THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 23, 1994 TAG: 9412210123
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
SHORTLY AFTER THE first of the year the City of Portsmouth will issue a proposal for the lease or possible sale of the Bide-A-Wee golf course.
A contract for the operation of Sleepy Hole golf course and park is only awaiting the signature of the firm which was selected to operate those facilities.
The city's other golf course at Portsmouth City Park is being run by pro Jim Armentrout and his staff and this operation is in the second year of a five-year contract.
J.S. Baar, a partnership between Armentrout, the present golf pro at Sleepy Hole, and Ronnie Rountree, the president of Rountree Construction in Suffolk, is expected to sign an agreement to lease Sleepy Hole very shortly.
The Baar proposal was selected by the city because it included an extensive plan for renovations and improvements to all facilities at Sleepy Hole, including the golf course, the Obici House and the park. Other bids did not.
Reportedly the lease is for a 10-year period. Until negotiations are completed, Armentrout said he cannot discuss his plans.
Earlier Mayor Gloria Webb said she would like the city to use revenues from the lease of Sleepy Hole to improve Bide-A-Wee and City Park.
A Request for Proposal drawn up in 1993 on Bide-A-Wee said the course could be leased for five to 10 years unless terminated by the involved parties. If the parties agree, the lease could be renewed for up to two more 5-to-10 year terms.
The 129-acre Bide-A-Wee course was built in 1955 by golf pro Chandler Harper, who leased it from the city. Since 1992, the city has operated it as a municipal course.
The last revenue figures available (from Oct. 1, 1992, to June 30, 1993) show Bide-A-Wee took in $167,236.25 from golf fees and $65,032.08 from golf carts for an overall income of $232,268.33.
A net loss of $177,016.26 was reported for this period with expenditures of $409,284.59. This included $30,939.84 in capital improvements.
During the same period Sleepy Hole golf course showed a profit of $67,618.09.
Sleepy Hole took in $369,896.40 in golf fees and $129,667.84 in cart rental for an income of $499,564.24. Expenses were $431,946.15.
Losses at Sleepy Hole incurred in the operation of the park and Obici House. Only $6,750 in income was received from Obici House and expenses there totaled $38,319.45.
Sleepy Hole Park had $34,118 in revenues and expenses were $140,685.62. The expenses included $38,926.78 in capital improvements.
The losses from Obici House and the park operation totaled $138,136. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
The 129-acre Bide-A-Wee course was built in 1955 by golf pro
Chandler Harper, who leased it from the city. Since 1992, the city
has operated it as a municipal golf course.
by CNB