OB Sports Golf Management has made significant strides with local municipalities this month. The City of Phoenix selected the Scottsdale-based operator to provide golf course maintenance services for five of the City’s municipal golf facilities — Aguila, Maryvale, Encanto, Palo Verde and Cave Creek Golf Courses.
That comes less than a month after the City of Tucson, Ariz. selected OB Sports to manage its five municipal golf courses — Dell Urich, El Rio, Fred Enke, Randolph and Silverbell.
“We look forward to a productive working relationship with OB Sports,” said Richard Miranda, City of Tucson Manager. “We believe with their experience in the Arizona golf market and their approach to golf facility management, OB Sports can achieve the goals we share of enhancing the golf experience for those who play on the five Tucson City Golf courses and moving our golf operations toward
financial stability.”
For Phoenix, OB Sports will provide all labor, supplies and equipment required for the comprehensive agronomic upkeep of these golf courses for a fixed annual amount. OB Sports expects to deliver significant annual savings to the City of Phoenix, while also improving playing conditions of each golf course.
“We are excited to enter this new relationship with OB Sports for the maintenance of five City of Phoenix golf courses,” said Phoenix Vice Mayor Bill Gates. “We were impressed with the local knowledge and experience of the OB Sports team as well as their commitment to golf course maintenance as a company. We are confident this will be a great partnership.”
To ensure the best results, OB Sports recently added golf industry veteran, Mark Woodward, to its team as Senior Vice President of Operations. Both he and Luke Beardmore, Senior Vice President of Agronomy for OB Sports, will provide hands-on oversight of the operation. Woodward’s leadership experience includes a three-year stint at San Diego’s famed Torrey Pines Golf Course, where he played an integral role in golf course preparation for the 2008 US Open; the management of Dobson Ranch Golf Course in Mesa, Arizona; and a recent term as the Executive Director for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Woodward also has worked with the City of Phoenix as a consultant at Papago Golf Course since early 2012.
OB Sports took over operation of the Tuscon courses on Feb. 1., handling all facets of operations including course maintenance, marketing, customer service, golf shop operations, food and beverage, and human resources.
The announcement came after an extensive review process undertaken by the City that resulted in the decision to hire an outside agency to manage the courses while the City retains ownership. Through a competitive RFP process, OB Sports eventually earned the contract, edging out 15 other golf course management companies along the way.