Danny Carelock named interim manager at Lion's Club

EL DORADO — With a deal worked out with the former golf professional at Lions Club Municipal Golf Course and an interim manager on board, the city is moving forward with plans to help bring the facility closer to financial solvency.

Danny Carelock, an avid golfer and longtime member of Lions Club, has been named interim manager of the golf course.

Carelock’s first day on the job was Saturday, the day after former pro Mike Hoelzer’s contract expired with the city and the day after Hoelzer and city officials signed a sublease agreement to handle a lease for 40 golf carts and a a range picker at Lions Club.

The city agreed to pay Hoelzer, who holds the lease to the vehicles, a monthly rate of $3,092 for 24 months, ending March 31, 2019.

The city also agreed to keep the carts in good working order, condition and repair, with the option of surrendering the carts to Hoelzer at the end of the lease.

The issue became a point of contention between Hoelzer and the city after the El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds Commission voted in late January not to renew Hoelzer’s contract as the golf pro at Lions Club.

The move is part of an ongoing effort to cut costs at Lions Club and to find ways to boost revenue.

Hoelzer had said that he entered into the golf-cart lease agreement with Golf Cars of Louisiana after receiving assurance from a former chairman to the parks and playgrounds commission that the city would assume the payments of the carts should Hoelzer leave Lions Club for any reason.

City officials later said the agreement was not documented in writing, leading to a dispute with Hoelzer.

During an El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds meeting on March 28, Mayor Frank Hash laid the city’s proposal to settle the matter, telling commissioners that the city would pay Hoelzer directly for the monthly payments on the lease for 24 months.

“They finally got all that worked out. It’s something that everyone is comfortable with, so I think it’ll be OK” said Robert Edmonds, director of public works. said Monday.

In the meantime, Edmonds said three applications/resumes have been submitted for the position of manager at Lions Club.

March 30 was the deadline to submit requests for qualifications.

The primary duties of the golf course manager would be to:

• Perform daily operations of the pro shop.

• Maintain the golf carts.

• Account for all of the cash/ receipts for the operation pro shop.

• Get along with golfers and maintain an atmosphere to promote more play.

• Monitor the conditions of the

golf course and work with the foreman in reference to mowing and other duties to maintain the golf course grounds.

Edmonds said he expects to mail out the request for qualifications to commissioners this week.

Alderman Dianne Hammond also reiterated on March 28 that the city is not shutting down Lions Club.

On March 23, the El Dorado City Council affirmed the 24-month commitment to continue operating the golf course and to allow for negotiations on the golf cart lease.

Hash said then that city officials and parks and playgrounds commissioners will also use that time to look at ways to cut overheard costs and generate more income, while making the golf course more player-friendly.

City officials and commissioners had also reported that some Lions Club golfers had decided not to renew their memberships out of concern that the city may close the facility.

Edmonds said he did not have a number for the golfers who did not re-up their memberships, but he has received feedback indicating that those concerns are starting to subside.

“I don’t think they are big numbers. I think some of them were nervous,” he said.

Last week, member Pam Bradley asked parks and playgrounds commissioners what to do about annual memberships that were set to expire on March 31.

“Just wait. It won’t be long until we get some of this worked out,” chairman Ken Goudy told her.

Additionally, Goudy said commissioners are still reviewing fees and fee structures at the golf course.

“There were a few memberships that were up for April 1. Nobody’s going to get told that they can’t play golf out there,” Edmonds said Monday.