The Moccasin Bend Golf Course is set to have a new operator after 40 years under the management of Wes Brown.
The County Commission finance committee on Thursday recommended approval for shifting the contract to HMS Golf, which operates over 30 golf courses in the Southeast.
Moccasin Bend Golf Course is owned by the city and county, and its management is leased out.
A committee studied six proposals prior to selecting HMS for the 15-year contract.
Dan Wade, county public works administrator, said HMS offered $1,913,000 in revenues over the life of the lease.
He said the firm plans to spend $515,000 on improvements, including $400,000 on greens and irrigation and $125,000 on the clubhouse.
James Haslam of HMS said there are no plans to raise fees. County Commissioner Charlotte Vandergriff said the public course should remain affordable.
Mr. Brown was at the meeting, but did not address the commission.
He said afterwards he believed his proposal was in line with the bid winner and might have brought in more money overall. It guaranteed a minimum of $100,000 per year.
Mr. Brown said his firm has put over $2 million into the Moccasin Bend course.
He said of the new operators, "I am afraid they are going to have a hard time of it. People are not playing golf like they used to. There are a lot of other things to do now, like outdoor activities, watching sports on TV, and getting on the computer."
He said the number of golfers has been going down, while more courses continue to be built.
Mr. Wade said it is eventually planned that the course become a part of the new Moccasin Bend National Park.
Mr. Brown said he hopes that never happens, saying the golf course is needed on the Bend.
Other proposals were by Buddy Templeton, Tim Gilbert and Wes Gilbert, by Gibby Gilbert Sr. and David Drake, by FOMB/Redstone Golf Management and by Chattanooga Has Bids, Inc.