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Seaford council renews seven-year management contract for Hooper's Landing, approves greens renovation plan
Summary
Council unanimously approved a seven-year renewal with Atkins Management to continue operation of Hooper's Landing Golf Course and to support a multi-year greens renovation project, with a compensation schedule that includes 4% annual adjustments and a renovation timeline built into the contract.
Seaford City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 11 to approve a seven-year renewal of the Hooper's Landing Golf Course management agreement with Atkins Management.
The contract extension, presented by city staff, would replace the existing five-year term and run through 2033 if enacted with the next budget cycle. City staff said the redlined draft includes an updated mailing address and a compensation schedule that increases annual payments by 4% each year. The contract also memorializes a multi-year greens renovation plan put forward by course managers.
Chris Atkins, who identified himself as a member and owner of Atkins Management, introduced a management team that included head golf professional Mike Connor and agronomy director Michael Pine. Connor told the council the course has seen a roughly 14% increase in annual pack memberships over the past three years, hosts multiple high-school teams and charity tournaments, and produced about $240,000 in cart-fee revenue in the last year.
Michael Pine and other staff described a phased greens renovation that would remove the top layer of existing greens, install drainage and pea gravel, convert to sand-based greens, and add a 19th green to avoid a full-course shutdown during construction. Managers said the 19th green would likely be a par 3, will be positioned away from the highway and supplemented with protective plantings, and that the project timeline is tied to a seven-year renovation schedule.
Council members asked about durability, safety near the road, driving-range impacts and membership strategy. Management attributed slower growth this past year in part to weather, and said the company plans to use online booking and member retention strategies (including holding membership rates for the contract term) to stabilize revenue while renovations proceed.
Councilwoman Grasset moved to approve the agreement as presented; Councilman Quillen seconded. The council recorded verbal "ayes" and the motion passed unanimously. Staff said the revised contract would take effect with the new fiscal year and that implementation steps, including scheduling and budget adjustments, will follow in the city budget process.
What's next: The council approved the contract; staff will finalize and execute the agreement and incorporate the project schedule and compensation changes into the FY2026 budget cycle.
