Spokes won't return as city golf course vendor

Dec. 3—WATERTOWN — Spokes will not return next season as the vendor to operate the clubhouse at the Thompson Park Golf Course.

City Manager Kenneth A. Mix confirmed that the owner of a popular downtown nightspot will not be back for a second season at the city-owned golf course.

Spokes on the Square did not exercise its option to run the clubhouse after it was the only vendor to submit a proposal under the city's first year as the golf course's owner, he said.

Mix and other city officials were not surprised that Spokes decided not to return, although the owners did not give a reason.

"What I've heard, they weren't going to return there," he said, adding that Spokes missed an early November deadline to renew the option and did not respond to emails seeking an answer about its plans for next season.

The city's Parks and Recreation and purchasing departments have already started preparing to find a replacement for Spokes. They are putting together a Request for Proposals to get another vendor to run the clubhouse. It might be ready to send out right before the end of the year or shortly afterward, Mix said.

"The sooner the better," he said.

Councilwoman and Mayor-elect Sarah V. Compo Pierce said "It's not surprising" that Spokes will not return, noting that the restaurateur had a lot on its plate. The owners continued to run the business on Public Square and opened both the golf course's Spokes on the Green and another restaurant in Clayton this past summer. The Clayton venture has since closed.

Under an agreement, Spokes paid the city $1 to run the clubhouse this past season. Owner Jamie Danielson could not be reached for comment.

Councilman Cliff G. Olney III is convinced that the clubhouse can be successful and said he believes the city will find another vendor.

"I think we can take it in stride," he said.

The news of the loss of Spokes comes at a time when the city released financial information that showed the golf course lost money in its first season.

Looking at the entire fiscal year, the golf course lost $289,675, with revenues at $396,401 and expenses at $686,076.

The negativity surrounding the purchase of the golf course for $3.4 million hurt this past season but will decapitate from here on out, Olney said.

"I'm not surprised with the negative atmosphere and negative politics," he said.

However, council members Lisa A. Ruggiero and Olney stressed that the golf course had a series of one-time expenses to open this season.

They included electrical repairs for $62,526; $18,732 for portable restrooms; $13,119 for cart chargers and $5,965 for pump replacements.

The two council members also remain optimistic for the future, citing that marketing the golf course for memberships and tournaments will have a full season next year.

Even with the late start, memberships exceeded goals for the season, Ruggiero said. She's also been told by golf course General Manager Jordan Northrop that he expects some "bigger tournaments" returning next year.

Councilwoman Compo Pierce, however, said most people think that the golf course will not be profitable. Going forward, the city will have to make some major purchases for equipment replacements, she said.

She still thinks it was a mistake to buy the golf course from developer Michael E. Lundy for $3.4 million.

Mix also mentioned that the golf course was hurt by unusually rainy weather this summer. The financial picture for the year could look better when the fiscal year ends June 30.

With $205,000 in revenues so far this fiscal year, the golf course still needs $40,000 to hit the budgeted amount, he said.

The first six months of actual expenses are now at $279,000 with $579,000 budgeted for the entire year, Mix said. As long as the expenses are under $310,000, it will hit the budget, he said.

Considering all the numbers, Ruggiero thinks that the golf course can still "do very well."