By Betsy Finklea
Dillon City Manager Glen Wagner recently answered several questions submitted to him about the golf course project the city is undertaking. The lease has been signed, and the city takes over on June 1. At this time, the county has not committed to assist the city in the project. Below are our questions and Wagner’s answers:
Question: When did you sign the lease?
Answer: The lease was sign April 18.
Question: What are the terms of the lease?
–How long is it?
Answer: It is initially for five years with option to rollover three times at five year intervals at same cost.
—How much is it?
Answer: $2500 monthly
—Is there a way out if the city should so decide?
Answer: Yes. There is an out but we would sub-lease for the remaining years in the five year agreement. The city has an option to buy.
Question: Exactly what is the city responsible for–just the golf course or are there other things?
Answer: The lease is for the 100 acres that include course, pro shop, ponds, parking lot, driveway and maintenance shed.
Question: Has the county joined the city in this project?
Answer: Not as of today.
Question: How do you plan to fund it?
Answer: With hospitality funds and county funds if they agree for the first year or so, then revenue from play and membership.
Question: Will there be members or can anyone come play? What are the fees?
Answer: There will be membership and daily fees as we have at the wellness center. The fees are not set. Hopefully, they will be set in the next week or so.
Question: When will the city officially take over?
Answer: June 1
Question: Will the course remain open or will it be closed for a period of time while the city gets it more presentable?
Answer: It will be open.
Question: Is there specific staff who will manage the course and what kind of experience do they have?
Answer: Todd Hayes and David Strickland. Both have over 10 years experience in golf course management along with combined 20 years in turf management.
David has an Associate Degree from Horry -Georgetown Tech in Golf Course Management and has worked with Golf Courses in Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island and Wilmington as Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent of three golf courses He has worked with the City of Dillon at the Sports Complex for the past six years maintaining the turf of all athletic fields.
Todd Hayes attended Horry- Georgetown Tech and studied Golf Course management and has worked at Twins Lakes for several years along with working five years at USC athletic department in turf maintenance under the supervision of Sarge Frye. While at USC, he help maintained Williams-Brice Stadium playing surface, Sarge Frye playing surface along with the playing surfaces at Stone Stadium (Soccer) and Beckham Field (Softball). He has been employed with the City of Dillon since 1999 maintaining the turf at Sports Complex and later moving to maintain all aspects of the Wellness Center.
Also, Cope Ray will assist. He has been with course over 30 years in maintenance and knows the course inside and out. Also, part-time employees in pro shop will be given the opportunity to remain.
Question: What are the first improvements that you plan to make at the course?
Answer: Cleaning up course and correctly maintaining fairways, tee boxes and greens through funding that has not been done in a few years.
Question: What is or do you have an estimated cost to get the course to the initial level that you want it to be?
Answer: First year vs. future years, I anticipate to be the same in expenses around $300k. What we can do is use city’s other resources in manpower and equipment to help in maintaining the course to make the golf course a great asset and wonderful playing experience for our citizens and visitors. The goal is to make it the best golf course in the Pee Dee region. It will take 12-18 months to get where the staff would like to see the course be.
