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Curtis Gilbert
St. Paul, Minn.

St. Paul hires private firm to manage Como, Phalen golf courses

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The City of St. Paul plans to hire an Oakdale-based company to manage two of its golf courses.

St. Paul currently loses more than $400,000 a year at the Como and Phalen courses. Under the agreement, Prom Management Group would pay the city a fee to operate them.

Bill Given, owner Prom Management Group, said he'll be able turn a profit at the struggling courses through a more efficient and flexible staffing model.

"One guy can be the superintendent, but he might also have to be able to repair a lawnmower," Given said. "Same thing with the front counter, we got a guy who is maybe selling tickets to the public, but he also might have to be capable of jumping in behind the food counter and helping them flip hamburgers if we get busy."

Given's company currently runs food and beverage operations at two publicly owned golf courses in Minneapolis and a private course in Lake Elmo.

The city's Parks and Recreation Commission will review the proposed contract at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The deal is also subject to City Council approval.

St. Paul also loses money at its two Highland golf courses, but it legally required to staff them with public employees, because it paid for improvements there with tax-exempt bonds.