Pierce County Parks and Recreation: Golf Course Management Services
Open State & local contract opportunity Posted
- Solicitation number
- 2026-RFP-246
- State
- Washington
- Responses due
Opportunity facts
- Jurisdiction
- Point of contact
-
- Stephanie Browning stephanie.browning@piercecountywa.gov (253) 798-7796
Opportunity details come from procurement.opengov.com. Updated .
About this opportunity
Pierce County Parks and Recreation is requesting proposals for long-term golf course management services to operate and enhance Chambers Bay Golf Course and Lake Spanaway Golf Course, with proposals due November 13, 2026 at 1:00 p.m., a question deadline of November 4, 2026, and a non-mandatory pre-proposal workshop on October 27, 2026.
Minimum qualifications require 10 years of experience in golf operations management and course maintenance, plus demonstrated experience managing guest facilities and golf courses of similar scale. Prevailing wages under Washington RCW 39.12 apply to maintenance work. The County does not retain lifecycle replacement responsibility for capital equipment and furnishings but seeks operator-funded, jointly funded, or other innovative capital investment proposals.
Chambers Bay is an 18-hole championship Irish/Scottish links-style course in University Place that hosted the 2015 U.S. Open and 2010 U.S. Amateur, with USGA events scheduled for 2027 and 2033. Lake Spanaway is an 18-hole championship course opened in 1967, located adjacent to Spanaway Lake and the Sprinker Recreation Center. Combined facilities encompass approximately 443 acres with clubhouses, restaurants, maintenance buildings, and equipment storage. Neither facility currently includes electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The operator will manage all human resources, golf operations, pro-shop retail, food and beverage operations, course maintenance, and landscape maintenance.
The contract term runs April 1, 2027 through March 31, 2037 (10 years), with County option to extend for up to 5 additional years. Proposals must include a Capital Reinvestment and Revenue Growth Plan, detailed business plan with financial proforma by business unit, management fee structure with bonus recommendations, key personnel resumes, and a Championship and Community Golf Strategy addressing both championship-level event hosting and local community access and instruction.
Evaluation criteria total 255 initial points across 13 categories, with interviews worth an additional 125 points. Highest-weighted criteria are Capital Reinvestment and Revenue Growth (40 points), Experience Managing Major Golf Championships and Events (30 points), and Landscape Maintenance Experience (25 points). The County anticipates awarding a single contract but reserves the right to make fewer or no awards. Interviews are anticipated in early December 2026, with contract execution estimated for April 1, 2027.
Opportunity text
Pierce County Parks and Recreation are interested in building strong local and regional interest and profitability of our two golf courses. The County is seeking a long-term operating partner that will bring operational expertise, innovation, financial strength, and a willingness to invest in the continued success of Chambers Bay and Lake Spanaway. Proposals should identify opportunities for operator-funded, jointly funded, or other innovative capital investment and revenue-growth strategies. We are seeking a highly skilled and qualified golf management organization to operate, maintain, market, and enhance Chambers Bay Golf Course and Lake Spanaway Golf Course. The County's objectives include increasing rounds and local participation; securing regional, national, and international tournaments; maximizing sustainable revenues and operating efficiencies; maintaining high-quality course conditions and customer service; and supporting long-term capital reinvestment in the County's golf facilities.
Our current management company's contract is expiring and as a public facility, Pierce County ensures that a fair and competitive process is open to all qualified and interested parties. Through this process, we expect to obtain the most qualified golf management company who will deliver the best in service delivery and profitability to the citizens of Pierce County.
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