Virginia Golfer January / February 2015 | Page 15

Hampton Roads Area Munis Hopeful of an Economic Lift Courses seek strength in solidarity, wider appeal through improvements to layouts by TOM ROBINSON CLAY BARBOUR/THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT, NORFOLK T he growing footprint of Mike Fentress and his course management partners in South Hampton Roads nearly doubled in December. Golf Management Inc. was the only bidder on the City of Norfolk’s proposal to take over historic Ocean View Golf Course and nine-year-old Lambert’s Point Golf Course. The company agreed to 20-year leases on both properties, expanding its roster to five public courses. That matches Hampton Roads Golf Clubs for the most course contracts in Tidewater. “I envision us getting maybe two or three more golf courses, and I think that should be just about right for us,” Fentress says. Fentress and partners Eddie Luke and Andrew Menk, all of them PGA professionals, have operated Virginia Beach’s Red Wing Lake, Kempsville Greens and Bow Creek as Virginia Beach Golf Management Inc. since 2010. The group was joined in 2014 by longtime PGA professional Andy Giles, one of the most familiar faces in South Hampton Roads golf. Giles left Bide-A-Wee Golf Course in Portsmouth after 17 years. On Jan. 1, 2015, he became the head PGA professional at Ocean View, an 84-year old track that has hosted four Virginia State Opens, an exhibition featuring Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus in 1963, and a clinic by Tiger Woods in 2000. Giles’ son, Conlin, will be the head professional at Lambert’s Point in April when the city’s management contract ends with Hampton Roads Golf Clubs. The latest acquisition returns Fentress to control of Lambert’s Point, where as project manager he oversaw the nine-hole course’s construction from a city landfill bordering the Elizabeth River. “With all the time spent there, you sure feel like it’s part of you,” says Fentress, who was head PGA professional at the course until 2010. w w w. v s g a . o r g 13_VSGA_JanFeb15.indd 13 But Fentress says his company won’t play favorites. Ocean View’s greens need immediate care, according to Fentress. He also says the city of Norfolk, whose subsidy of the courses in 2014 reached almost $500,000, expects his company to improve the entire quality of its municipal golf. According to the lease, Fentress’ group will pay the city $15,000 per year, as well as contributing 2 percent of gross revenue to a capital improvements fund. The latter tariff won’t apply in years five through 10 because the company plans to build a new clubhouse at Ocean View. And at Lambert’s Point, which is tucked in a neighborhood next to Old Dominion University, Fentress notes one goal is to designate separate practice space for ODU’s teams, which already train at the club. He also points out forward tees will be added on the challenging, wide-open course with steep changes of elevation to appeal to junior, beginner and novice golfers. “Those being the only two properties in Norfolk, we really want to make sure they shine for them,” Fentress says. “We’re taking ownership, too, really trying to make sure that they exceed everyone’s expectations of what the golf courses should be.” Author Tom Robinson is a writer from Norfolk, Va., and a contributor to Virginia Golfer. Golfers can look for a hopeful future for daily-fees such as Lambert’s Point Golf Course in Norfolk. J ANUARY/F EBRUARY 2015 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 13 1/21/15 2:00 PM