Seminole council discusses future operation of Jimmy Austin Golf Course as current operator declines extension

City staff told the Seminole City Council that H Property Management LLC will not seek an extension to operate the Jimmy Austin Golf Course when its current operations contract ends June 30, 2025.

Why it matters: The council must select new management or decide whether the city will operate the course directly. Council members emphasized protecting the volunteer-run Jimmy Austin Golf Association and obtaining basic operational data to help shape future leases and contractor selection.

City staff said the city has begun issuing a request for proposals for the course; proposals were due by Feb. 27 (staff noted the proposals had been distributed to interested respondents). Staff said they will score submissions and bring a recommendation back to council for final selection. The city manager and staff told the council they will not ask the current operator for an exit report as a contractual requirement, but the city keeps regular oversight of the property’s condition and operations.

In discussion, staff and councilors gave several details about the course’s condition and operations. City staff said the golf course averages roughly 10,000 rounds per year. The sprinkler control system (Rainbird) was described as nearing the end of its useful life; staff estimated about $9,000–$10,000 worth of sprinkler heads and related work are needed in the fairways. Council members said the greens are in good condition and praised the work of the greens superintendent and the Jimmy Austin Golf Association for post-tornado cleanup and course maintenance.

Council members repeatedly asked that the association be considered in future contracts so volunteers who support tournaments and youth programs can continue to participate. Staff said RFP scoring and, if needed, bidder interviews should allow councilors to evaluate how respondents will engage with the association and the community. Several councilors asked for nonproprietary, operational data (for example, rounds per month) rather than private financial reports, and staff agreed to provide general metrics to help the council evaluate lease proposals.

The council heard that the current superintendent has invested in the property and that the association has grown from roughly 80 members historically to “over 100” in recent years; staff and council members said the exact current membership figure was not specified in the meeting record. The council discussed amenities such as a driving range and advisory-board engagement; staff said proposals and interviews should address those features.

Next steps: Staff will accept proposals through the posted deadline, score respondents and return a recommendation to the council. Council members asked for summary operational metrics to be included in future briefings so the council can measure performance across leases rather than request proprietary company financials.

No formal action to award a new lease was taken at the meeting.