Ocoee waits on electing a firm for Forest Lake Golf Club

The Ocoee City Commission interviewed three firms to take over the lease and operation of Forest Lake Golf Club during its special session Tuesday, Oct. 21. 

District 4 Commissioner George Oliver III was absent.

Each firm — Hampton Golf, Tamarack Golf Management and Ocoee Golf Holdings — drew a numbered golf ball to determine its order in the interviews. Each had 15 minutes to present their pitch, followed by a 30-minute interview. 

After listening to all three presentations, Mayor Pro Tem Rosemary Wilsen made the motion to hold voting until the City Commission’s meeting Tuesday, Nov. 18. She said she needed more time to think it over and wanted to wait until Oliver returned. All but District 1 Commissioner Scott Kennedy agreed to the motion. 

HAMPTON GOLF 

Travis Norman, chief operations officer of Hampton Golf, presented Hampton Golf’s five-year plan to add a single-level driving range with 20 climate controlled bays, build a new clubhouse and a new parking lot. 

The firm would put $2 million into the course in 2026 to renovate the clubhouse, rejuvenate food and dining, repair cart paths, re-grass nine greens, and level and re-grass tee boxes. In phase two, Hampton Golf would spend $11.9 million to build a new 9,000-square-foot clubhouse, re-grass nine greens, as well as add a new parking lot and new covered driving range. 

Norman said the city of Ocoee would receive 5% of the gross revenue of the golf club, but Hampton Golf is willing to negotiate the terms. 

“Five percent gross isn’t helping us,” Mayor Rusty Johnson said. “I was there when we dug the dirt. I was one of the guys shoveling the dirt when we built that golf course. Things that were supposed to (happen) never happened. … I particularly want it to be us. I want us to do it.” 

TAMARACK GOLF MANAGEMENT 

Tamarack Golf’s Executive Director Rocky Hodge said the firm would give Ocoee the $5.5 million the city paid to regain ownership of Forest Lake Golf Club up front. He and his team are based in Winter Garden and emphasized hiring a local team for the project. 

Ocoee would receive 40% of net profits on the property. The firm wants to build a hotel and other amenities, including a bank, restaurants and shops. After construction is complete, Ocoee will earn $5 for every occupied room and 30% of net profits. 

Kennedy expressed his concerns with adding a bank because it has a 99-year ground lease. That means Tamarack Golf would have a 99-year lease on Ocoee’s property, and the two holes on Winter Garden’s property would require a 99-year lease. 

“I think you’re going the wrong way there; you understand the history,” he said. “What I hear is you’re focusing mostly on the development. … But you are going to drastically increase the number of rounds to 70,000 rounds a year.”

In the first year, Tamarack Golf would expand and modernize the clubhouse to accommodate 120 to 140 players for tournaments and events, install new greens and construct a new driving range. In the second year, the firm would begin construction on the hotel to complete it by the end of 2028 or early 2029. Hodge said the firm would like to rent space from Winter Garden to relocate holes nine and 18 to make space for a driving range. 

OCOEE GOLF HOLDINGS 

Troon, the management company of Ocoee Golf Holdings, proposed a long-term goal to make Forest Lake Golf Club a destination spot for LPGA and PGA tournaments. In the first year, the company would expand and renovate the driving range, expand the clubhouse patio, repair the clubhouse and provide a new fleet of maintenance equipment. 

Ocoee Golf Holdings wouldn’t pay Ocoee any fees the first five years. In years six to 10, the firm would pay Ocoee $100,000 every year and after that period increase the fee to $150,000 per year. 

Kennedy said he was concerned Ocoee wouldn’t have any profit for five years.

Adam Laufer, Troon’s attorney, said the firm would look to rebrand the course to Ocoee National. Eventually, the firm wants to replace the existing course with a new design.

“I don’t like to see the change of the design because the design was never the problem with this,” Johnson said. 

Johnson said Forest Lake’s main trait should be for its citizens to be welcomed. It should be a place to go and enjoy golf or enjoy a meal with family, he said.