Landscapes Unlimited hires 13 Dakota Golf employees, buys $475K worth of equipment

Sticking to its word, Sioux Falls' new golf course manager has hired more than a dozen staff who were formerly employees of Dakota Golf Management.

When Landscapes Unlimited was selected to run Sioux Falls' three municipal golf courses for the next five years, executives with the Nebraska-based company said they wanted to retain the staff that had worked under Dakota Golf Management leading up to the transition.

More:City Council approves Landscapes Unlimited as golf management company

Landscapes Unlimited President Tom Everett said Thursday that job offers were made to all Dakota Golf Management employees and accepted by 13. Dakota Golf president Tom Jansa, however, opted not to have a role with Landscapes Unlimited.

"It was all the full time staff with exception of Mr. Jansa," Everett said.

Everett said seasonal positions will be filled at a later date, but offers will be extended to personnel who worked with Dakota Golf Management in prior years. A hiring search for a full-time market manager is also underway.

Before the Sioux Falls City Council signed off on working with Landscapes Unlimited, much of the public discourse about the change centered around the equipment and assets needed to operate the courses. A deal to acquire the mowers, rakes, office supplies, and the thousands of dollars worth of other tools and accessories couldn't be reached when the city and Dakota Golf Management's offers were about $300,000 a part.

More:City Hall's golf manager pick revered in the industry

Since then, Everett said Dakota Golf Management accepted Landscapes Unlimited's offer of $475,000 for all of its assets and equipment.

"We will be fully functioning when the snow melts," he said. 

Landscapes Unlimited is operating under a five-year contract with the city.