DeSoto Council authorizes purchase of Thorn Tree Golf Club, directs formation of venture LLC

The DeSoto City Council voted to authorize the city manager to pursue purchase of Thorn Tree Golf Club, approving a motion that authorizes formation of a Thorn Tree Country Club Venture LLC and a purchase not to exceed $2,700,000.

The actions followed public comment from residents and club members who urged the council to take control of the property. Mark Jones, who identified himself as a DeSoto resident, told the council, “24 years ago, my family and I bought our dream home in the great city of DeSoto, Texas,” and expressed support for council action. Tom Elam, a Thorn Tree member, described the club as “the best in the area” and urged the council’s involvement to halt what he described as decline under current ownership. Other speakers, including Bob Benjamin and Jim Johnson, spoke about a perceived decline in maintenance and urged the city to seek new ownership to restore the club’s condition and economic benefit to the community.

Councilman Andre Byrd moved to authorize the city manager to enter into an agreement to form Thorn Tree Country Club Venture LLC; the motion was seconded by Councilman Ken Waters and carried. Byrd then moved and the council seconded a motion to accept assignment of the existing purchase-and-sale agreement and to authorize the city manager to purchase the property and associated improvements and personal property on Tract 7-1 through 7 (approximately 157 acres) generally located at 825 West Wintergreen Road for an amount not to exceed $2,700,000. That motion passed 6–1.

Mayor Rachel Proctor announced the council would move into and reconvene from executive session under Texas Government Code Section 551.072 (real estate deliberation) before taking the motions. The council’s recorded motions authorize the city manager to execute closing documents, handle related closing costs, and proceed with necessary steps to complete the transaction if negotiations and title matters allow.

City staff noted dozens of comment cards submitted in support of a purchase and several residents spoke during the meeting in opposition to aspects of the transaction’s process. The council did not, during the meeting, publish a detailed funding breakdown in the motion; council members asked for, and some residents requested, clearer disclosure of the purchase funding sources and contingencies.

The city’s authorization does not itself complete the sale; staff are authorized to close under the purchase limit and to execute closing documents. Any additional terms or owner-initiated changes would require further council action if they exceed the approved not-to-exceed amount.

What’s next: Staff will proceed with the closing process under the authorized parameters and return to council with any substantive deviations needed to complete the acquisition.