A city-owned golf course in Ocala may be a candidate for private redevelopment because its operations are unprofitable.
The city government leases the 18-hole Pine Oaks Golf Course to a company seeking termination of its lease agreement.
According to Ocala City Manager John Zobler, the city should consider private redevelopment of the 218-acre property, because it operating it as an 18-hole golf course “is no longer an economically viable option.”
Among other reasons, Zobler cited the proximity of the golf course to employers at the Ocala/Marion County Commerce Park, including Autozone, Chewy and FedEx.
In a memo, Zobler said the number of rounds played at the golf course has fallen by an average of 500 per month during the last 12 months, compared to the previous 12 months.
CC Golf Management Inc. told the city Jan. 29 that it wants to terminate its lease to operate Pine Oaks Golf Course by May 11.
Operations at Pine Oaks Golf Course are unprofitable and fail to support adequate maintenance of the aging property, according to Clark Creamer, president of CC Golf. [Ocala Star-Banner] – Mike Seemuth