New Golf Course Bids Suggested

After a tense meeting, a City Council panel recommended Thursday that a contract for concessions at the Encino-Balboa Golf Course be scrapped and the bidding process reopened.

The recommendation followed an uproar over the contract-award process, during which the Board of Recreation and Parks chose American Golf Corp. over another firm, Family Golf Centers.

Family Golf’s bid for the coveted contract had been given a higher rating than American Golf by city staff following an economic analysis.

So when the board selected fourth-place finalist American Golf instead last November, a furor erupted among golfing and labor interests who alleged the process was unfair.

“There was no visible reason to select American Golf,” said William A. Schickler III, vice president of Family Golf.

After Thursday’s vote, Schickler added: “We are delighted to have the chance,” to compete on a new contract.

American Golf executive vice president Joe Guerra declined comment, except to say that his company too welcomes the chance to compete anew for the contract.

The 10-year contract to operate the driving range and pro shop and give lessons at the course is estimated to be worth between $3 million and $5 million to the competing golf companies.

The vote to scrap the contract came after a lengthy debate in which members of the Board of Recreation and Parks defended their choice.

But while the dollar value of the bids was similar, the board’s selection of American Golf was, “such a flawed process [that] there is no way for the public to be confident of the decisions up to this point,” said the committee’s chairman, Councilman Mike Feuer.

Thursday’s committee recommendation is subject to approval by the full City Council.