Shining Mountain Golf Course took a huge step toward its projected May 1 opening as the Woodland Park City Council approved a contract with Monumental Golf Group LLC to manage operations.

The approval came during the council’s April 2 meeting. The company was represented by principals Jon David Husby, a Woodland Park resident, and Mark Bacheldor from Monument.

“We both come with a whole lot of experience,” Bacheldor said. “We’ve been working in the golf industry for quite a long time.”

The duo are also instructors at the UCCS PGA Golf Management Program, which teaches people how to become PGA professionals and run golf courses.

“We’re teaching people how to do what were about to do, which is go and run a golf course,” Bacheldor said.

Both have previously been head golf professionals. They said they will meet the May 1 opening date.

“We’ve got a lot of thoughts and plans to get in place really quickly here,” Husby said. “We’re really excited to make Shining Mountain a community asset.”

Monumental Golf Group will run the pro shop, plus golf tournaments, leagues, events and lessons. The city will handle the maintenance of the grounds and will run the event center.

Four companies submitted bids. Assistant City Manager Rob Felts explained that city staff devised a scoring system that, when applied to the bidders, showed Monumental as the clear frontrunner. While Monumental is a newer company, its business model and being local boosted it.

“Our operational approach combines lean, cost-conscious management with a highly personalized golf experience,” Monumental said in its proposal. “By focusing on player engagement, youth and women’s programs, and expanding leagues and tournaments, Monumental Golf Group, LLC will transform Shining Mountain Golf Course into a thriving community hub, providing financial sustainability while growing the game of golf for Woodland Park and Teller County.”

Under the agreement, Monumental will receive an $80,000 annual base management fee, plus a performance incentive equal to 10% of all golf operations revenue exceeding $500,000 annually.

“This structure significantly reduces the City’s fixed financial obligation while directly aligning Monumental Golf Group’s compensation with measurable revenue growth,” the proposal said. “The incentive component ensures that Monumental Golf Group is rewarded only when the operation exceeds historical performance benchmarks.”

Pinestone Ranch

The city council approved a letter of support for a grant application by Palmer Land Trust. The city is not provided any money toward the purchase.

The letter was sought in order to complete a grant request to Great Outdoors Colorado which, along with a loan from GOCO, will fund the acquisition of the Pinestone Ranch property, a 685-acre parcel located behind Walmart, just south of Woodland Park.