The Goodyear, Ariz. course was closed in August after a subsidiary of C-Bon International Golf Group, which had a contract to operate it through April 2037, terminated its agreement with Maricopa County, citing continued revenue losses. The county has now contracted with Southwest Golf Management, which will perform course maintenance and map out a 12-month plan for improvements. A soft reopening is scheduled for around Thanksgiving.
Maricopa County, Ariz. has reached a deal to reopen the Tres Rios Golf Course at Estrella Mountain Regional Park in Goodyear, Ariz., station KTAR of Phoenix reported. The course had been closed for more than a month, after the facility’s operator, Tres Rios, LLC, a subsidiary of the C-Bon International Golf Group, backed out of its agreement.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has now approved an agreement on behalf of the parks and recreation department to allow Southwest Golf Management to operate the course, KTAR reported.
The course was closed temporarily on August 17 after the C-Bon subsidiary announced it would terminate its agreement with the county in July, KTAR reported. The group had a contract to operate the course through April 2037, but cited continued revenue losses behind its decision.
“We knew we needed to have this facility open during peak golfing season, which is right around the corner,” Clint Hickman, the District 4 Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman, said in announcing the new arrangement with Southwest Golf Management and the plans for the reopening.
“That’s why the Board and our parks department expedited the solicitation process, to find the right concessionaire to oversee the facility and grounds,” Hickman added.
The county said five companies expressed interest in taking over operations of the course, KTAR reported. Of the five, it added, Southwest Golf Management, LLC., was the most qualified and in a position to take over management of the course immediately.
Southwest Golf Management will have to perform basic golf course maintenance and map out a 12-month plan for improvements to the facility as part of its agreement, KTAR reported. The company said it plans to have a soft reopening of the course around Thanksgiving.
Southwest Golf Management has previously managed three courses in Arizona, including Falcon GC in Litchfield Park, which was recently sold, and it also currently manages three courses in California.
“We’re looking forward to reopening the Tres Rios Golf Course with a team at the helm that has expertise in golf course management and a vision for the future of the facility,” said R.J. Cardin, Director of the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department.
“Between the summer heat and the pandemic, a lot of us have been feeling cooped up and just want to get outside and do something fun. Tres Rios is a great place to do that. I’m happy we were able to move quickly to get a new concessionaire on board,” added Supervisor Steve Gallardo, District 5.
Southwest Golf Management, LLC., is managed by Jim Bellows, Principal, and his partner John Wall, who began his career in the golfing industry working at the Estrella Mountain Golf Course at the age of fourteen, shagging range balls.Wall has since gone on to start and grow several-well known technology corporations, and as an avid promoter of golf for youth, he will play an active role in the development of a non-profit national junior golf program at Tres Rios, the county said in its announcement.
“John and I are very excited about this opportunity and have quite a bit of work to do over the next year to bring the course up to our standards,” said Bellows. “However, we know the community is eager to get back on the links, so we are planning for a soft reopening sometime around Thanksgiving. This will give us enough time to overseed and touch up the property before we welcome them back.”
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