Phila. Council takes up city-owned golf courses

The fate of the city's public golf courses is in the hands of City Council today in a hearing to examine a proposed contract to run them and, hopefully, improve them.

The Council's Parks and Recreation Committee will hear testimony on a proposed contract between Fairmount Park and Billy Casper Golf, LLC, to run four of the city's six courses - Cobbs Creek, Karakung, FDR, and John Byrne. Billy Casper would also run the City Line Sports Center at 7900 City Line Avenue, which includes a driving range, batting cages and miniature golf.

The city's other two courses, Walnut Lane and Juniata, have proven such a financial drag that they were separated out from the request for proposals last year and are being run by nonprofit organizations. Fairmount Park is studying possible reuses for the courses, such as converting each to a nine-hole executive course.

Operators have long had trouble turning a profit or properly investing in the courses with a mandate to keep greens fees affordable.

Also at issue in today's hearing is Fox Chase's proposal to build part of its $800 million expansion in part of Burholme Park. Councilman Brian J. O'Neill is behind it, so it has a good chance for success. But it will still face a fight in Orphan's Court, where opponents say the will of Burholme Park's original benefactor is being violated.