the future of bowie golf
TRANSCRIPT
The Future of Bowie GolfA Pictorial History and Future Analysis
The Past, Present and Future of Bowie Golf• History
• Lease Agreements
• Consultant Reports
• Bowie Golf Management in the Future
Pictorial History of Bowie Golf
Hole #18 – Circa 1981
Hole #12 – Circa 1981
Hole #1 Clubhouse View – Circa 1993
Hole #1 – Before Cart Paths and Forest to Right and Left of Tee Box
Hole #1 With Bowie’s General Manager John Huber – Note the Scoreboard in the Background that still stands today – you can also see the farm property in the background – Circa 1991
How Did We Get Here?Lease Agreements Over the Years 1981 - 2021
1981• Owners of the Course were approached by Developers who made an offer to purchase
• Owners gave City of Bowie the option of matching offer and keeping as an open space
• Bowie City Residents passed a Referendum to have City purchase property and keep space as a golf course
• City purchased 20-year bond with understanding that Fred Ryder Enterprises (later named Bowie Golf Management (BGM) after his death) would make the bond payments from proceeds from the course.
• City and BGM enter into 20-year lease agreement
• BGM invested $500K for the irrigation system that is currently in use
2001• Bond paid off in full per lease agreement
• City of Bowie is now the owner of the asset that was paid for with proceeds under the management and direction of BGM
• Due to the SUCCESSFUL partnership, the City extends the lease agreement for 10 years with options for two successive 5-year extensions
• BGM was grooming John Huber to take over BGM at the end of the final lease agreements
• John become the Assistant PGA Pro for Bowie
• BGM made significant improvements to the property including paving the parking lot, cart paths, outdoor pavilion and clubhouse extensions among other work to the property over the lease periods
Grooming of John Huber\Playing Career• 1995 Became a Member of the Professional Golfer’s Association of America (PGA)
• Became General Manager in charge of all day to day operations
• John was responsible for the shaping the course design including the identification and planting of the trees that line the course to this very day
• Having come through junior golf, John was instrumental in establishing the First Tee Program at Bowie and continues that work through clinics and tournaments year-round.
• John won his first ever PGA Tour event by shooting 66 and beating former Maryland Golf Coach and current Champions Tour Professional Fred Funk by 1 stroke at Glendale
• John also holds the course record at Bowie with a 61 and held the record at Renditions for over 8 years with a -7 65.
2011• The City and BGM exercised the first of 2 5-year lease option extensions
• John Huber continued to oversee the day to day operations for BGM
• BGM owners begin retirements and exit strategies
• Both City and BGM discuss needed repairs and improvements
• 2012 John becomes General Manager and Head PGA Golf Professional
2016• Second 5-year extension initiated
• BGM begins transition plans for John and City of Bowie
• Repairs necessary for the future of the Course discussed on various occasions but no plan consummates
• Irrigation system begins failing – its useful life has expired
• Clubhouse shows signs of aging
Consultant ReportDo we need to spend $12 Million Dollars Today? NO!
Course Management and Design Firm• Report presented to City estimated renovation costs of $12 Million Dollars including:
• New Clubhouse• Expanded Driving Range• Reconfiguration of Certain Holes• Cart Path repair• Irrigation Systems• City to contract with management firm at cost of $300K per year and a revenue sharing plan
in the firm’s favor• City would lose local partnership and community feel to course operations
What is Really Needed Now?• Irrigation System
• Its nearly 40 years old and past its useful life• Its only one of 3 such systems still in operation on the east coast
• Clubhouse• It is old and needs repair but this can wait• Temporary bathrooms have been well-received by patrons• Once the economy recovers from COVID-19, we can work with our state delegation to secure
funds to offset the costs of a new clubhouse
• Maintenance and Upkeep• City has been a better partner in working with BGM grounds keeping staff and that
cooperation will be necessary moving forward
The Future of BGMJohn Huber and his Vision for Bowie Golf
Options for the City of Bowie• Retain BGM with John Huber as owner/operator
• He has over 40 years experience running the course• He is very popular with the members and guests to the course• He has established and developed model program for youth golf• No one has the passion for Bowie Golf that John possess
• Contract with an outside management group that is unfamiliar with Bowie• Cost prohibitive for the City• Loss of local Bowie Community feel• Uncertain management future if management company fails
• City of Bowie and its employees will operate and manage the course for the City
• Sell the property
Economics• City has asset worth $12 million dollars paid for through the partnership with BGM
with no costs to the taxpayer as per the agreement
• Consultant Report stated that $1.9 million would be needed annually for City and/or management group to take over operations for golf course (City stands to lose $700K to $1M per year)
• BGM has paid the City over $4 million in fees, taxes (amusement and sales) and other payments over the past 40 years
• BGM and Bowie Golf has benefited from additional rounds of golf due to the closure of 3 area courses over the past 3 years; Glenn Dale, Patuxent and Cross Creek
• City would have to pay a management company $300K per year, plus $12 million in upfront renovations in addition to the $1.9 million in startup costs
What the People Want• Residents have already passed a referendum to keep the course an open space
• Without the course, MAGLEV may have gained more momentum in being built through our City
• Non-residential use of the course increases ancillary business opportunities for the Bowie Business Community
• With only minimal investment, Bowie Golf will be here for future generations
• BGM is eager to work closely with the City to continue the improvements to the grounds and facilities
Contact InformationCarrington & Associates, LLC.
J. Darrell Carrington
Email: [email protected]
Cellphone: 732-763-7398
Bowie Golf Management
John Huber, PGA
Email: [email protected]
Cellphone: 301-928-4574