The City of Lemoore will talk to golf manager Richie Rhoads regarding course lease

All this comes on the heels of two recent public hearings asking Lemoore’s citizens to comment on the proposed sale of the 21-year-old course to the Tachi-Yokut offer for $5 million.

When contacted Friday, Laws said he hadn’t touched base with Rhoads but had plans to do so.

The Tachi offer may be just one of three proposals city councilmembers may be considering. They could of course decide to do nothing.  At the last public hearing, held December 17, City Manager Jeff Laws reported that an undisclosed firm has asked for 60-90 day due diligence period so that it may consider an offer.

Rhoads’ offer has been around for some time. He has presented an offer to lease the course from the city, keeping the course in the city’s name, while he makes the loan payments. Rhoads told The Leader he’s like to structure the payments over a 17-year period.

“Let me sit down (with the city) and see exactly what the numbers are,” he said. “I’m willing to negotiate these numbers.”

Rhoads has been associated with the Lemoore Municipal Course since its opening in 1992. In addition to his title as head professional he is also the course manager.

During the two public hearings councilmembers faced a barrage of discontent from citizens adamantly against the sale of the course. There was little support for such a sale to the Tachi-Yokut tribe.

Tachi Chief Financial Officer James Snead said the Tachi, instead of paying directly for the course, would structure the payment plan over the course of 14 years, ending with a lump sum $2 million payment in 2027.