Source: Ventura County (Calif.) Star
The start of 2005 has not been easy on Soule Park Golf Course.
The heavy winter rains which pounded Southern California left the Ojai Valley-based golf course with more than $3 million in damage. Parts of several fairways and tee boxes were damaged or left inaccessible.
Now comes word that the M.F. Daily Corporation, which has been leasing and managing the golf course since 1993, has opted out of its contract to run the Ojai course.
Tim Wolfe, the chief financial officer for the Daily Corporation, confirmed his company informed the county on March 4 that it was invoking a clause in its contract which allows the lease to cancelled. The lease had another 18 years left.
Wolfe said the clause deals with destruction of the course, and that's why the Daily Corporation has the ability to terminate the lease.
As for what prompted the Daily Corporation's decision to sever its ties with the county, Wolfe said he was reluctant to get into any further discussion about the decision.
"We're still having discussions with the county of Ventura in order to work out a smooth transition which will benefit the golfers and the public," Wolfe said.
"We are still managing the golf course at this point. It is open for play and we are all working toward a smooth transition."
Soule Park Golf Course is under the jurisdiction of Ventura County's General Service Agency.
Rebecca Arnold, deputy director of the GSA, reiterated Wolfe's position about the cooperative nature of the talks between the county and the Daily Corporation.
The county's contract with the Daily Corporation calls for the Camarillo-based company to pay a small amount of rent to the GSA, plus pay them a percentage each year based on revenues.
Arnold confirmed that figure has been around $400,000 annually.
That money has been funneled back into the county's park enterprise fund, which helps handle maintenance work and other upgrades at county parks.
Arnold said golfers need not fear that Soule Park will be closed because of this management transition or the needed repairs.
"The golf course will not close," Arnold said. "We have started a search to find an interim operator to manage the course and oversee the restorations.
"Our immediate priority is keeping the golf course open and restoring it."
As for where the money will come to make repairs, Arnold said the county is exploring several options.
"We are not sure what will be available and the most cost efficient method for the county," Arnold said. "At the very least this is an enterprise fund, so we could get a loan from the general fund to make the repairs."
Arnold said there is no set time frame for securing a new operator and starting repairs.
"We're working furiously every day,"Arnold said. "We don't want to lose opportunities in terms of restoration through the emergency proclamations.
"So we are moving as quick as we can, but we have no set date."
Arnold said that even when repairs start, the golf course will stay open for business.
Employees at Soule Park Golf Course, like head golf professional Tyson York, are suffering through some nervous days.
"It's a little scary," York said. "We're watching to see what happens.
"It continues to be business as usual. All 18 holes are open and we're continuing to serve golfers."
York said the biggest question that he and other staff members have been receiving is can they get to the course?
"We get about 15 calls a day asking if the roads are open," York said. "People still don't know if the roads to the area are open or not."