Amid “rumors and misinformation,” the City Council of the California city was scheduled to hold a “study session” on the pros and cons of selling the course, and to give the public a chance to voice concerns should an offer be made.

Amid rumors and misinformation about the sale of the Lemoore Municipal Golf Course, the Lemoore, Calif., City Council was scheduled to hold a “study session” on September 17 to discuss the future of the course, The Sentinel of Hanford, Calif., reported.

Mayor Billy Siegel requested a discussion of the pros and cons of selling the course, and the meeting would allow the public a chance to voice their concerns in case an offer is ever made, according to The Sentinel.

A number of citizens have been critical of the potential sale, it was reported, especially in light of repeated postings on City Council agendas regarding interest in the property by the Tachi Yokut tribe.

In a staff report issued in advance of the September 17 meeting, Parks and Recreation Director Joe Simonson said no formal offer had yet been made, The Sentinel reported.

Several months ago, a Tachi Yokut representative approached Acting City Manager Jeff Laws to inquire about the course, leading to a round of golf between a Tachi representative and city officials, it was noted.

Then on August 8, the council voted to loan $1.44 million from city reserves to pay off debt at the course—a decision, according to The Sentinel, that will save the city about $1 million over the next eight years and yield a higher interest rate for the loaned funds than would have otherwise been earned.

Simonson named several advantages to selling the course in his report, The Sentinel reported. In addition to getting the city off the hook for associated financial obligations, it would also no longer have to pay for needed improvements and replacements for water wells, lost greens and maintenance to the cart barn and clubhouse.

Disadvantages of a sale, it was noted, could include loss of local control over the course, including local selection of the management company, and the possibility that the property could be converted to other uses.

There was also the possibility of losing the course altogether if the buyer fails, The Sentinel reported. “What if the new owners were to fail and the golf course was in complete disrepair and an eyesore to the community, similar to the [nearby Selma Valley Golf Course]?” Simonson said in his report.

In his report, Simonson pointed out that the sale would also forfeit potential long-term income from the golf course after the city pays off all associated debts, which was projected to occur around June of 2027.