New Operator Tees Off At McInnis on May 1

New operators will begin in May 2012 at the now that the Marin County Board of Supervisors approved a new lease with a Healdsburg golf company.

The county has been looking for new lease agreement since last November, and, after reviewing five applications, chose Tayman Park Golf Group. The transition to the new tenant will take place on May 1, and the group plans to retain a large number of the employees.

Under the 10-year lease agreement, rent will be paid based on a percentage of gross revenue. Tayman Park will pay the county 8 percent of food and beverage revenues, 20 percent of golf revenues, 3 percent of merchandise and 15 percent of rental and events.

The minimum annual guaranteed rent is $350,000. The new rental agreement represents a 7 percent increase in revenue to the county over the previous agreement with the former owner. As part of the agreement, the county agreed to contribute up to $985,000 for capital improvements to the facilities, including upgrades to the restaurant Tayman plans to make some cosmetic changes to the building as well.

“My expectation is that this will be a win win win–a win for Tayman, a win for McInnis, a win for Marin County” said Steve Petterle, the project manager for the lease.

Tayman Park currently operates Healdsburg Golf Course in Healdsburg, Ukiah Golf Course in Ukiah, and Fairground Golf Course in Santa Rosa, all of which are owned by public agencies and operated under lease agreements.
“We don’t come in with a strong arm, we listen,” Tayman owner Jimmy Stewart said.

The agreement marks a new chapter in the Golf Center’s 20-year history. In 1992, the county contracted with McInnis Park Golf Center Partners for the partners to construct and operate a golf center on county-owned land including the 9-hole executive golf course, driving range, clubhouse restaurant, miniature golf course,and batting cages.

In the original agreement, the partners retained ownership of the improvements through the life of the contract. In December 2011, a buyout agreement terminated the agreement and transferred ownership of the entire facility to the county. Since 1993, the golf center has generated revenue for the county in excess of $6.1 million.

 “There’s a really good crew of people there,” said Supervisor Susan Adams, who learned to golf on the McInnis course and frequents the restaurant for business lunches. “I look forward to continue making the business successful."