Ocoee will take over operation of Forest Lake Golf Course

The Ocoee City Commission unanimously voted to reject all three firms’ proposals for Forest Lake Golf Club and develop a plan for full city operation of the club during the meeting Tuesday, Nov. 18. 

The commission had interviewed Hampton Golf, Tamarack Golf Management and Ocoee Golf Holdings to run the club during the city’s special session Tuesday, Oct. 21. Commissioners expressed their concerns with the proposed ideas, saying they didn’t suit what was needed for Ocoee residents.

During the transitional period and planning stages, Ocoee will extend current operator Down to Earth’s lease for 90 days.

Ocoee city staff will work on a process to meet with the commissioners to build a plan to achieve the citizens’ and commissioners’ goals. 

District 4 Commissioner George Oliver III was absent for the special session meeting. He was prepared to vote for Tamarack Golf Management, but he came to a realization while picking up trash with his neighbor. 

He and his neighbor reflected on when Ocoee owned its own trash company and how smoothly everything flowed. The moment made Oliver realize taking control of Forest Lake might be the way to go and he made a pros and cons list. 

Taking control of Forest Lake means Ocoee will have full control over the pricing, programming, customer service standards, public benefit focus and operational decisions for the residents and youth programs, Oliver said. 

In his eyes, the cons were the financial risks with learning operational and capital demands of a golf course, irrigation, cart fleets and green equipment. 

“This is not a profit-making thing for us,” Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson said of the commission’s decision. “It’s a thing for the citizens of the city that we give them back the golf course and make it a place you want to go play.” 

Johnson highlighted the significant course improvements needed, including replacing or demolishing old facilities, repairing several greens as well as upgrading the driving range and resturant operations. The city has spent 25 years with the previous operations to make those improvements that never happened. He said now is the time for the commission to take control of the operation, rather than “dragging it out.” 

“It can be a treasure in our city, what we got there,” he said.

The City Commission unanimously approved formalizing collaboration with G3 Development for its master development plan for downtown Ocoee. 

The plan includes adding family-style apartments, businesses with apartments, business offices, high-end family-style homes, a high-end restaurant overlooking Starke Lake and a parking garage. 

Jake Gunther, of G3 Development, said the plan is “fluid” and nothing is fully set; the developer wanted to plant the vision in the commissioners’ minds. It will take more than 10 years to complete. 

Mayor Pro Tem Rosemary Wilsen recalled 25 years ago when Ocoee was presented with a master plan for a bandshell by the lake and it didn’t pass. She said Ocoee now is in a position to make these enhancements.