Dakota Golf Management to jointly operate Prairie View Golf Links with the city

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WORTHINGTON — Prairie View Golf Links will be operated by Dakota Golf Management in partnership with the city of Worthington, for the 2011 golf season.

“We’re excited at the opportunity to be able to come over to Worthington,” said Tom Jansa, president of Dakota Golf Management. “I’ve always loved the course and played it ever since it opened, and we think there’s a lot of potential.”

The city will continue to maintain the golf course, and Dakota will manage the clubhouse, hire a golf professional, and sell food and beverages.

Dakota’s golf professional will focus on increasing the Prairie View clientele through junior and beginners’ programs.

“We hope that our corporate expertise, combined with the on-site manager, is going to bring a different level of management skills to the operations,” Jansa said.

What isn’t likely to change under Dakota’s management is the golf course.

“The golf course itself is excellent… ahead of its time,” Jansa said. “There’s a whole resurgence of minimalist courses, courses that blend into their natural environments, and that’s the gist of Prairie View.”

In 2009, the Worthington City Council commissioned a study of Prairie View and other local golf courses, and one of Dakota’s objectives will be implementing some of the study’s recommendations.

“They’ll provide a new element of professionalism in management of the golf course,” said Worthington City Administrator Craig Clark.

Dakota manages the three municipal golf courses in Sioux Falls, S.D., and may be able to cross-promote Prairie View along with those courses.

“We’re going to try to do a better job of drawing Sioux Falls players over to Worthington,” Jansa said.

The city was able to bring in Dakota without increasing the money it had budgeted toward Prairie View, Clark said, which was approximately $80,000.

Under the agreement with the city, Dakota will receive 100 percent of the first $50,000 earned by daily green fees, cart rentals and driving range. After the first $50,000 — intended to pay Dakota’s personnel expenses — the money is divided between Dakota and the city:

* $50,000 to $80,000: City 90 percent, Dakota 10 percent.

* $80,000 to $90,000: City 80 percent, Dakota 20 percent.

* $90,000 to $100,000: City 70 percent, Dakota 30 percent.

* $100,000 to $110,000: City 60 percent, Dakota 40 percent.

* $110,000 and above: City 50 percent, Dakota 50 percent.

Dakota will pay for the club’s personnel costs, taxes and insurance as well as management services and marketing.

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