The Manteca Golf Course could have a new pro next month.
The City Council when they meet Wednesday, July 5, at 7 p.m. at the Manteca Civic Center, will consider a staff recommendation to approve a golf pro lease with DeBenedetti Golf Pro, Inc., through July31, 2021 with an option for a one-year extension.
The meeting is being held a day later due to Tuesday being the Fourth of July holiday.
Marjorie Thomas — the widow of golf pro Alan Thomas who oversaw the Manteca municipal golf course for 40 years — has overseen  the course since her husband’s passing on Feb. 7.
The revenue terms of the proposed contract are as follows:
The golf pro will receive 10 percent of the monthly green fees/pass revenues collected up to $800,000 gross on an annual basis.
The golf pro will receive 20 percent of the monthly green fees/pass revenues that are collected over $800,000 gross on an annual basis.
The golf pro will pay the city 12 percent of the first $425,000 collected for annual cart rentals.
The golf pro will pay the city 20 percent of the amount collected over $425,000 for annual cart rentals.
The golf pro will pay the city 10 percent of the monthly driving range fees collected up to $75,000 annually.
The golf pro will pay the city 20 percent of the monthly driving range fees collected beyond $75,000 annually.
The golf pro will pay the city 5 percent of all monthly revenue from golf merchandise sales and golf lessons.
The golf pro will pay the city 10 percent of all other golf pro shop related items that charge a fee such as locker fees and equipment rental.
Jeff and Geanna DeBenedetti — the principals of DeBenedetti Golf Pro, Inc. — were ranked the highest of the three entities that submitted proposals to the city.
DeBenedetti is the CEO and head Professional Golf Association (PGA) golf professional for his company. He has 26 years of experience in the golf industry and has been employed at Las Positas Golf Course in Livermore since 1991.  He received his PGA credentials in 1997 and has been the head Golf Professional at Las Positas since 2005.  DeBenedetti  is a class “A” golf professional with the PGA and currently holds the position of President of the Northern Californian PGA Bay Area Chapter and is a board member of the NCPGA Junior Golf Committee.  In addition to Las Positas, he has managed Springtown Golf Course in Livermore during a transitional period from 2007 to 2009.  His wife Geanna is a partner and is responsible for management of the golf pro shop staff, merchandising, payroll, inventory, financial reporting, and human resources.  She also has over 25 years of experience in management of retail facilities.
 Plans by the city call for an aggressive marketing strategy to be implemented with annual fee reviews to take place.
  The course faces two major challenges.
An erosion of golf play that reflects national trends going from 74,000 rounds in 2000, to 62,500 rounds in 2010, and 51,800 rounds in 2016.
Some $3.47 million worth of capital improvement projects have been identified by staff as being needed and/or are a “wish list” of sorts over the next 10 years. The biggest chunk is $1.8 million needed for the clubhouse that is nearing 30 years in age.
A consultant the city hired indicated the city received an average of $12.99 for each of the 51,800 rounds played in 2016 with pass play generating $7.70 a round and regular green fees $16.63 a round.
He said the average fee generated per round by other courses in the region is $18.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com