New Course Needed on Golf Pact

Everyone seems pleased with the way Avila Golf Management has been running the city of Ventura’s Olivas Park Golf Course for the past 15 years. The greens are properly green; the rough is properly rough.

But now, as contracts do, Avila’s deal with the city is expiring.

The normal procedure in such a case is for each party to take a look at the arrangement and decide whether it is in his best interest to renew, to renegotiate, or to go looking for a different partner.

This time, one party--the city--had a problem. Rising demand has turned golf courses into gold mines. A look at comparable courses showed the cities that own them are raking in about 40% of the greens fees, compared to the 20% that Avila’s lease requires him to turn over to Ventura. (The company also pays the city 27% of its driving range fees and provides carts and runs the pro shop at the city’s other golf course, Buenaventura.)

“At one time that was probably fair,” said director of management resources Marilyn Leuck. “But the popularity of golf has changed dramatically over the years. It has become very competitive.”

Renegotiate? Two months of talks haven’t brought the parties to a mutually agreeable deal.

So since it’s renewal time, why not put it out for bids? To its credit, the city is doing exactly that. The council voted 5 to 1 last week to let other management companies bid on a short-term contract to run the course while the city develops a golf master plan.

Avila is welcome to bid but instead has sued.

It’s understandable that Avila, a generous contributor to political campaigns over the years, would be startled to see the city playing hardball in negotiating a new contract. But we applaud the city for taking steps to see what the market will bear.