City of Asheville says Pope Golf owes $324K in unpaid lease payments

According to a report from the Asheville Citizen Times the city of Asheville, N.C., is preparing to initiate litigation against Pope Golf, a private golf course management company.

The city of Asheville alleges that Pope Golf owes more than $342,000 in outstanding lease payments to the city for Asheville Municipal Golf Course.

Chris Corl, Asheville director of community and regional entertainment facilities, told the Citizen Times that the city’s legal department is in contact with the attorneys for Keith Pope, CEO of Pope Golf, and that the hope is the issue can be resolved outside of court.

The city’s lease with Pope Golf began in October 2012 and ends on Sept. 30.

Corl told the Citizen Times that the course is currently in “poor condition”. The report says the course needs stormwater repairs, tee box upgrades and improvements to its putting greens and bunkers.

The city would reportedly pursue damages of $974,802 in addition to the cost of the litigation, should a lawsuit be filed. The Citizen reports that since June of 2019, Pope Golf has not paid the city for its lease.

According to Corl, the nonpayment was due to disputes surrounding stormwater improvements, capital costs and who was to pay for said upgrades.