3 Detroit golf courses spared from closure in narrow City Council vote

Three of Detroit's municipal golf courses — Chandler Park, Rackham and Rouge Park — won't shut down after all.

Following a deadlocked vote last week, the Detroit City Council on Tuesday narrowly approved by a 5-4 margin a $180,000 management contract for the courses in favor of Signet Golf Associates II, The vote staved off an announcement made by Mayor Mike Duggan's administration last week that said the courses would close later this month after the existing contract ended.

Some council members publicly criticized the administration for threatening to close the courses, including Council President Brenda Jones, who said again this week she felt the administration was trying to place the blame on council, calling it "dirty politics."

Jones said council members had valid concerns about the transparency of the vendor selection process and chided the administration for rushing the process along.

"I'm concerned as well ... with the process of how all of this took place," Jones said. " ... To say that City Council is the reason (for the golf courses shutting down) — it's nothing but dirty politics. ...I think the blame should be on the administration who brought something to us at the last second. ...I think that's unfair to us as well as the golf courses."

Jones and members Roy McCalister, Gabe Leland and Janeé Ayers voted no. Council President Pro Tem Mary Sheffield and members James Tate, Andre Spivey, Scott Benson and Raquel Castenda-Lopez voted yes.

Sheffield submitted a memo last Thursday requesting council to reconsider its vote.

Within the past several months, many council members have raised concerns about the vendor selection process. And last year, the City Council and administration tangled over a separate $98,000 consulting contract for seeking ideas to potentially turn Chandler and Rouge into a residential development, industrial park space and other purposes.

[This blighted golf course in northwest Detroit could become a public park. Tap to read more]

Detroit's chief procurement officer, Boysie Jackson, said in an interview with the Free Press last week that council had a seven-day window, by this Tuesday, to reconsider its vote but once that date passed, the city would have to begin the bid process all over again.

The courses were set to shut down Friday, Jackson said, because the city's current contract with Oakland Township-based Vargo Golf Detroit expires Thursday.

"This was a sham," Vargo owner Robert Vargo said to council after the vote, alluding he may consider legal action.

[This Livingston County golf course was named 2017 Michigan golf course of the year. Tap to find out why.]

The Free Press reported in 2016 that revenue from the four courses has dropped in recent years. Revenue in 2016 for the golf courses was nearly $42,000, a significant drop from $104,000 in 2015 and $125,000 in 2014. The funds dropped partially because a portion of revenue went toward settling a $442,000 water bill for the courses.

Jackson said his office led a six-month procurement process that ultimately selected Signet Golf Associates II, a North Carolina-based company, to operate and maintain the three courses for a two-year, $180,000 contract.

In addition to Signet, the city received responses from Billy Casper Golf, Vargo Golf Detroit and Kemper Sports Management.

McCalister said he believed there were "several issues" with the process.

"Everything that was requested was not adhered to or manipulated," McCalister said. "It has been stated for several weeks about how this process has gone on for three years and each year we come back to the same … same issue: Last-minute information and ... bullying. I think it's at a time where we should be coming together, where everyone works with this issue and this issue is closed so those who play golf feel confident that not only the City Council, but the administration has worked to make sure this issue is behind us."

Contact Katrease Stafford: kstafford@freepress.com or 313-223-4759.