County moving forward with master plan for golf course

Published 2:44 pm Thursday, May 8, 2025

Baldwin County Commissioners are moving forward with developing a master plan to renovate Little Fishing Creek Golf Course. 

Commissioners adopted a resolution Tuesday authorizing an agreement with the engineering firm MYGolf, LLC, to develop the master plan for major renovations for the public golf course.

The decision was unanimous. 

District 3 Commissioner Sammy Hall made a motion to adopt the resolution, which allows the county to enter into a contract with the engineering firm. The motion received a second from District 5 Commissioner Scott Little.

During discussion, commission chairman Andrew Strickland read aloud a statement from vice chairman Kendrick Butts, who was unable to attend the meeting.

“Without placing it on a procurement for the lowest bid there is no way, as a board, we can say it’s the best bid when he approaches us and was the only bid,” Butts said in his statement.

Strickland then asked Baldwin County Manager Carlos Tobar to explain the county’s purchasing policy.

“The purchasing policy states that anything under $50,000 that you don’t have to do that, and this is a unique service that this gentleman provides,” Tobar said. “He is an expert in building golf courses in the Southeast, and that’s why we decided to do this.”

Little asked if tourism money available through the CVB (Convention & Visitors Bureau) can be invested in tourism-type initiatives, specifically.

“There is, but I will let Dawn speak on that,” Strickland said, referring to Assistant County Manager Dawn Hudson.

She said the county collects hotel/motel tax through short-term rentals.

“That tax is required to be used for certain purposes, and tourism is one of them, so that money can be used to pay for the plan,” Hudson said. 

Commissioner Emily Davis also sought clarification.

“So, you’re saying the money from CVB can be used to do the golf course,” Davis asked.

Hudson responded.

“It can be used to do the pre-plan work for the golf course,” Hudson said, noting she would suggest the county use its motel/hotel tax to do the planning for the work at the golf course. “I think it would be good use of that money.”

Davis requested that the recommendation to use hotel/motel tax funds for the planning work be put into the official minutes of the meeting.

“The minutes can reflect that you requested it,” Strickland said.

Little also asked about a down payment request of $2,500 to the engineering firm to begin the work.

“I’m under the impression the total cost is $30,000,” Strickland said.

Tobar said the first portion for the irrigation is due Sept. 1 and the rest of the plan is due Sept. 30.

Strickland then called for the vote.

All four commissioners present voted in favor of adopting Resolution R-2025-39 to authorize the agreement.

Little Fishing Creek Golf Course has not undergone any substantial renovations in decades.