Advisory board recommends ending Top Tracer contract at Fernandina Beach driving range

The Golf Course Advisory Board voted unanimously on Feb. 27 to recommend that the City Commission end the Top Tracer driving-range contract on or before Feb. 9, 2026.

Jeffrey Biggers, golf director for the Fernandina Beach Golf Club, told the board the contract term runs through Feb. 9, 2026, and said staff sought the advisory committee's direction as the contract approaches expiration. "We believe the range should be a money maker," Biggers said, arguing the city must weigh whether Top Tracer drives revenue in the local market.

Board members cited low local uptake, competition from nearby facilities and unclear net financial benefits. One member said Top Tracer "did not work" in prior years and suggested the building could be repurposed for equipment storage or for expanded, non-technology driving-range operations if the contract is not renewed. Staff described options to reduce costs immediately by not turning the Top Tracer system on while the license fees remain until formal termination, saving staffing expenses even though licensing and data fees would still be payable until the contract ends.

Staff and board members discussed timing and notice requirements. Board members asked for financial records to be reviewed before final action; staff said they would provide revenues and expense details to the advisory committee and present the recommendation to the commission at an upcoming workshop and the next commission meeting.

A motion was made recommending the termination of the Top Tracer contract on or before 02/09/2026; the board recorded the recommendation as unanimous and agreed to forward it to the City Commission for final action.

Next steps: staff will prepare the advisory committee's recommendation and financial backup for the city's golf workshop on Tuesday and for the commission meeting where the commission will make the final decision.