Watertown Golf Course Gets Single Bid for 2027 Lease

Watertown has received one proposal to operate its city-owned golf course during the 2027 season, putting a possible change in management before city leaders as they seek to address years of operating losses. Andrea Doane, who brings more than 42 years of experience in the golf business, submitted the sole bid for the Watertown golf course in Thompson Park.

Doane previously owned Rustic Golf and Country Club on Pillar Point. She sold the property about a decade ago, but said her family including her husband and two grown children—has considered returning to the golf industry for years. The proposal represents an opportunity for the family to re-enter a business it knows well.

The Watertown golf course bid comes as the city considers leasing the course’s operations as a way to reduce expenses. Officials have not publicly detailed the proposal’s financial terms, and City Hall declined to comment on the submission, according to the report. The city council has authority to accept or reject the offer.

Watertown golf course faces a financial test

The Watertown golf course’s finances are central to the decision. Watertown has lost money operating the facility over the past three years, with the 2025 season ending at an estimated loss of about $85,000. Final figures for 2026 were not yet available when the report was published, leaving officials without a complete picture of the most recent season.

The losses have prompted city leaders to consider whether a private operator could run the Watertown golf course more efficiently. Doane says she believes operating expenses can be reduced and that she wants to help preserve the course as a valued feature of Thompson Park.

Her experience could be an advantage in managing staffing, maintenance, scheduling and other day-to-day demands. The facility, like others, must balance the cost of keeping greens and fairways in good condition with revenue from rounds, memberships, concessions and other services. However, experience alone cannot guarantee that the operation will become profitable.

The city would need to compare the proposal with a realistic estimate of what it would cost to continue managing the facility itself. It would also need to identify which expenses would remain public responsibilities even if a private operator took over daily operations.

What the Watertown golf course bid could mean

A lease for the Watertown golf course could change how operating costs and risks are shared between the city and an outside operator. Depending on the agreement, the city might receive rent or other payments while transferring responsibility for some routine expenses. But the outcome would depend on the specific terms, including who pays for repairs, equipment, course improvements, insurance and unexpected costs.

The future of the Watertown golf course matters to the public, which has a stake in how the decision is structured. Thompson Park is a city asset, and residents may want assurance that the Watertown golf course remains accessible and that fees do not rise sharply. A lease should clearly set out expectations for service, course conditions, pricing policies where applicable, reporting and maintenance standards.

The fact that only one bid was submitted does not automatically make the proposal unsuitable. It does mean the council has limited competition for comparison. Members can examine the bidder’s financial plan, experience, staffing approach and ability to fund necessary work, then compare those details against the city’s own operating forecast.

A careful review could also establish measurable targets, regular financial reporting and remedies if agreed standards are not met. Those protections would help officials evaluate performance rather than relying only on promises of lower expenses.

City council must weigh leasing against city management

Some council members remain open to operating the course publicly for another season to see whether its financial performance improves. That approach would preserve direct city control and provide another year of operating data, but it would also leave the city responsible for costs and any losses.

Leasing, meanwhile, could offer a different management model, but its benefits should be demonstrated in the contract rather than assumed. The council should consider expected revenue, expenses retained by the city, maintenance obligations, capital investment and how financial risk would be allocated. The reported $85,000 loss in 2025 should not be treated as an automatic saving: the amount the city might save depends on what the agreement requires and what costs it continues to carry.

For Doane and her family, the proposal is a chance to return to the golf business. For Watertown, the Watertown golf course decision is about the long-term stewardship of a public recreational facility and the use of taxpayer funds.

The next step is for city leaders to assess the bid’s full financial and operational details before deciding whether to accept it. A transparent comparison of leasing and city management would help the council explain its choice to residents and establish what success should look like in 2027.