Authority to draft outings guidelines after restaurant warns organizers are bypassing on-site dining

John Lloyd, manager of the Oak Hills restaurant Odines, told the Oak Hills Park Authority on March 19 that winter revenues and attendance have lagged and that outings that do not use the restaurant threaten the business’s viability. "When an outing doesn't want to use the restaurant, we say thank you very much and go find another place," Lloyd said, urging the authority to take a firmer stance.

Several authority members agreed. Committee member Gary Leeds said it is “bewildering” that some outings can decline food and beverage from the host club and still occupy the course, leaving kitchen staff without customers on days the course is closed for groups. Leeds and other members asked staff to pull historical data on outings and revenue so they can assess the financial impact on the restaurant and on course operations.

Staff and the newly arrived golf professional, Nick Novak, said outreach to outing coordinators had been limited during recent staffing transitions, and that contracts and communications are being re-established. Jim Shell (superintendent) and Jim Holiday (general manager) said contracts for outings were being finalized and that outing coordinators would be contacted once those contracts are issued.

Rather than adopt an immediate policy, the authority agreed to assemble a small working group — including staff (Jim Shell and Jim Holiday), the golf professional (Novak) and members such as Leeds and Allan — to draft formal guidelines aimed at encouraging use of the on-site restaurant and at clarifying minimum expectations for large groups. Rich Dinger, vice chair, asked the group to prepare a recommendation for the next agenda.

The meeting produced no vote or binding change to existing contracts. The planned next step is a staff-and-member working session to produce draft guidelines for authority consideration at a future meeting.