Metro-owned public golf courses. Pros in the process of acquiring Class A PGA Membership as outlined herein may submit proposals on Metro-owned nine-hole golf courses; provided, however, and for nine-hole courses only, if no satisfactory proposal is received from a Pro or Entry-Level Pro, Metro may contract with a person or entity who employs an experienced manager who demonstrates qualifications to manage a public golf course;
(B) The person or entity may manage two courses with a maximum equaling no more than 27 holes - unless there is a death or separation of employment and another Pro fills in on an interim basis during the transition period to keep the Metro-owned golf course open while Metro seeks to fill the vacant position;
(C) The person or entity may not manage another competing course, whether private or semi-private, while maintaining a contract to manage a Metro-owned public golf course;
(D) The person or entity shall employ staff to manage the clubhouse, concession stand, and golf carts as well as hold all applicable licenses and certifications (Liquor license, insurance, Health Department, Revenue Commission, etc.).
(E) The person or entity may close the course during the months of December, January, and February with the exception of Seneca, Vettiner, Iroquois and Quail Chase all of which are to remain open during the Winter Season. The person or entity at Seneca, Vettiner, Iroquois, and Quail Chase may close on any given day due to inclement weather.
(F) The person or entity shall provide quarterly reports for each golf course to the Parks and Sustainability Committee of the Metro Council, or its successor. Reports shall, at a minimum, include the following:
(1) Hours of operation;
(2) Rounds of golf played;
(3) Revenue from all sources;
(4) Number of reservations;
(5) Number of passes used;
(6) Number of scrambles benefiting non-profits played at each course; and
(7) All costs associated with maintaining greens and grounds.
(8) An itemized breakdown of all revenue, expenses, and profits associated with the operation of the clubhouse and pro shop, including, without limitation, concession standards, golf carts, merchandise, scrambles, and lessons.
(H) (1) A new RFP shall be required every five years for each golf course. An exception shall be provided if a person or entity is provided a two year extension.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (H)(1), contracts in effect as of May of 2023 may be extended until December 31, 2028, at which time a new RFP shall be required pursuant to subsection (H)(1). The RFP shall be let for golf course management only and will include all Louisville Metro Municipal Golf Courses.
(I) All proposed contracts for the management of Metro-owned golf courses shall be submitted to the Council in the form of a resolution for approval.
(J) No Metro-owned golf course shall remain closed, temporarily or otherwise, due to a lack of a contract with a private entity or person. If, for any period of time, a golf course lacks private management then Metro Parks shall manage and maintain the course until a suitable management contract is in place.
(K) If Metro parks has managed a golf course for longer than one year, then Metro Parks shall let a Request for Proposal soliciting proposals from third party entities to manage that golf course as a golf course.
(Lou. Metro Ord. No. 26-2018, approved 3-21-2018; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 154-2019, approved 10-10-2019; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 180-2019, approved 11-21-2019; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 34-2020, approved 3-10-2020; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 27-2021, approved 3-4-2021; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 76-2022, approved 6-23-2022; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 95-2022, approved 8-10-2022; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 115-2023, approved 9-11-2023)