Source: Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Ind.)
The Lafayette Parks & Recreation Department has resumed management of the Lafayette Municipal Golf Course for the first time in almost six years.
Catastrophic flooding shut the course each of the last two years and cut sharply into golf season revenues.
But even a contract restructuring in 2003 couldn't preserve the private management relationship with Jerry Hayslett's Lafayette Gold LLC that began in 1999 and was scheduled to continue until 2010.
Parks board member Rolland Strausbaugh, who retires next month after 17 years, never agreed with outsourcing management of the course and is glad it's back under city control.
"We didn't have a choice," Strausbaugh said Tuesday. "Mr. Hayslett didn't want to continue, but we wanted to keep the course open."
Parks superintendent Ted Bumbleburg, who began his career with the parks department at the golf course two decades ago, took over course management on Monday.
"We feel that being responsible for the restoration after the floods, being able to recoup cost of restorations is in the best interest of the parks department," Bumbleburg said.
In 2003, Hayslett's company paid more than $150,000 for flood recovery. The parks department picked up the 2004 tab that exceeded $50,000.
The parks board had previously set up a $1 charge per nine holes played to help pay for flood recovery, but the fund had only accumulated $8,000 when the summer 2004 flood hit.
Mary Vaca and her husband Jim play the course weekly when it's open. She praised the management company for providing one of the nicest public courses she has ever played.
"It provides the best bang for the buck," Vaca said. "If the city's goal is longevity of operation, I say go for it - but I have no complaints about the management."
Next year's golf fees still are being determined. Bumbleburg has recommended they remain the same as this year, but the board has the final say. Course operations are being performed by staff left over from Hayslett's company, including the pro shop manager and the greens keeper.
The parks department is currently looking at staffing and developing a budget for the course. Bumbleburg and city leaders are thinking about forming an advisory committee to provide input on golf course usage and management.
"Golf is like other sports, you have highs and lows," Bumbleburg said.
Besides flooding, the municipal course revenues have been dampened by competition from several new or renovated courses in recent years.
"You hope you don't hit valleys, but you do."
Strausbaugh said it will take some time to hammer out final details of the contract termination, including figuring out at what cost the city obtains ownership of maintenance equipment and golf carts.
"We're in the golf course business now," he said. "I want to get it set up and back under control."