(March 2, 2017) The Ocean Pines Association announced on Tuesday it had parted ways with golf management company Landscapes Unlimited and would self-manage the golf course.
The association ousted former golf manager company Billy Casper Golf in February 2015. Landscapes Unlimited, based in Nebraska, took over in May 2015.
The company’s 36-month contract reportedly included management of the course as well as the clubhouse, Tern Grill, the cart facility and the maintenance building. The original agreement had Ocean Pines paying a base management fee of $6,500 per month with an annual 3 percent increase.
The contract reportedly included an opt-out clause, beginning in fiscal year 2017, if budgetary projections were off by more than $50,000.
According to a budget forecast prepared by interim General Manager Brett Hill on Jan. 9, golf revenues for fiscal 2017 were budgeted at $1.257 million and forecast at $1.159 million.
The release stated the transition of management back to Ocean Pines is effective as of March 1.
“According to both Landscapes President Tom Everett and Ocean Pines Association President Tom Herrick, the decision to terminate the management agreement was wholly amicable, as significant operational strides were clearly made during the last 22 months,” the release stated.
“The new Board and interim general manager wanted to consolidate all operations under one roof,” Everett is quoted as saying in the release.
“We always want to make sure we leave a facility in better shape than when we found it, and I can confidently say we have done so at Ocean Pines,” Everett continued. “We certainly wanted to continue to develop the club environment — the people of Ocean Pines deserve nothing less. But neither did we want to stand in the association’s way if they wanted to centralize operations. We wish them all the best.”
Interim General Manager Brett Hill added Landscapes “really wanted to continue what they started, but understood the association’s predicament.”
“Landscapes Unlimited has some of the best people in the industry and worked really hard to achieve the objectives that were laid out for them, but in the end we felt it best that we control our own destiny going forward,” Herrick said in the release. “Resident play increased under Landscapes’ leadership, but membership sales had not taken off like we had hoped. I will give them credit, however: They laid the groundwork for the golf club to continue to improve the club atmosphere for Ocean Pines residents.”
The release added, “It is anticipated the existing management team will remain in place going forward.”
That will likely include longtime Golf Director John Malinowski and Golf Course Superintendent Rusty McLendon.