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Hotel owners propose ground lease for Harder Hall golf course; council schedules workshop
Summary
Harder Hall owners asked the council to approve a ground lease transferring operation of the municipal golf course to the Harder Hall ownership group. Councilors expressed support but raised contract, staffing and long-term control questions and voted to schedule a workshop with the owners to negotiate terms.
Representatives of Harder Hall’s ownership and their attorney presented a proposed ground lease on March 18, 2025, that would transfer operation and financial responsibility for the municipal golf course from the City of Sebring to the Harder Hall ownership group.
Brian Sykes, attorney for the Blackman family principals, described the proposed ground lease as a mechanism for the city to retain land ownership while the tenant (the ownership group) takes on all operating costs, maintenance and capital improvements for the golf course. Sykes said the city would shed an annual subsidy currently needed to operate the course—citing the city’s 2023 financials showing roughly $798,302 in golf course revenues and $1,307,946 in expenses—and the tenant would be required to keep the…
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