DATE: Friday, November 21, 1997             TAG: 9711210644

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   45 lines

PORTSMOUTH, SUFFOLK AGREE ON GOLF COURSE

Portsmouth and Suffolk officials have reached an agreement that extends the lease on the Suffolk Golf Course another 10 years, and provides extra money for Portsmouth and revenues for Suffolk.

Portsmouth owns the golf course, which it leases to Suffolk.

Under the terms of the agreement, which Suffolk officials expect to finalize Tuesday, the cities also will work together to build a new golf course somewhere in Suffolk.

Suffolk agreed to pay $1.8 million in rent over a 10-year period and make $1.2 million in improvements to the course.

The deal, which would take effect Jan. 1, would supplant a contract with Portsmouth that would have expired in March 1999.

Suffolk citizens will not have to pay for the increased rent or course improvements.

Steve Herbert, Suffolk's assistant city manager for development, said Suffolk is in the process of subletting the golf course to the Suffolk Golf Recreational and Charitable Association.

The private operator is expected to pay $400,000 more in rent than Portsmouth is charging and would make the $1.2 million in course improvements.

Herbert said $50,000 of the $400,000 profit would be used to conduct a study with Portsmouth on the possibility of building a new golf course.

``This is an important asset to the city,'' Herbert said of the Suffolk course. ``Not only will we be able to continue offering affordable golf prices, but we also get help in building another one.''

The potential partnership between Portsmouth and Suffolk marks the second time this year that the two cities have worked together on sharing resources.

In September, Suffolk began purchasing 2 million gallons of water a day from Portsmouth.

Ronald W. Massie, Portsmouth's city manager, said the partnerships are helping Portsmouth add dollars to its bank account, which will help the city improve its services.

Portsmouth identified upgrading its recreational facilities as a goal this summer.

The money from the golf course deal will be used to improve the city's other courses.

Portsmouth owns two golf courses in its own city and two in Suffolk. Sleepy Hole Golf Course is the other Portsmouth course in Suffolk.

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