BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers NICE TOUCH-Nathaniel Fisher, 12, of Thousand Oaks works on his stroke on the putting green at Los Robles Greens Golf Course as his father, Todd, watches. The city of Thousand Oaks has chosen a permanent operator for the course. The golf course is south of the 101 Freeway, off Moorpark Road. Three years after the process began, the Thousand Oaks City Council has finally chosen a longterm operator for the city's Los Robles Greens Golf Course.

The company is Evergreen Alliance Golf Limited (EAGL), the same firm that has operated the facility on a temporary basis since September 2003.

City staff will now negotiate a long-term contract with EAGL to be reviewed by the council as soon as possible.

EAGL, based in Dallas, Texas, was chosen from three candidates including Golf Projects International, which operates Lindero Country Club in Agoura Hills, and CourseCo, Inc., which runs courses in northern and central California. EAGL operates 27 golf courses in five states, including 11 municipal courses, one of them for the city of Ventura.

The process of choosing an operator was held up due, in part, to former Councilmember Ed Masry's long illness. Masry and Councilmember Andy Fox represented the council on the committee to choose an operator. To speed up the process, the city hired an outside expert in November to review proposals from the three finalists and make a recommendation. In January, Councilmember Jacqui Irwin replaced Masry on the committee. Fox and Irwin selected EAGL.

"They (EAGL) have demonstrated expertise in all areas of golf administration, and the parent company is financially healthy," City Facilities Manager Tom Hare said.

The golf course has been a financial challenge for the city, operating at a loss for three of the past four years, according to city Finance Director Candis Hong. The facility had a $225,000 operating loss last fiscal year and broke even the year before. The city lost $1.3 million in the first two years after the facility was renovated in 2001-02.

"We have made strides in the past couple of years to try to reduce costs," Hong said. "We want to make sure that is a goal we achieve."

Under the current agreement the city pays EAGL a monthly fee of $135,000 to manage, maintain and operate the facility. In return the city earns all revenue from green, cart and driving range fees as well as a percentage of rentals, lessons, merchandise and food and beverage sales.

Council members expressed concern for the operating loss. Hare routinely golfs at the course to find out what golfers think about the facility, from the course itself to the restaurant food. Most people are longtime users who give the center high marks, Hare said, and complaints have significantly decreased from weekly to once every three to four months. Now that EAGL will have a longterm contract, the company can invest in new maintenance equipment to improve the course, according to Hare. Special deals may be offered during lower use time to attract golfers and help increase revenue.

Built by the Janss Corporation in the 1960s, Los Robles Greens was purchased by the city in the 1970s to provide residents with a municipal golf course, according to Hong. Several different companies have operated the facility for the city over the years.

Besides the management issue, another issue facing the city is what to do with a nearly twoacre of parcel of vacant land between the pro shop and the driving range. Suggestions have included an outdoor wedding area, a roller hockey rink or a swimming pool.

"I think we've only scratched the surface of what this facility can do for the community," said Keith Hanley, vice president of operations for EAGL.