Concerns voiced about golf course fees, condition

WORLAND – Green Hills Golf Course concerns were addressed to the City of Worland Council at their scheduled meeting Tuesday night.

An estimated 13 golfing community members addressed trail fees, defining terms and the overall condition of the golf course under the new management of Go Play Golf, LLC and its new manager Gary Shampeny.  

Worland Mayor Dave Duffy opened the public concerns with addressing the golfing community’s concerns, and read a letter from Shampeny addressing the community’s concerns along with some resolutions.

A major concern was the trail fees. Previously, Shampeny had decided to charge golfers to ride in a cart of someone else who had paid the trail fee.

In his letter addressed to Mayor Duffy and Department of Public Works Brian Burky, Shampeny said “We will allow those individuals who purchase a trail fee to allow others to ride with them at no-charge. We will contact customers who have purchased a trail fee of this change and provide them a copy of the guidelines.”

Duffy also addressed another big concern from the Worland golfing community; that complaint was the condition of the golf course.

Ed Cook, a former golf coach at Worland High School, said, “My main concern is the golf course is going to die,” … he added, “At the end of 45 days what if the golf course is still not playable.”

“On behalf of the city, this is not something we want to see happen,” Duffy said. “He is working on those things, we ask you to give him a chance to get his feet on the ground.”

Duffy added “What we don’t want to do is start this process over. We need to work to resolve that … The primary thing we need to do is work together to get this thing getting back into shape.”

One member of the public requested to see the contract Shampeny was hired upon.

City Attorney Kent Richins said it isn’t a contract because Shampeny is on a conditional contract called a working document that acts as a negotiation following the 45 days.

Councilwoman Mandy Horath reiterated not to put blame on him [Shampeny] too much because the city had people taking care of it to this point.

Another concern Cook addressed was the reduced couples fee. Cook said it discriminates against single people to have for couples to have two carts on the golf course and only pay for one.

He also added what defines a couple, and noted Shampeny had previously said its two people who live in the same household and share the same address.

Councilmen Dennis Koch said, “We need to sit back and allow this company to do the job they were hired to do. They’ve been out there for 15 days, and they need to have an opportunity to do their job.”

Mayor Duffy suggested the golfing community meet with Shampeny as a group to address all concerns and avoid confusion with any individuals. 

Main Street Program

Other business included an update on the Wyoming Main Street Program the City of Worland had recently applied for in Cheyenne.

Duffy read a letter from the Chief Executive Officer Shawn Reese from the Wyoming Business Council congratulating Worland “for being designated as an Aspiring Wyoming Main Street Community by the Main Street Advisory Board and the Wyoming Business Council.”

In the letter Duffy read to the council, Reese said “We look forward to working with you to develop a strong and sustainable organizational structure.”

More information will be provided when available.