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Chickasha Municipal Authority approves agreement letting nonprofit run city-owned golf course; council seeks reporting safeguards
Summary
The Chickasha Municipal Authority approved a usage and maintenance agreement giving the Chickasha Golf Foundation nonprofit responsibility for operating the city-owned Country Club golf course; council members asked for revenue reporting, limits on third-party commercial uses, and a plan to address safety concerns about stray golf balls.
The Chickasha Municipal Authority voted to enter a maintenance and user agreement with the Chickasha Golf Foundation to operate the city-owned golf course (the former Country Club property) and authorized the chair to execute the agreement.
Pat Brooks, an initial board member of the Chickasha Golf Foundation, told the authority the group has applied for 501(c)(3) status and established a fiscal sponsorship fund with the Communities Foundation of Oklahoma. Brooks said the foundation’s mission is to keep the course open as an inclusive public facility focused on youth golf, community events and volunteer-led maintenance. “We hope to have money upfront through donations to get started,” Brooks said, and described fundraising commitments that he said amount to “six-figure funds” pledged for initial operations and improvements.
Council members and legal counsel asked how revenue would be handled and whether the foundation could sublet the property or bring in for-profit tenants. Amanda, the authority’s counsel, pointed to language in the agreement that says "no other use is permitted without prior written consent of the Chickasha Municipal Authority," and that any revenues are to be used exclusively for operation, maintenance, improvement and support of the property and its activities. The authority’s attorney also said any sublease or materially different use would need the authority’s written permission and likely a returning council approval.
Members pressed for clarity about safety: council asked for assurance that measures—such as netting to prevent out-of-bounds golf balls—would be in place. Staff and foundation representatives said the authority would consider a plan and that the city intended to place netting before play expanded; council requested a report back on timing.
The authority approved the usage agreement and instructed staff to return with specifics on reporting, netting, and any future proposals for revenue-generating tenants beyond the foundation.
