City golf course to be leased out to new management

JACKSON, Tenn. — A golf course owned by the city of Jackson is taking on new management Tuesday morning if approved by the City Council.

The owners of Jackson National Golf Course, who are no strangers to West Tennessee, will now also lease Bent Tree Golf Course.

“The owners of Jackson National are local people,” Mayor Jerry Gist said. “They’ve been here a number of years, built relationships with the golfing community here and in West Tennessee.”

Pope Golf is currently managing the property but has signed it over. Pope Golf has had the property for six years, although they signed a 10-year lease.

“They will simply be reassigning the additional four years, and there’s another 10-year option in the current lease,” Mayor Gist said. “If things go well, they can go ahead and pick up the additional 10-year option.”

Pope Golf President Jerry Moore signed the lease over to Jackson National President Marshall Talkington. Mayor Gist said the golf courses will not be in competition with one another and that he hopes having them under the same leadership will benefit the city.

“They’ll have a mutual working relationship between Bent Tree and Jackson National, I think which will benefit our local golfers substantially,” Mayor Gist said.

Mayor Gist said golfers will have the option of a dual membership at both courses. The new lease is set to go into effect Tuesday.