Item - 2023.GG6.17

The General Government Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to sign on behalf of the City of Toronto a management agreement and any ancillary agreements and documents, and to amend the agreements as required with Thistle Golf Ltd. to manage play, pro shops, and food and beverage services at five City-operated golf courses for 10 years starting on approximately December 1, 2023, with two optional renewal terms of five years each, exercisable at the General Manager’s sole discretion, substantially on the terms and conditions set out in Attachment 1 and on such other terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor. The golf courses include: Dentonia Park, Don Valley, Humber Valley, Scarlett Woods, and Tam O’Shanter.

2. City Council direct the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to collect socio-demographic data from users of the City’s golf courses in order to form a general profile of who is using the golf courses and to determine how the City’s golf courses and programming can be improved and adjusted to best serve all the residents of Toronto, as described in 2022.IE27.6 Review of City of Toronto Golf Courses adopted by Council on February 2, 2022, and in accordance with 2020.EX18.6 Data for Equity Strategy adopted by Council on November 25, 2020, with the purpose of understanding user profile, measuring trends for shaping future golf policies, and supporting priorities for equitable access.

The City of Toronto provides access to high-quality and affordable golf at five City-operated golf courses. Service at the golf courses is provided through a mixed model which incorporates responsibilities from both the City and its contractors. The current contracts delivering these services will expire at the end of the November 2023, and a new supplier must be secured by the end of 2023 in order to continue delivering these services.

The purpose of this report is to advise on the results of the Negotiated Request for Proposal (nRFP) Document Number 3703952212 for the management of play, pro-shops and food and beverage services at these five City golf course locations, and to seek authority to enter into legal agreements with the recommended supplier, Thistle Golf Ltd., for a fixed period of ten years from the date of award, with options to renew for two additional five-year periods at the City’s sole discretion, with revenue expectation to be in line or better than historic net financial performance. The scope of this Negotiated Request for Proposal incorporated the Council-approved recommendations included in 2022.IE27.6 Review of City of Toronto Golf Courses. 

The Negotiated Request for Proposal process identified Thistle Golf Ltd., a private contractor with considerable industry expertise, to deliver on the City's intended hybrid operating model at five City golf courses. Under this new hybrid operating model, the City maintains the golf courses and retains control over the asset, its access, and green fee rates, while the single supplier manages golf play and programming, food and beverage services, pro shops, retail, rentals, and clubhouse improvements.