Florence council approves Troon Golf management contract for World of Golf in 3'to—2 vote

Florence City Council voted to authorize a management contract with Troon Golf LLC to operate the city-owned World of Golf, approving municipal order MO 2125 by a 3'to—2 roll-call vote.

City Administrator Joshua Hunt and staff told council that the city ran a competitive request-for-proposals process that produced two responses — Landrum Golf and Troon — and that, after interviews and detailed review, Troon submitted what staff called the stronger overall proposal. "Troon brings a national management platform and ... organizational depth," Hunt said, adding the firm offered budgeting, performance metrics and defined termination rights that improve the city's ability to hold an operator accountable.

Hunt and other staff framed the recommendation largely as a risk-management and sustainability decision: Troon's national scale would allow better purchasing power and continuity if an individual operator were to leave. "You don't want your multimillion dollar asset solely being dependent upon one person," Hunt said. He also stressed that the city is not selling the property and that the facility will remain World of Golf.

Council members pressed staff on succession planning and pricing. A council member asked whether Troon's approach would raise fees; a Troon representative and council allies said the company's strategy emphasizes increasing volume and improving service rather than a strategy of across-the-board price hikes. "Their strategy is to increase volume, not price," one council member said. Hunt added the operator must submit annual plans for council approval under the city's budget cycle.

Members also raised questions from the public about whether existing lessons, passes and programming would be honored. Hunt said lessons and passes will be honored and that programming is expected to continue and possibly expand under Troon's management.

The motion to approve municipal order MO 2125 passed on roll call: Ms. Wingo ' Yes; Ms. Chambers ' No; Mr. Wynne ' Yes; Mr. Snyder ' Yes; Ms. Cable ' No. Mayor announced the motion carried 3'to—2.

What happens next: the mayor was authorized to negotiate and execute a management agreement consistent with Troon Golf LLC's proposal and the RFP response; annual operating plans and capital spending by the operator will come back for council review as part of the city's budget process.