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Superintendent Puts in Bid to Manage: City Golf Course David Huttie Joins Three Firms Competing for Allentown Contract.

Posted on: Saturday, 25 March 2006, 12:00 CST

By Scott Kraus, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.

Mar. 25--There's a new, old name in the running to take over Allentown Municipal Golf Course.

David Huttie, course superintendent since 2001 when he was hired by then-Mayor William L. Heydt, has put in a bid to become the golf course's manager.

"It would be very advantageous to the city because of my experience here," said Huttie, who added Friday that he applied for the contract in part to save his job and the jobs of other course staff.

He said he suspects he and others would be replaced if someone else wins the contract.

Including Huttie, four applicants met the Thursday deadline to submit proposals to manage the course. City officials are expected to select a winner next week.

Huttie joins three firms that bid for the job in November, when the city last advertised for proposals.

They are:

West End Golf of Allentown, a team of former city golf pro Jim Booros, now of the Jim Muschlitz Golf Academy, and golf pro John Eckenrode.

Freedom Golf Services/Rink Management Services of Mechanicsville, Va., operator of seven courses, including the American Legion Golf Course in Mount Union, Huntingdon County.

Billy Casper Golf of Vienna, Va., a company with a national track record that manages five courses in New Jersey and one in Pennsylvania.

City Finance Director Larry Hilliard said he reviewed the proposals Friday with a committee that includes Recreation Director Tom Smith and acting Community and Economic Development Director Lauren Giguere.

The group will meet again next week and make a recommendation by the end of the month.

Hilliard said the committee is looking favorably at two proposals that offer enough money to make the contract worthwhile for the city. He would not say which two they were or how much the firms had offered.

Hilliard said golf rates will probably remain unchanged, or have slight adjustments. There are no plans for significant changes.

"If anything changes it will be a tweak. If we do anything, it will be nominal," Hilliard said.

Until the end of March, winter rates remain in effect at the course -- $13 to play nine or 18 holes, plus $12 to ride in a cart.

In 2005, summer rates were $22 a round on weekdays and $28 on weekends.

The city has not decided on the price for 2006 season passes, which typically are available starting March 1.

Mayor Ed Pawlowski started the year undecided on whether the city should privatize the course -- a late 2005 initiative of former Mayor Roy C. Afflerbach.

Pawlowski got a two-month extension from current pro Deron Erney to manage the course, but was unable to reach terms with him to extend the deal until the end of the year in order to buy time to make a decision about the future of the course.

Pawlowski decided three weeks ago to go ahead with Afflerbach's privatization plan despite early misgivings and to solicit new proposals from management companies.

Erney said he is out of the running to manage the Allentown course. Golfers who want to see him this year will have to visit Olde Homestead Golf Course in Lynn Township, where he will be head pro.

scott.kraus@mcall.com

610-820-6582

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.

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Source: The Morning Call, Allentown, Pennsylvania

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