PANAMA CITY — No one has responded to the county’s request for a company to operate Bay Dunes Golf Course, calling into question whether it will remain open.
Representatives from three golf companies took a pre-proposal site visit to the course several weeks ago, which was required before a company can respond to a Bay County request for proposal that has been advertised to manage and operate the course. Those requests were required to be in to the county by 2 p.m. on Jan. 21, and none came in.
There were 10 companies that requested proposal packets but only those three companies showed up at the required meeting at the course.
The companies that took the tour were GAC Contractors, representing Holiday Golf Course on Panama City Beach, which is currently operating the course on a short-term lease that expires on March 17, First Links, which operates Nature Walk Golf Club in Lynn Haven and Down to Earth, Inc. out of Tangerine, Florida, which operates numerous courses in Central Florida including those at The Villages.
Several course operators and county officials said as much as $750,000 needs to be spent to install an adequate drainage system and to bring the course up to par. The county might get some interest from operators if it fixed up the course and particularly if it also agreed to help with ongoing operational costs.
Holiday Golf Course president Allen Bense said the county will need to consider whether it wants to invest in the course as a recreational amenity.
“It is a public policy issue,” he said.
The course at 5304 Majette Tower Road is popular with seniors and people looking for reasonable green fees.
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