Deadline to reopen Waterville Golf Course fast approaches

A lone flag, surrounded by knee-high weeds and patches of clover, stands vigil over the unkempt greens of Waterville Golf Course last week. The facilities and grounds have been closed since Cleveland leased the golf course to GSP Business Alliance LLC earlier this year.
A lone flag, surrounded by knee-high weeds and patches of clover, stands vigil over the unkempt greens of Waterville Golf Course last week. The facilities and grounds have been closed since Cleveland leased the golf course to GSP Business Alliance LLC earlier this year.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - If the Waterville Golf Course is not open for play Monday, the Cleveland City Council is ready to take action Tuesday.

The greens, now choked with knee-high weeds and patches of clover, have been closed since the city began leasing the golf course to GSP Business Alliance LLC on March 1. The company entered into a $60,000 annual lease with Cleveland under a 10-year renewable agreement.

GSP has not made the first lease payment, Cleveland Assistant City Manager Melinda Carroll said.

The city has given GSP until Monday to rectify the situation. The Cleveland council agenda for Tuesday gives notice that a motion may be made regarding the golf course, but offers no details.

"I'm not sure what we'll do, but I hope [the golf course] will be open," Councilman Avery Johnson said.

The council has a number of options, Carroll said, including ending the agreement with GSP and signing a new lease with another operator.

Johnson repeatedly has voiced concern over the idle golf course since GSP took over. Golfers, too, have publicly expressed disappointment with the situation.

Several Waterville club members said they have tried without success to contact GSP personnel.

In recent meetings, city officials also said they have not had much luck contacting Rocky Morgan, CEO for GSP Business Alliance.

City Attorney John Kimball said communications have been primarily limited to GSP's attorney.

Carrroll said GSP's attorney has blamed the delays on insurance hurdles associated with water springs on the grounds that serve Cleveland Utilities.

The city decided to lease Waterville Golf Course after it lost more than $300,000 every year for three years in a row. A study by the University of Tennessee's Municipal Technical Advisory Service cited a steady and severe decline in rounds played at the course.

The council approved GSP's proposal on a 7-0 vote in late January.

In the proposal, Morgan said GSP "will offer affordable golf membership plans and competitive day rates to encourage the revitalization of the golf course and community participation."

Cleveland financial director Shawn McKay said it would cost $54,450 a year to transform the course into a regular park.

Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.

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