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Brockton committee backs five‑year lease for 74 golf carts at DW Field
Summary
The Finance Committee recommended a five‑year lease of 74 golf carts from New England Golf Cars for DW Field Golf Course, with annual payments of $76,836 and a service agreement; discussion addressed revenue, staffing limits and liability coverage.
The Brockton Finance Committee on Monday recommended that the City Council authorize a five‑year lease for 74 golf carts at DW Field Golf Course through New England Golf Cars.
Timothy Carpenter, superintendent of parks, and assistant Kurt Calderwood presented revenue and expense analyses showing a record 2025 season with more than $1.8 million in gross sales. Carpenter said municipal golf courses commonly lease fleets and that the proposed state‑contract lease would deliver a new fleet every five years. The lease payment schedule totals $76,836 yearly with an additional $616 per year for on‑call maintenance; a service agreement included in the proposal carries about $3,600 per year for vendor maintenance and pre/post‑season servicing.
Councilors questioned affordability, fleet condition, staffing capacity (the golf course reported roughly five staff), and insurance coverage for cart damage and personal injury. Carpenter said buying a new fleet outright would cost roughly $500,000 and that projected sale of the existing fleet could net about $100,000. On liability, Carpenter said normal wear and tear is covered by the lease; extraordinary damage could still create city obligations, but such incidents have been rare in his 14 years at the course.
"This lease proposal would allow for an entirely new fleet of carts addressing cart condition concerns and golfer satisfaction and relieve the burden of maintenance from the golf staff," Carpenter said.
Councilor Castro and others pressed Dr. Clarkson on whether the golf enterprise fund can sustain the payments without general‑fund support; Clarkson said the golf operation can afford the lease and that the course's revenues are used to fund other recreation programs in the city.
Committee members also asked about the monthly payment schedule (May–October payments of $12,806/month in the operating season), the condition and number of carts to be sold by RFP, and whether the service vendor would perform onsite repairs (the vendor will come on‑site). After discussion the committee voted to recommend the lease favorably to the full council.
What happens next: The lease will go to the full City Council for final approval and the city expects payments to begin May 2026 if approved.
