A public hearing Monday night at Houston City Council sought input on whether the city should acquire a nine-hole golf course east of the community.
Attendees — who crammed into Houston City Hall — fell into two camps: Those who thought the 73.8-acre outlay provides a valuable tool to better the quality of life and recreational opportunities in Houston and those who believed the $325,000 purchase of the Oakwood Golf Club, equipment and 6,000 square foot club house was ill advised and a poor investment.
The hearing was called by the council to gauge opinions before the six-member panel makes a decision sometime next month.
Tona Bowen, Houston city administrator, outlined the issue before comments were sought from about 100 who attended. The course relocated off Highway B in 1983 after an often-delayed expansion of the Houston Memorial Airport forced the course’s new location and housing sprouted up around the property. In 2010, Clydie and Linda Evans acquired the property, and earlier this year Evans said he would offer the course for sale to the city. If city leaders opted not to purchase it, the property would be marketed for sale and would close at the end of the season if no buyer was found.
Bowen said the offer on the table includes a $125,000 buyout and assumption of some debt and ownership of equipment that the owners outlined as worth about $81,000.
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According to Bowen’s report, the club has 88 members, attracts golfers from the Houston and Licking areas and hosts five tournaments. In most area communities, Bowen reported her inquiry showed the community-owned golf courses cost those towns money, but provided benefits to their citizens. At Eminence, the town’s course operates without loss because of little labor expenses.
According to documents presented to the city by the owners, the Houston golf course operates with minimal loss, a sentiment echoed by Steve Pierce, a Houston businessmen who was involved in previous ownership effort formed to keep the golf course in the area.
Of the 13 people speaking, those in favor of the city’s acquisition said the course was an important calling card for the area. The Houston Area Chamber of Commerce’s board endorsed its importance, as did the town’s largest employer, Texas County Memorial Hospital.
The chamber’s executive director, Angie Quinlan, said the loss would be a “detriment to the community,” and the hospital’s physical recruiter said Oakwood was a valuable asset to the institution in bringing jobs and excellent incomes. Joleen Durham said the TCMH Foundation also has raised nearly $200,000 over the last 12 years at the course, which in turn supported scholarships for nursing students.
Others, like the Joe Kirkman, the city’s street and grounds superintendent, disagreed. He said the city had more pressing infrastructure needs rather than invest in “a hobby for a few.” A Houston businessman, Gary Parish, said the course was no financial benefit to citizens.
Brad Rees, a long-time advocate of the course, said loss would continue a string of setbacks related to recreation in the area and hinder a sport that has resulted in more college scholarships than other athletic programs at Houston. The district’s superintendent, Dr. Allen Moss, said he wasn’t sure what would happen to golf if the business folds. An option would be to bus students to Mountain Grove or Willow Springs, but expressed concerns about the transportation costs.
A show of hands — those living in and out of the city limits — showed the majority favored.
The hearing was called by the council to gauge opinions before the six-member panel makes a decision sometime next month.