The agricultural district that leases land to the Bolado Park
Golf Course is willing to reduce the rent by more than 50 percent,
while the state board is giving the financially troubled club until
June to formulate a more suitable business plan.
The agricultural district that leases land to the Bolado Park Golf Course is willing to reduce the rent by more than 50 percent, while the state board is giving the financially troubled club until June to formulate a more suitable business plan.
The 33rd District Agricultural Association last week agreed to further concessions with Bolado Park Golf Course, which had requested leeway in light of continued deficits for the past decade and the forced closure that occurred three weeks ago.
Although the state representatives appear willing to work with the golf course – acknowledging in the written proposal that it “holds a strong place in the hearts of many people,” despite the possibility it is no longer viable – that agricultural district overseeing the fairgrounds and neighboring course also sent a stern warning: Either clean up your act, or we will find another tenant. The letter noted how the district over the coming months will look for a private entity to manage the course.
“In the event that the SBCG&C is not able to effectively meet their challenges,” it reads, “and we receive a proposal from a viable entity, we will make every effort to continue the tradition of golf at this site. If, however, the SBCG&CC is not successful, and we do not receive viable interest, we will have to consider other, more broad-based recreational uses for the property.”
That letter criticizes a recent proposal from Bolado Park Golf Course to waive lease fees for six months, waive water charges for six months, pass through the $950 monthly rent earned on a mobile home on the property, and provide monthly financial statements to the district. The state district’s board called those requests “insufficient” and contended they indicate “not only a continued poor grasp of their own financial situation, but also an incomplete understanding of the fiscal responsibilities of the 33rd DAA …”
The state district noted the reduced rent is temporary, and with “strict conditions”. While the golf course’s leadership is set to meet Wednesday, the proposal from the agricultural district called for the following:
– Reduce rent from $2,083 to $1,000 per month, to be paid monthly rather than quarterly and in advance, while requesting rent be paid from the past three months.
– The water bill must be paid, and the letter noted how it is a “misnomer” while pointing out Bolado owed for water dating back to August.
– Provide a suitable representative to attend the agricultural district’s board meetings, along with a monthly financial statement.
– By June, the club must have prepared a business plan and projected budget for the next year.
The state district’s letter went on to suggest ideas such as using volunteers, catering and rentals of the clubhouse, and renting or use of the house on the property. That proposal contended that revenue from the mobile home and house alone would nearly cover the club’s entire lease amount.
The agricultural district board’s current president, Ann Hall, said the three-page letter to the golf club “pretty much spells it out”.
“We want to work with them, but they’ve got to be responsible for their own expenditures and they need to make some changes in the direction they’re going,” Hall said.
Bolado Park Golf Course board member Phyllis Swallow confirmed the club received the agricultural district proposal, which still would need additional approval from the state. Beyond that, she said there was nothing to report.
“We are still working with the 33rd ag, making progress,” she said.
See the full story in the Free Lance.
Below is an edition of the Score, which profiles Bolado’s troubles.
