Winter Park Country Club staff driven out

The restoration process of Winter Park’s cherished 100-year-old golf course is moving along ahead of schedule, but Country Club employees were caught off guard when the city unexpectedly laid them off three weeks into the process.

Winter Park has made noticeable progress in revitalizing its nine-hole golf course since closing it down on March 1. Holes three and four are near completion, with remaining holes in different stages of renovation.

“This is a renovation of one of our special Winter Park recreational assets,” Parks and Recreation Director John Holland said.

“It’s something that’s brought the community together. The golfers are excited about it. You’d think they’d be upset for losing their golf course for six months, but they’re excited about it.”

But some residents have taken issue with the city’s choice to lay off four members of the Winter Park Country Club staff, including Golf Operations Manager and PGA Pro Justin Ingram, an assistant manager, and two part-time workers at the pro shop. Resident Jim Cooper called the city out on its decision during the April 11 City Commission meeting, highlighting the value of Ingram in particular to the Winter Park Country Club.

“I was totally appalled at the way Justin Ingram and the staff of the golf course were terminated,” Cooper said. “I play there once a week. It’s my understanding that Justin was instrumental in getting the Morse Foundation to give the big clock to the golf course. He’s very professional and he was always cheerful and friendly.”

City Spokesperson Clarissa Howard said that city management, not the City Commission, made the decision on the layoffs, adding that City Manager Randy Knight would not be commenting on the issue.

Ingram told the Observer that the city had initially promised his staff job security by working in other city departments. The course’s maintenance workers each landed jobs under a contractor doing irrigation work, and the four remaining employees were asked to spearhead a sort of marketing campaign to bring about hype for the grand reopening of the Winter Park Country Club, which is set for Sept. 15.

But on March 18, almost three weeks after the city broke ground on the renovations, Ingram and his four coworkers were laid off.

“It blindsided us a little bit and they changed their mind, but you can’t blame them in a sense because it was a business decision,” said Ingram, adding that outside budget pressures may have weighed on management.

Despite his four-and-a-half-year tenure at the Winter Park Country Club coming to abrupt end, Ingram said he hopes the golf course renovation goes smoothly, adding how valuable the course is to the city’s history.

“I think the renovation is a good thing for the city,” Ingram said. “It shores up this beautiful asset.”

“I’m really proud that the community put their money where their mouth is with the golf course. I don’t think people understand how important it is to the history of the city. When we celebrated the 100 year anniversary, we essentially educated the community and therefore they realized ‘Wow this is an asset that’s been around forever.’”