Palm Coast Council weighs RFP for Palm Harbor Golf Club amid strong public push to keep city operation

Palm Coast’s council opened a heated debate April 14 over the future of Palm Harbor Golf Club after Parks & Recreation staff presented a six‑month performance report and the results of a recent request for information (RFI).

Recreation manager Dennis Radiken told the council the course’s recent changes — new fees, a Walker’s Punch Pass and late‑day cart availability — helped lift revenue and customer engagement. “We are projected to come in at $72,625 in the black this year,” Radiken said, outlining improvements and pending capital needs including a $278,000 pump‑station replacement and quotes near $294,000 to replace 50 golf carts.

The council then reviewed eight RFI replies from national and regional course operators including American Golf Corporation, HNL Golf Group and local partnerships. The submissions varied from full management leases to hybrid public‑private arrangements and differed on the scale of capital investment and guarantees for resident access.

Mayor Norris said he supports issuing a narrowly drawn request for proposals to see “who will come in and invest” while keeping city ownership. ‘‘If someone wants the honor and privilege of operating our golf course, they must make a meaningful, documented capital investment and agree to resident rate protections and staff‑retention provisions,’’ the mayor said. He added he does not intend to sell the course and favors long‑term leases that require operator investment.

Vice Mayor Padier urged caution. She and other council members said issuing an RFP now could undermine the city staff’s turnaround at the course and unsettle employees. ‘‘I don’t want to send the wrong message to Dennis and his team,’’ she said, citing staff morale and the facility’s recent financial improvement.

Public comment filled more than an hour of the workshop. Dozens of golfers praised Radiken’s leadership and urged the council to delay any move toward a private operator. Jim Palmer, addressing council from the podium, said: “RFPs have been tried in the past and they have failed. Those people are only interested in making money. I think you ought to give Dennis at least a year to continue to show improvement before you even consider an RFP.” Many speakers warned that a private operator could raise fees and restrict resident access.

Council members directed staff to prepare a detailed RFP scope only if it contains strict parameters, including minimum capital commitments and language protecting resident access and existing staff where practicable. Staff were asked to return with a draft RFP for council review before public issuance. ‘‘We aren’t relinquishing ownership — we’re asking what the market will offer under specific, council‑defined terms,’’ Councilman Gambaro said.

Next steps: staff will draft RFP language that reflects council priorities — resident affordability, public access, capital investment requirements and employee protections — and bring the draft back to the council for approval before any public solicitation. The council also asked staff to present options to lock golf‑course net revenues to reinvest in course capital and operations.