Value Golf LLC will operate the Amherst Audubon, Audubon Par-3, and Oakwood golf courses through December 31, 2019. Value Golf will be granted the $275,000 license by paying the town in numerous installments, and make a payment of $21,000 each year for capital improvements.
The Amherst, N.Y., Town Board in a 3-2 vote authorized a licensing agreement with Value Golf LLC for management of the town’s three golf courses, the Amherst (N.Y.) Bee reported.
The five-year, $275,000 license of the golf facilities will be valid through December 31, 2019. Supervisor Barry Weinstein said that because it is a licensing agreement, it allows the town to revoke the contract at any time, the Bee reported.
Value Golf is part of Value Turf LLC, which was one of two respondents to the town’s request for golf course management bids. The three golf courses owned by the town are Amherst Audubon Golf Course, Audubon Par-3 Golf Course, and Oakwood Golf Course, the Bee reported.
In the approved licensing agreement, standards for the maintenance of the golf facilities will be included as part of the contract, the Bee reported. Other details include:
• All utilities except the main phone at Audubon and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning will be paid by Value Golf
• The contract provides a lease-to-own of 54 used golf carts to Value Golf for $100,000 paid over five years or fair market value, whichever is greater.
• Value Golf will use portions of the town’s parks building and pesticide building for storage of its equipment.
Value Golf will be granted the $275,000 license by paying the town in numerous installments, totaling $30,000 for 2015; $40,000 for 2016; $55,000 for 2017; $70,000 for 2018; and $80,000 for 2019. In addition, the company will make a payment of $21,000 each year to the town for the purposes of capital improvements, the Bee reported.
In the agreement, the town has set the maximum fees for users of the golf courses. Value Golf may set the fees anywhere below the maximum amounts, the Bee reported.
Deputy Supervisor Guy Marlette initiated a resolution in August to seek an outside company to manage the golf courses, which he said annually result in a loss of money for the town. As a result of the agreement, town employees who were maintaining the golf facilities will be shifted to duties within the Highway Department, the Bee reported.
Weinstein said he was optimistic about the agreement with Value Golf. “We have faith that [Value Golf] can turn this around,” Weinstein said. “And, we’ll be keeping a close eye on them.”
While Marlette, Weinstein and Council Member Steven Sanders voted in favor of the agreement, Council Members Ramona Popowich and Mark Manna opposed the measure. Manna said he would have preferred a public meeting with area golfers before seeking outside management of the golf courses. “The goal is to improve the courses, and I see nothing in this contract that does that,” he said.
Marlette stressed that the town is not selling any of its golf management assets. “We’re licensing them to be used by the company,” he said. “The idea is to enhance the experience of the golfer.”
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