Teed off about the greens’ greenbacks

Lolita Harper

They held up banners and posters. They lined the streets of Costa

Mesa and demonstrated outside of City Hall.

It was not a war they were protesting, but the privatization of

their public golf course.

“Say no to American Golf.”

“Keep our course.”

“Golf should not be only about money,” the signs read.

It was 1992 and the city was in the market for a private company

to run the public courses. Since the courses were open in the 1960s,

there had been an amiable relationship between the bureaucrats -- who

maintained the fields -- and Harry Green -- who ran the concessions.

City employees made sure the grass was watered and cut and the traps

were raked while Green managed the banquets, the bar and other social

activities.

As time progressed, city officials realized more than a third of

the games played on the public course were being played for free and

the greenbacks normally generated from the green were steadily

declining.

The City Council opened bids for private companies to come in and

run the entire course, which angered not only those who benefited

from the current discounts but Green, who had a lot invested in the

management of concessions.

City employees who maintained the greens also became nervous

because new management could result in a loss of jobs.

Protesters lined the streets, residents filled council chambers

and City Hall was flooded with calls and letters.

In the end, an amicable solution was reached in which the city

awarded a contract to Mesa Verde Partners, who agreed to hire the

previous groundskeepers and offer fair prices and discounts to

residents and seniors.

City Manager Allan Roeder said he believes a good compromise was

made as Costa Mesa has some of the best maintained public courses at

some of the most reasonable prices.

* LOOKING BACK runs Sundays. Do you know of a person, place or

event that deserves a historical look back? Let us know. Contact

James Meier by fax at (949) 646-4170; e-mail at

james.meier@latimes.com; or mail at c/o Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St.,

Costa Mesa, CA 92627.