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G.A.C. discusses management of tennis Center at Berry College and Downtown

September 9th, 2021 – 3:00 PM

Doug Walker –

The Rome General Administration committee; Chairman Jamie Doss, Bill Collins, and Jim Bojo, authorized City Manager Sammy Rich and his designees to enter into negotiations with Cliff Drysdale Tennis for the management of the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College and Downtown Tennis Center.

Cliff Drysdale Tennis, headquartered in New Braunfels, Texas, manages more than 30 facilities from Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica as well as tennis facilities across the US including The Standard Club in Johns Creek and the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort in Braselton, Georgia. 

CDT is a subsidiary of Troon, the same parent company of Indigo Golf Partners, which manages Stonebridge Golf Course.

The company submitted a proposal which calls for a monthly management fee, along with a small percentage of operating profits, both to be negotiated.

CDT would also make an annual capital contribution toward improvements at the tennis center(s). The centers have been managed by Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism since June of 2020.

City Manager Sammy Rich told members of the committee that Rome will still have some operational and capital money going into the tennis centers annually. 

He also said the RTC@BC would be the largest facility in the CDT portfolio and would represent “a big feather in their cap.”

Tourism Director Lisa Smith said, “They have guest pro’s they can bring in for camps.”

Manager Rich added, “They are experts at creating community programming…They’re going to take us to the next level.”

Chairman Doss said he wants to see a thorough report as to what Rome will get for the monthly fee,

which Commissioner Bojo said he felt certain would come out of the final negotiations. “I think it’s probably a chance worth taking,” said Commissioner Bill Collins of the deal.

The committee also agreed to recommend to the full commission that Rome increase its match of

employee contributions to a 401 (a) Defined Contribution Plan from 1.5% to 2%.

If approved, the increase would become effective January 1 and have a $118,000 impact on the budget based on current participation levels.