AGA to walk away from Papago?

[teejaywhy]

This news is a week old but has not yet been mentioned here so I thought I'd provide a link to this shocking story that appeared in last Thursday's Arizona Republic:

 

 

"AGA to walk away from Papago

 

by Russ Christ - Sept. 16, 2009 04:16 PM

Special to the Republic

 

The Arizona Golf Foundation is preparing to walk away from the Papago Golf Course project it undertook only 18 months ago.

 

Papago, owned by the City of Phoenix since 1963 and long considered one of the finest and most popular municipal golf courses in the U.S., underwent an extensive restoration project in 2008 under the guidance of Arizona Golf Management LLC, an arm of the Arizona Golf Foundation, which is a tax-exempt organization operating under the umbrella of the Arizona Golf Association.

 

The course reopened in December 2008 to initial accolades for its improved look. It hosted the Phoenix LPGA International in March.

 

The flowers of praise have started to wilt in the dog days of the Arizona summer.

 

A new clubhouse was promised but has not been built. Significant principal payments on a $9 million loan are coming due. Revenues have fallen far short of projections, and several operations people have lost their jobs. Al Murdock, Papago's general manager who began his golf career in 1965, said his position was eliminated on Sept. 1..."

 

Much more in the full story here:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/golf/artic...agoaga0917.html

[AzPGAPro]

THANK GOD! The AGA has no business trying to run golf facilities. Stick to know what you do best guys...AM tournaments!

[teejaywhy]

A story in Saturday's Arizona Republic indicates the management issue remains murky:

"[b]Uncertainty remains over Papago course operators[/b]

by Scott Wong - Nov. 14, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
[i]
Less than a year after completing a multimillion-dollar makeover of Phoenix's Papago Golf Course, the non-profit group that manages the storied municipal links is sending mixed signals about whether it will stay on board.

Earlier this year, the Arizona Golf Foundation, the charitable arm of the state's most influential golf association, cast doubt on its 25-year agreement to renovate and manage the course.

A Sept. 14 announcement by the foundation's parent, the Arizona Golf Association, said the group was preparing to withdraw from participation in the Papago Golf Course Project.

"As you know, this is not a good time for any business, especially one that depends upon discretionary dollars," association President Frank Shipman said in a statement two days later. "We recognize that there are too many layers of management. We feel that it is in the best interest of all parties for us to withdraw from day-to-day operations."

Both Shipman and AGA Executive Director Ed Gowan declined to explain the association's announcement. Foundation President Tim Kloenne, also a past president of the golf association, declared this week: "We are the operator, and our plans are to fulfill the 25-year agreement we have with the city." He called back a day later to say he was retracting his statement and would have no further comment.

So far, the course has remained open.

The professionals the foundation hired to manage the course - Marvin French and Michael C. Trimboli, better known as the Golf Guys LLC - have remained in charge of day-to-day operations. And there's talk the duo may step in if the foundation bails.
...[/i]"


Rest of the story:
[url="http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2009/11/14/20091114papago1114.html"]http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix...papago1114.html[/url]

[ckguy914]

I had never seen Papago in its old glory days but I loved the layout and was one of my favorite courses to play on. I remember having such high expectations playing it the first time since the reno but only to be disappointed by the same proportional amount. I had not played there since. Such a pity.

[teejaywhy]

While I think the refurbished fairways and bunkers are superb and the opened vistas created by the tree removal is remarkable (all though I believe they could still get rid of another 100 or so...). The greens will need some time obviously being brand new. The periphery still retains the scruffy muni look and I would have thought that they would have put in new cart paths all around as it seems they risk compaction of the new turf they spent so much money on... It is obvious that they ran out of money. There is no way they can command the upscale fees they planned to charge until they complete the infrastructure.

The main thing I'm disappointed with is the maintenance philosophy in that they still are going for the PGA tour setup with the narrow fairways and grown up rough around the greens. The course needs to be opened up - fairways widened and the greens surrounds maintained with some cut down run-off/ chipping areas.

I'm hoping to get out there a couple of more times before the end of the year and make use of the resident card I bought.

[razorbird]

They couldn't even manage the executive course at camelback and hayden. This was a bad idea to start. The AGA has NO BUSINESS in the field of golf course management. But now it's too late.

[JIMENG]

I lagree the AGA needs to get out of running courses. I not sure of the best idea, but someone like Troon Golf or similar may be able to run it and keep it in good shape. The first thoght would be to get the city to run it, but they would run into the ground like it was prior to it's renovation. With the economy in AZ so bad it seems logical to see courses here close, but seeing a course like Papago shut down seems really bad.

[razorbird]

How about make it a historic landmark. Bottom line though, AGA needs to be held accountable- financially and otherwise. I wonder if the USGA has any grounds for disciplinary action for conduct unbecoming of a golf organization...

[djdogstar]

Any updates on the status of Papago? Played recently and it seems that they are not putting money into maintenance...

[teejaywhy]

Played it about a month ago. Tees, fairways, bunkers and greens are fine and the renovation provides a much better playing experience than before. It seems they ran out of money to FINISH the job. They still need to cut back some of the trees, especially the DEAD ones . It just retains the muni feel, scruffy around the edges, not awful, which is fine except for the fees they are trying to get.

Still one of my favorite courses in the Valley.

Don't have any news about the management situation though...

[BALLARD2]

I have recently heard that ASU may be looking into developing the land that Karsten currently occupies and then acquiring the rights to papago...

interesting, certainly the land that Karsten is on would be attractive for development,

anyone else hear this?

[fore_life]

I had heard from a few different sources that ASu was going to build on Karsten and that Papago would be ASU's home track.

[jzona]

lets hope so! AGA has done NOTHING but run Papago down the sewer!

[teejaywhy]

Wonder if the Solheim family will be happy to see their $8M donation plowed under?