Residents seeking Tiger Point golf sale - Pensacola News Journal
As the city of Gulf Breeze continues to move forward with an operating agreement at Tiger Point Golf Club, a group of nearby residents are in discussions with at least one party interested in buying the city-owned facility.
Whether Gulf Breeze City Council would agree to sell the course is yet to be determined, but several council members have expressed a desire to get out of the golfing business â€" something only entered into as a money-saving venture for the city and its utility ratepayers.
Santa Rosa Shores homeowner AJ Sutton, who is among the group of residents actively seeking potential buyers, said talks so far have garnered interest from two investors, and there are others they still plan to approach about the purchase.
“We’d like to see somebody come in that knew how to run a golf course and would do a good job,†Sutton said. “And that would be in the best interest of the entire community.â€
The group has spoken with city officials about the idea, which Mayor Matt Dannheisser said will likely depend on several significant factors, including paying the city the amount it has invested in the course.
Expenses include about $3 million for the December 2012 purchase and immediate improvements at the course, along with another $2 million in capital expenses since then, according to the city.
Gulf Breeze purchased the financially-struggling golf club with the intent of using it to mitigate costs associated with the South Santa Rosa Utility System, planning to use a portion of the club property to expand a plant it already owns that borders the golf course.
Any potential buyer would also need to manage the effluent disposal from the wastewater treatment plant, Dannheisser said, which is a complicated agreement between the owner of the golf course and the utility.
Dannheisser said though he can’t speak for the entire council, he would be willing to consider selling the facility if those conditions were met, along with setting aside a portion of the property to expand the treatment plant as planned.
“The city really does not have much desire to be in the golf business,†Dannheisser said. “We did this to save on the utility side, and so if someone’s willing to take us out for what we have invested in it and can take care of the operational issues, then by all means, we’d have to consider it.â€
Councilman Joe Henderson, who was against buying the golf club from the start, said he’d be more than willing to let the course go if a reasonable offer is made â€" even if it means losing a little money in the process.
“I would much rather it be in the hands of a private entity,†Henderson said.
Though the city is in negotiations with Orlando-based Integrity Golf Company for an operating agreement at the golf club, it would only include the 18-hole east course â€" not the shut-down west course, which has been a source of contention for some nearby residents after the city committed in 2012 to reopening and restoring it within a three-year time frame.
After hiring a consultant to evaluate operations at the golf club, Gulf Breeze has since realized the cost to bring the west course back to playable condition would be significantly more expensive than anticipated, causing them to reconsider charging utility ratepayers for the expense.
Former United Peninsula Association President Don Richards, who has advocated for south Santa Rosa residents for years and is also in discussions with potential golf course investors, said he hopes to be able to bring a solution to the city that will be beneficial to all involved.
“I think it’s the best thing for the peninsula, if we can find somebody to agree to fix this course up and keep it at 36 holes,†Richards said.
The city of Gulf Breeze and Santa Rosa County will have a joint public meeting to discuss Tiger Point Golf Club, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Tiger Point Community Center, 1370 Tiger Park Lane, Gulf Breeze.
More on Tiger Point Golf Club:Â
Tiger Point residents talk about impact of closed west course Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com
Tiger Point Country Club damaged by fire Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com
Midway Fire Chief Jonathan Kanzigg talks about the Tiger Point Country Club Fire Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com
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