July 12, 2021
LA County Parks and Recreation Issues a Request for Proposals for Management, Operations, And Maintenance of Golf Courses
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (LA County Parks) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the management, operation, and maintenance of a substantial portion of the County’s golf course portfolio.
The bundle of six (6) golf courses at five (5) facilities in this solicitation, which appeal to a broad range of golfers of all skill levels, have historically serviced approximately 377,000 annual rounds played. These courses represent a considerable opportunity for the successful proposer to earn substantial income while contributing to the growth and long-term sustainability of the game of golf and recreation for County residents.
The County’s golf course portfolio represents the largest municipal golf course system in the United States, with 20 golf courses at 18 facilities spanning from the San Gabriel Mountains to the cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. There are 1.8 million visitors and 1.2 million rounds of golf played at County golf facilities each year, where over 700 community members, including high school/college students, seniors and retirees are employed.
Located in a number of exciting market areas within Los Angeles County, the facilities in this solicitation have a proven history of extraordinary rounds utilization, while others present an opportunity to see their full potential realized by a visionary operator. The Department may add or delete golf course facilities prior to submission of proposals by amending this RFP with a written addendum.
The golf system is a source of immense pride for the County and its residents. Collectively, the golf course portfolio contributes significant annual funds each year towards the Department’s overall budget, helping to fund essential recreational services and programs to Parks users Countywide.
To further our support of the County’s golf course operators and in pursuit of long-term sustainability, LA County Parks recently adjusted the County’s green fee pricing structure in such a way that: i) allows our operators to optimize utilization and revenue through dynamic pricing mechanisms within a specified range of minimum and maximum allowable green fee rates and ii) ensures pricing and revenue potential keep pace with rising costs by committing to annual adjustments to the minimum and maximum allowable rates that mirror inflation.
Overall, LA County Parks’ objective is to find a strategic partner for the bundle of golf facilities contained in this RFP who share our values and overarching goals and objectives for golf recreation in the County. To that end, the Department has recently completed a comprehensive Strategic Plan for the County’s golf system which outlines eight (8) strategic pillars for the Department, as summarized below. Each strategic pillar has been developed with the guiding principles of Community Benefit and Diversity in mind – and our golf courses must adequately serve and appeal to the diverse user segments and communities to which they belong.
- Community Access and Integration – Further expand the use of County golf facilities to activities beyond golf. Support increased access to County golf facilities by all community members with a focus on equity and inclusion.
- Golf Accessibility and Diversity– Play an important role in growing the game of golf in Southern California and help shape how future generations engage in golf at the grassroots level.
- Modern Infrastructure – Upgrade facilities to modern standards of excellence, which are welcoming to golfers and non-golfers alike, at all Los Angeles County golf system facilities, irrespective of the revenue they independently able to generate.
- Environmental Stewardship – In a fiscally responsible manner, reduce the use of harmful pesticides, water consumption, and continue to facilitate ecologically friendly golf course maintenance practices which protect the environment and wildlife habitats.
- Private-Sector Partnership – Continue to nourish long-term private-sector relational partnerships which are built on trust and are mutually beneficial.
- Business Intelligence – Allow operators and department administrators to capitalize on emerging technologies in the golf industry to enhance the customer experience and inform business insights.
- Quality Experiences – Our courses continue to be the best value course golf experience in Los Angeles County.
- System Unity and Sustainability – Unify our collection of golf properties into a true system that is self-sustaining and also continues to generate significant funding for County parks, for the benefit of all residents
NOTE: Prior to submitting a proposal to the County, all potential Proposers must register in the County’s WebVen. WebVen contains the vendor’s business profile and identifies the goods/services the business provides. Registration can be accomplished online via the Internet by accessing the County’s home page at: https://camisvr.co.la.ca.us/webven
About LA County Parks and Recreation
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation manages 183 parks and operates a network of 70,079 acres of parkland, 475 sports amenities such as futsal, basketball, tennis, lawn bowling and multipurpose fields, 42 swimming pools, 15 wildlife sanctuaries, 10 nature centers that serve as a refuge for over 200 animals, 14 lakes – 3 of which are boating and swimming lakes, 5 equestrians centers, more than 210 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, and the largest municipal golf system in the nation, consisting of 20 golf courses. The department also maintains four botanical centers: The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, the South Coast Botanic Garden, Descanso Gardens, and Virginia Robinson Gardens. The department also owns and operates the iconic Hollywood Bowl and John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, which are jointly managed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, providing County residents with valuable entertainment and cultural resources.